Nigeria will rise above its shortcomings - GNS Pwajok
GNS Pwajok is a former chief of staff to Plateau state Governor and a PDP candidate for Plateau North senatorial district in the coming election, therefore Keeps Magazine engages in a chat with GNS at a golf course in Ray Field where he tackles issues with ease and sincerity. KEEPS: At 24 Sir, you’ve completed your post graduate studies, how did you manage to get a lot done? GNS: I think I had an opportunity, my parents also sacrificed for me, and took me to school early enough and then somehow I just found myself finishing school early enough and then after my degree I went back immediately for my post graduate studies. I’m presently enrolled to do my PHD. KEEPS: You’ve lectured in university, you even taught in secondary school, what’s that lesson you always want those who learn from you to go home with? GNS: One key thing I have learnt myself is that, the teacher was once a student, secondly knowledge is for a purpose, and the validity of that purpose determines the validity of knowledge itself and then of course, what I will want students to learn is that the university degree is no longer a guarantee against joblessness, in other words, the value of education is determined by how you run your family, how you run your life, how you impact on society positively and how you expand the frontiers of knowledge too, it is possible for somebody to go to school and not being knowledgeable. Reading and writing is not enough, there is much more than that. Society is a catch word, how do you use this knowledge to impact on society is the essence of knowledge. KEEPS: The future of Nigeria belongs to the youths, these youths have been used for political maneuvering and violence, what will be your advice to Nigerian youths on how to see that the country is not divided? GNS: The truth is that a lot of people have always assumed that this country may not survive; in fact 2015 has been used sometimes as the deadline for the collapse of Nigeria. And we are worried but like somebody would say, the youths are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are also the leaders of today because tomorrow begins today. So, whatever you do today determines what tomorrow looks like. What we do to sustain the unity and harmony of Nigeria today determines the future of Nigeria. The actions we take today; will be the kind of actions that will determine the direction of Nigeria. If the youths are resolved that they want to maintain the corporate unity of Nigeria, they must act in that manner and avoid violence that will create difficulties and problems. KEEPS: Where do you see Plateau State in 2015 and where do you see Nigeria in 2015? GNS: I see Plateau as a state that will reveal the bountiful blessings of God by 2015. I see Plateau as a celebrated case of resilience, I see Plateau as a celebrated case of seeing opportunity in danger. I see Plateau as a place where people will come back and say this is the Plateau we’ve always heard about and I see a transformed Plateau. KEEPS: Where do you see Nigeria in 2015? GNS: By 2015, I also see possibilities that Nigeria will rise above its shortcomings and begin to appreciate the value of maintaining unity. The confusions within Nigeria especially in the political terrain in terms of who gets what, when and how, these are the critical issues that will face us in 2015, however, I’ve always seen Nigeria rising above even the predictions of collapse and I see Nigeria as a state. KEEPS: What books are you reading now? GNS: A couple of books that have to do with what I might call a little bit of politics and a little bit of biographical issues that would give me a fair idea on how people have been able to deal with challenges in their political life. KEEPS: You are working on an autobiography? GNS: In fact I have finished that autobiography, I just feel as if God is giving me the opportunity to present it in public. It’s actually a biography of my grandfather who happened to have been a pioneer member of the Northern Regional House of Assembly. I know that it will be showcased; people will see what he did to maintain the unity of the North, unity of the Middle Belt and how he stood firmly in defense of the interest of the people. KEEPS: What will you want a Senator from the Plateau North Senatorial District to do at the National Assembly? GNS: To me, a senator from Plateau North Senatorial District should be able to provide platform for dialogue for maintaining harmony that should exist within the zone, because the zone has been the hardest hit in terms of conflict. I see a Senator that is eager to be a mediator in trying to bring communities together. I see a Senator that can present the views and aspirations of people and stand in defense of them. And I also see a Senator from the Northern Senatorial zone that will defend the corporate unity of Nigeria.
