MEET THE CHURCH SUMMIT: NNCC TASKS NIGERIAN CHURCHES TO BE PROACTIVE, STRATEGIC AND ENGAGING

A communique has been issued on the one-day Meet the Church Summit organised by the Nigeria National Christian Coalition NNCC at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, on Friday, 23rd September 2022, by the NNCC’s Executive Director of Media, Dr Bola Adewara.

The communique signed by the convener of NNCC, Apostle Titi Oluwadare and all the executive directors presents a 15-point observation and an 18-point resolution, which, among other things, task Nigerian Christians to be proactive and strategic in engaging as a national catalyst for nation-building.

In its 15-point observations, NNCC looks at the realities of politics and governance in Nigeria, Christian participation in politics, the utter discrimination against Christians in northern Nigeria, the Muslim-Muslim ticket and the pains of Nigerian women and youth, culminating in great distress and unrest in the country.

The 18-point resolution calls for constitutional amendments, an equal percentage of Christians and Muslims in all ramifications of leadership and appointments, equal rights on opportunities and access to wealth for every Nigerian, and the Church should be proactive and strategic in engaging as a national catalyst to kick start nation building in Nigeria.

15-POINT OBSERVATIONS:

1. That Nigeria, with one of the leading parties having a Muslim-Muslim ticket, is an insult to the intelligence of every right-thinking Nigerian and the Christians in the North.
2. The Church has been reactionary, not proactive or strategic in engaging on a level playing ground in politics.
3. In Nigeria, the Muslim and tribal interests are more engaged in the political space, controlling the politics, while the economic and Christian interests have neither evolved nor developed interests unique to their aspirations.
4. There is no superseding national identity/ interests in Nigeria where other interests can come under and negotiate with the political parties.
5. The convoluted posturing by the All Progressive Congress (APC), which tends to exacerbate the division of the unity of Nigeria and heat the polity, is a guaranteed failure.
6. Nigeria has not been so divided along ethno-religious lines since the amalgamation.
7. In trying to proffer a solution, Nigerians are yet to define the problem of Nigeria, which is often halfway to the solution.
8. The multi-pronged strategy of disseminating misinformation and the conspiracy of silence has cast a cloud of insecurity in Nigeria, and most of Nigeria’s problems are self-inflicted.
9. The low level of infrastructure, poor healthcare, poor education, and other limiting factors bedevilling Nigeria is a bane to the growth and development of Nigeria.
10. The Church has failed to make its mark during critical times in history and even in the current times of the Nation.
11. Elections in Nigeria are not accountable, free or fair, and the polls are akin to organised crimes as multiple actors pursue multiple outcomes that are not in tandem with the growth of the nation.
12. The elections in Nigeria are highly monetised and not regulated, thus, creating compromise in the electioneering process and the determination of the outcomes.
13. In Nigeria, political parties are not ideologically based but person based.
14. Despite the essential importance of women in the political hemisphere, the roles of women in politics have been underestimated and relegated to the background in Nigeria.
15. The youth’s exclusion and disrespect have led to youth agitation.

• PICTURES FROM MEET THE CHURCH SUMMIT
  
• DISCRIMINATION AGAINST CHRISTIANS IN THE NORTHERN STATES OF NIGERIA: JUSTICE KARATU (RTD) SPEAKS
  
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  ~ Hon Uzoka Chukwuemeka
  
• MALE DOMINATION IN LEADERSHIP IS NOT WORKING ~ Dr. Eunice Orji

RESOLUTIONS

In the light of the observations made by participants and after robust discussions, the Summit adopted the following resolutions:

1. Conversations must begin immediately with legislatures and political parties, as agreed at the NNCC Summit identifying the equal percentage of Christians and Muslims in all ramifications; whether leadership in the security sector, government agencies either in employment or services; or from any political party, and this should be subsumed in the political party’s governing document. This national conversation must lead to an elite consensus, i.e. the entire gamut from technocrats, private sector, security, politicians, etc.
2. Summit agrees that there should be counterpart equity in all policies passed into law; the banking sector, sharing of political and government offices or ambassadorial positions must recognise all interests identified in Nigeria.
3. The Summit urgently calls for measures to amend the Constitution that ensure equity and constitutional equivalency, allowing for the doctrine of reciprocity, mutual respect in international engagements, etc.
4. The Summit urgently demands for the rebuilding of the North East and the re-application of the Federal government compensation for displaced people and families of those killed through terrorism in the past few years, and integration of the Christian Northerners in the political calculation of any political party.
5. Equal rights opportunities and access to wealth for every Nigerian and inclusion of youth and women in all national calculations must be treated with the sense of urgency it deserves.
6. That the Church is the national catalyst to kick start nation building in Nigeria.
7. The Church must fight for justice for everyone, whether a believer or not, emphasizing the indivisibility of justice and being constantly vigilant to protect the rights of humans as enshrined in the Constitution.
8. No tribe or religion can build the country alone; thus, all must work together and invest wisdom which is the application of the proper knowledge.
9. For a united, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria, the Summit calls on all Christians not to waste their votes in the forthcoming elections, thus denying themselves the opportunity to be heard and contribute meaningfully to nation-building.
10. There is a need for strategic thinkers, political actors and analysts with immense capacity for thinking and analysis who will craft the state.
11. The Summit calls for selfless and visionary leadership, including a transgenerational process of producing these leaders with the requisite character, competence and consciousness of the consequences of their actions and inactions.
12. It is of utmost importance that there is a national vision, a national dream, and nationhood premised on nationally shared core values; furthermore, we need to put in place a national strategic purpose and the national will to pursue and enforce the purpose.
13. The Summit emphasizes the creation and development of strong institutions and structures, policies and strategies applicable to everyone.
14. Nigeria is currently bogged down, not with insecurity problems but political shenanigans, and the insecurity is not a symptom but an effect; thus, we need to realise our monumental mistakes and adopt a paradigm shift, ushering in a new Nigeria.
15. To establish credible elections, the Government must derive their governance from the governed.
    

    The Summit urgently calls on the Church and other stakeholders to:

16. Activate the civil responsibility of voting and for voters to vote, defend their vote and stand up for Christ, whether as a voter or contestant.
17. Agitate for an independent stakeholder to supervise the workings of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

• Develop a strategy for the Church which should include taking over and owning the Option A4 political structure – starting from the Ward through to the Federal; defending the interests of the Church and the downtrodden, and being in the position to determine those to govern in every political structure.

1. Set up structures to receive information from the voting centres directly.
2. Have beyond partisan politics a Kingdom purpose.
3. The Summit urges the Church and stakeholders to create leadership and social conditions where both women and men are equitable to ensure development and extend political and economic equality to everyone.