Independence: Be the Messiah- Clergy Women Tell Buhari

THE Nigerian Women in Clergy, NWC, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to be the Messiah Nigerians have long waited for and ensure that women’s interests become one of the major considerations of his administration.

The clergywomen, who are known for championing different courses, spoke to the press on the occasion of the 55th Independence Anniversary in Abuja.

Addressing the media, the group’s President, Prophetess Nonnie Roberson, expressed hope that President Buhari won’t let Nigerian women and the youth down. Said she.

“Nigerians voted for him, the women voted for him and our youths sacrificed so much for him. He will definitely not be the one that will take us backward. We are optimistic he is the change agent. Let him prove to us that he is the Messiah.”

Responding to the question on whether Nigeria has made progress since its independence in 1960, Nonnie said not much had been achieved. She decried the level of hunger and unemployment in the land, saying that such were the reasons for the prediction that Nigeria would break up in 2015.

“In the words of Sunny Okosun, ‘which way Nigeria?’ At 55, we appear to be standing still. There is hunger in the land, youths are roaming the streets aimlessly, and insecurity has become a major challenge. People are dying out of frustration. Some can’t afford to pay their children’s school fees. Victims of insurgents are left to cater for themselves; they have been dumped at the IDPs camps scattered across the county. No food, no water and no medical facilities. An average house in Abuja costs N2m. How do you expect a man battling to feed his family to cough out such money? Many people sleep under trees and bridges, while some of our politicians have warehouses of dollars and naira. So like I said, which way Nigeria? We thought we would have gone beyond this level by now,” Nonnie said.

The clergywoman further advised President Buhari not to leave any stone unturned in his fight against corruption, urging him to address other numerous problems of the country even, as he goes about fighting corruption.

“We urge our President to also try to address other challenges militating against the country, even as he goes about tackling corruption. As for now, all we need to do is to support his government so we can collectively create jobs, provide shelter, suppress insurgencies and take proper care of the IDPs,” she said.

Speaking on the place of women in Buhari’s government, Nonnie said she was optimistic that the 35 percent affirmative action would be maintained. She said Jonathan’s government maintained the affirmative action, and there was high inclusion and participation of women in his government.

”We strongly hope that Buhari, being a listening and caring President, will not let us down. It will definitely not be during his government that women will cry of marginalisation of any form. We believe in him. For now, we urge all women to support him and watch his actions towards us. We will smile, if he makes us to smile and bark, when we ought to bark, but for now, we will be on the watch out.”