Apostle Eunice Gordon Osagiede of the Spirit and Life Bible Church, is the initiator of Women in the New Nigeria for Empowerment and Positive Change, WINN, a non-profit, non-governmental, interfaith organization. She believes in the progress of Nigeria. In this interview with KENNETH EHIGIATOR, she proffers solutions to the numerous socio-political challenges currently facing the country.

You have are one of those who have championed the cause to unite Nigeria and restore peace, progress and development to the country, what is your mind toward the situation happening and can the diverse ethnic groups in the country relate as one?

I thank God that He created a nation with so much diversity that it could use to its advantage and become a very strong nation. As a nation we must look out for the areas that unite us and build a virile nation. I believe that every true Nigerian desires to see a more progressive Nigeria.

Our people, young and old, are crying for a positive change, something different from what we have always experienced in the past. That is what the nation is yearning for and everyone is in agreement with that. People should go to public office to serve the nation and not to amass wealth.

We need to think less of ourselves and think more about the nation. We are so blessed in this country by the Almighty but the wealth is not evenly distributed. The gap between the rich and the poor is so alarmingly great. I believe it is the reason why we have so much unrest and insecurity. What we want to see is equality, unity and justice in a blessed nation.

*OSAGIEDE

Women in the New Nigeria for Empowerment and Positive Change, WINN, has played a pivotal role in galvaising Nigerian women together to contribute their quota towards the nation’s development. In the face of so much security challenge, what should the Nigerian women do to bring about peace?

I want to say that as mothers we have a responsiblity to make sure that the nation’s families become small nations within the nation. Women should take necessary steps to build our homes and by implication the nation. I expect Nigerian women to be more alert, check the activities of their children and ensure that every child is under proper guidance and care, because it is our children that constitute the class of people we term as robbers, kidnappers and suicide bombers.

Whether a Christian or Muslim mother, we don’t need to sit down and watch while our children are being indoctrinated to become enemies of the nation. We must enlighten our young ones right from the home. We believe that the transformation of any nation begins with the family unit.

What is your advice to our leaders to reverse the current state of insecurity in the country?

As much as possible you need to know that if you are in a position to make a decision on behalf of people in any capacity then you must be conscious of the fact that it is God that put you in that position and must act accordingly. I believe those are some of the challenges in the country.

Those who are in public offices to serve humanity are in most cases not alert to their God given responsibilities. We need to know that the Almighty’s hand is upon our nation and for that reason everybody should take heed unto themselves. This is not the time to take advantage of the average Nigerian.

This is the time to serve the people in whatever office God has placed you. Make the best use of the opportunity God has given you for the best of the nation; starting from the community level. It is time to ensure that the people’s lives are impacted positively. It is time to know that our people are getting more enlightened on a daily basis.

Our leaders should appreciate that the Nigerian people’s demand is for the basics of life. Once this is done, the Nigerian masses will go about their duties peacefully. So those at the helms of affairs should respond accordingly and encourage the people by making sure that every national assignment given to them is done well.

They must at all times, ask themselves questions about what they would want the people to remember them for. Once you are a friend of this nation, you are duty bound to be a blessing to the nation. Let the purpose of whatever office you find yourself be fully met.

All leaders must appreciate that the days when public officers amass wealth for themselves are over. Nigerians will take to the streets and cry out for their rights and say no. They will call for accountability. That is the mind of God for us and the lifestyle that God demands of us now. I can assure you that in the next couple of years things will change for the better.

What in your opinion is responsible for the spate of terrorism in Nigeria?

To me violence is never the solution. All unrighteous behaviour is completely anti-progress and nothing good can come out of it. I believe we are a people that can sit at a round table to discuss, air our views and find an amicable way of resolving our differences. Nigerians are not people that would take laws into their hands.

As much as possible, we don’t want to look like people that have no focus. Let us talk things over! Killing is not right. It is retrogressive. If you go to some African nations and see what civil wars have caused; you would never desire it for your people. Every Nigerian should refrain from doing anything that would hurt his/her neighbour.

That is why I said that every Nigerian mother in the villages or cities, must begin to propel the vision of the nation’s founding fathers by redirecting the footsteps of our children to do things that would be beneficial to the nation. A child that came out of our wombs should not be counted among those who would be labelled a suicide bomber.

We need
to correct some of these imported harmful ideologies. I believe that this is a veritable weapon in the hands of mothers to reshape the nation for good. Our children want to be notable persons in life and it is our responsibility to help them to actualize their dreams.