Matilda Omonaiye/
Nigerians may soon begin to savor the aroma of peace as the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) and Christian Leaders plan National Prayers and Peace Summit.
Spurred by the Executive Secretary of NCPC, Rev. Yakubu Pam, a host of Christian leaders have met in Lagos to map out pathways to lasting peace in Nigeria.
At the Consultative Meeting of the Steering/Facilitation Committee for the proposed National Prayers/Peace Summit with Christian Leaders held on December 13 at Eko Hotels, Victoria Island, in Lagos, the Federal Government was served with 18 cogent ingredients that could guarantee peace and unity in the country.
In the Communique issued at the meeting, President Muhammadu Buhari received commendations on his peace building initiative and Chief Kenny Martins for reaching out to a broad spectrum of Church Leaders in Lagos to attend the Consultative Meeting.
NewsmakersNG learnt that after deliberating on various issues, the following resolutions were reached:
i. That the Church in Nigeria should play its appropriate role in guiding the government of the day.
ii. That the Church should be united to play this strategic role of guiding government.
iii. That the government should, as a matter of urgency, revisit the Report of the 2014. Constitutional Confab, and for that matter urgently take steps to actualize positive actions on Constitutional Review.
iv. That the Church should play a predominant role in preaching peace to Nigerians, thereby promoting unity in the Country.
V. That the Church should impress it on the Federal Government to take a cue on how the Church leadership in Nigeria had embraced effective and efficient provision of services in the areas of Education, Electricity and Healthcare – all with resources of the Church.
vi. That the Federal Government should, as a matter of urgency, pay active attention to security and scale down the activities of insurgent groups.
vii. That the Church should set up budget monitoring teams (at both Federal and State levels) to enhance National growth
viii. That the Federal Government should take urgent steps to direct Universities in the country to resume academic activities in order to reduce youth restiveness.
ix. That the Church should be co-opted to play a defined role in promoting grassroot development.
x. That Traditional Rulers should be engaged actively to play positive roles on governance to promote peace and development.
xi. That Government should carry out a survey on the demography of Nigerians in order to pin-point key areas of needed social investment.
xii. That Government should recognise that truth is the only factor that can heal the wounds in our country.
xiii. That the Church should not fail to play its expected strong spiritual role in building the conscience of the nation, so that truth and justice can always be promoted.
xiv. That the Church should preach the full gospel of Jesus Christ by speaking truth to the leadership of the country as everything that emanate from the pulpit collectively shape the social and political outlook of a country.
xv. That the Federal Government should place high premium on human life, as the primary responsibility of every government is the promotion of the welfare of its citizens.
xvi. That Government should re-evaluate our educational system that places too much emphasis on paper qualifications, but instead promote the acquisition of technical skills that can engender more development.
xvii. That the Church Leadership should liaise with identified or perceived Leaders of the recent “ENDSARS” protests and advise them to jettison any plan of embarking on a second “ENDSARS” protest, but instead enter into dialogue with the Federal Government.
xviii. That the Federal Government should stop paying lip service to the various issues of security, hunger and social justice, but instead create an environment of fairness and equity for all and sundry.
The Communique was witnessed and signed by 16 Christian leaders, namely: Most Rev. Benebo Fubera Fubera-Manual – President, Christian Council of Nigeria; Mrs. Laurenstia Mallam – Catholic Women Leader; I. M. Mukail, Youth leader, St. Mary’s Catholic Church Magboro; Amb. Nnaemeka Akpee, the National Youth President, Kingdom Ways Living Church; Pastor Wole Oladiyun, the Senior Pastor, Christ Living Spring Apostolic Ministry; Pastor Chioma Mercy Ndeobi – Senior Pastor, Straight Gate International Church, Ikeja; Apostle Paul Ndeobi, the General Overseer, Straight Gate International Church, Ikeja; Rev Dr. Peace Goodday, the Lead Pastor, Christ Believers Church; Bishop (Dr) Olufemi Bankole – Presiding Bishop, the Redeemer Apostolic Mission; Rt. Rev. Best F. Orike, the CCN Church Bishop, Methodist Church of Nigeria; the Most Rev Alfred A. Martins – Catholic Archbishop of Lagos (Represented by Rev. Fr. Vitalis Ezeigwe), Very Rev. Dr. Evans Onyemera – General Secretary, Christian Council of Nigeria; Pastor J. T. Kalejaiye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God; Superior Evangelist Mathew Olatosho Oshoffa of Celestial Church of Christ; Hon. Mary Manzo – Evangelist, World Royal City Church (Founder, Mary Elika-Foundation), and Archbishop (Prof.) M. A. Fadeyi, the Presiding Bishop, Christian Faith Assembly Inc.
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