Fides Media Living the Faith
…Say Govt Should Not Make Insecurity a Business
By Alexander Johnson Adejoh
The Coalition of Anambra Women under the auspices of the Secure Our Lives Campaign (SOLC), last Wednesday, decried the worsening security challenges across the country, even as they also expressed concern over the rate of poverty, joblessness among Nigerians, among other social ills.
The women said they were deeply pained and agonized by the recurrent killings of Nigerians by insurgents, bandits and unknown gunmen, of which they said mothers and children were the worst hit.
‘For the past two to three decades, Nigeria has been plagued by several man- engineered crises, more deadly and dangerous than any natural disaster would have caused any nation. We are all witnesses to this, and despite government’s great efforts to curb these menaces, Nigeria continues to experience this.
‘As a nation, we have lost lives in thousands over violent conflicts like Boko haram, farmer and pastoralist clashes, the bandits’ situation and numerous other conflicts across the nation. Children have been orphaned, women turned to widows and men turned to widowers’.
‘We have lost brothers and sisters, neighbors, friends, acquaintances. We have lost people we don’t know in person but we feel the pain of losing a country man or country woman,’ the women said.
The Anambra State Coordinator, Secure Our Lives Campaign, Queen Chikwendu, disclosed that the sensitization program was simultaneously being held across the nation while that of Anambra took place at King David Hotel, Regina Caeli, Awka.
According to Chikwendu, the nationwide campaign was organized to fashion out ways to end the insecurity blowing across the country.
She noted that the crises had continued to impoverish their land with most economic activities being totally disrupted or destroyed in many places, coupled with the global economic downturn.
Chikwendu who doubles as the Project Coordinator, Positive Attitude to Life Initiative, said that the campaign was to cater for the welfare of women and children as well as to curb violence in the country.
‘Nigeria is a sweet country; we have everything to make us great and attract the entire world to us. Any woman you abuse or hurt, know that you are indirectly doing it to your mother, sister, wife, daughter or grandmother. Respect women,’ she added.
Fides discovered that candle light procession for people who died as a result of insecurity was the climax of the event.