By Ebriku John Friday
The Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev Yakubu Pam, as part of his peace building initiatives paid an advocacy visit to Church leaders in Plateau State on 7th October, 2021 in Jos.
In a statement by Mr Celestine Toruka, Head, Media and Public Relations, NCPC, the advocacy visit took the Executive Secretary and his entourage to the headquarters of the Church of Christ in Nations, COCIN where he met with the COCIN President, Rev Prof Dachollom Datiri and his directors.
The peace builder was also at the Bishop,s Court where he interfaced with the Catholic Archbishop of Jos, His Grace, Most Rev. Ishaya Audu.
The Peace Ambassador was also at the headquarters of the Evangelical Church Winning All, ECWA, Jos and was received by the President of ECWA, Rev Stephen Panya and the leadership of the Church.
In the same vein, the NCPC boss also paid a peace advocacy visit to the Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, Plateau State , Rev Stephen Dangana in his office in Jos .
In all the visit, the NCPC boss thanked the Clerics for their invaluable role in peace keeping in Plateau State, especially during the last crisis in Jos.
He equally commended them for the positive role their denominations had been playing in the development of Plateau State and Nigeria as a whole.
He intimated the Church leaders that his visit was to reawaken their consciousness on the forthcoming Local Government polls in Plateau State slated for this Saturday. To this effect, he stressed the need for peace to reign before and after the election.
He affirmed that power comes from God that whoever emerges as winner in the election should be magnanimous in victory.
The peace builder reiterated that peace is paramount and violence does not profit anyone.
He charged the heads of denominations to ensure that the message of peace is relayed and communicated to their followers . He further tasked them to ensure that they encouraged their members to come out on the election day to cast their votes.
The NCPC helmsman stated that as a stakeholder in the Plateau project, he would continue to do everything humanly possible to ensure that peace is restored in the Plateau and lasting peace restored in Jos city.
In his remark, the Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Most Rev Dr Ishaya Audu commended Rev Pam for the good work he is doing at NCPC and his unrelenting and selfless peace building efforts in the country.
His Grace thanked Rev Pam for bringing the message of peace to the church but with a caveat that the politicians needed the message more because the success or failure of any election rests on them .
Similarly, the ECWA President, Rev Stephen Panya assured the NCPC boss that they would continue to support the efforts of the government and all peace loving Nigerians to pursue peace. His words”, we will pursue peace in line with the injunction of God so that Plateau will experience peace”.
He added,” you have our full backing and support; you are there as an Ambassador of the Church of God, we will never want you to fail”.
He further affirmed”, what you are doing is beyond your job description as NCPC boss. He prayed that the Lord would give him the grace to do more for humanity.
Also, the PFN chairman, Plateau State, Rev Dr Stephen Dangana, commended the NCPC boss for his peaceful disposition. His words”, you talk peace and live peace”.
He stressed that it was good that the Executive Secretary,s visit was hinged on the security challenges in Plateau State which he clearly admitted that their were really security challenges in the state and should be addressed.
Aside the Church leaders, the NCPC boss also met with some critical groups in Jos on how to have a peaceful Local Government election devoid of violence.
