Nigerian Women in Clergy has cautioned pro-Biafran
groups, Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra,
MASSOB, and the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, to suspend their
street protests in the interest of peace.
The clergy women under the leadership of Prophetess
Nonnie Robberson had in their message to the group emphasised on the
importance of dialogue against violent protest that will further lead to
deaths and destruction of property in the South East.
A statement issued on behalf of the group by its
President, Prophetess Nonnie Robberson, said violent agitation that led
to Biafran war was to the disadvantage of all, asserting that victims of
the war who managed to survive have continued to tell their horrible
stories. She said Nigeria as country would have gone beyond the level it
finds itself today, if not for the setback of the war.
Nonnie
who advised the group to view dialogue as a better option said, “I was
conceived and born during the Biafran war, and it hurts me so much when I
recall the pain my mother went through during the period. Reviving this
agitation through street protests will further re-awaken the scars most
of us have decided to leave behind; hence it’s time to shield the
sword.
“Even though the demand for self- determination
appears to be within the United Nations charter provisions, the way we
go about it will either make or mar our good intention. I will advise
that we change our approach as we make our demands. We must not leave
the substance or rather, the reason for the protest. We must go back to
why we are demanding for self-determination. If the government is ready
and willing to address those problems such as unemployment, equal
representation, under-development and other sundry issues, then Biafra
will have no reason to break away or ask further questions.
Nonnie further said that, ” It’s however difficult
to achieve all these by merely invading the streets in protest. It’s
difficult to achieve any reasonable result through violent protests. The
group must sit with the authorities and place their demands. The
question clergy women are asking is, ‘ how does a government listen to a
group on the street?’ How does a government call them for dialogue if
they resort to insult, violence and intimidation? They must neutralize
this radical approach for a more conservative one. By doing so, the
government can then listen to them. They must not look as though they
have come to attack or overthrow a government. They must be peaceful in
placing their demands as they are our children. As women, we are
generally known to be peaceful in all we do, and as mothers, clergy
women believe that what MASSOB and IPOB seek cannot be found on the
street,” Nonnie said.
The group, while calling on the President to order
the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu, the alleged Director of Radio
Biafra, equally advised the government to look beyond the street protest
and hasten up to address the actual reason for the struggle. “The
struggle which is mainly for justice, equality, empowerment, fairness,
women and youths emancipation must be truly addressed by the government.
We urge the government to call these groups for negotiation instead of
sending the police and the army after them as force and aggression do
not achieve peace,” She said.
She said government must look inward to address the
issue of unemployment as majority of Nigerian youths on the streets were
doing so because they are jobless. She called for a more inclusive
government where everybody is given equal opportunity, saying, more than
90% of our graduate Youths have no Jobs.
“If these youths are properly engaged, the issue of
street protest in the country will become a thing of the past. The
problem is that majority of our youths are unemployed and unengaged and
are always willing to be engaged on the street. Our youths are angry and
are waiting for any opportunity to express their anger.
“We at the Nigerian Women in Clergy believe that the
issue is really not about Biafra and Nigeria going their separate ways,
it’s rather about unemployment, hardship, lack of basic infrastructure,
hunger, segregation, exclusiveness, and a host of others. With
President Buhari’s change agenda; he must endeavour to form a more
inclusive government for all in order to enjoy unimaginable support from
Nigerians.”
Nonnie ended by saying that the women were more
interested in the unity and progress of Nigeria for the benefit of all,
and were ready to offer their motherly advice any time occasion warrants
such
Prophetess Nonnie Robberson
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