Communiqué of the Conference on Herders and Farmers Conflicts in Central Nigeria, organized by the Centre for Research Management, Benue State University, Makurdi, held at the Auditorium 1 of the College of Health Sciences, Benue State University from 13th – 16th March, 2017 Christened:

The Centre for Research and Management, Benue State University, having noted that thousands of people of the Central Nigerian States are being killed, with thousands more suffering debilitating injuries; communities being destroyed and hundreds of thousands being displaced from their ancestral homes; and concerned at the deteriorating security situation and the real threat of hunger and starvation in Nigeria as a result of the attacks on the farming communities in the region, which is the food basket region of Nigeria, decided to convene a conference to critically examine the unfolding violence and to explore solutions against the terror.

1. It is said that the voluntary surrender of power in 1979 to Alhaji Shehu Shagari gave the military, as then represented by Olusegun Obasanjo, a sanctimonious self-righteous air of being Nigeria’s custodian of democracy and moral conscience. However, the National Christian Elders’ Forum (NCEF) sees things differently to wit: that the handing over of power in 1979 was a stage in the promotion of Islamism in Nigeria.

Christian Association of Nigeria wishes to inform all Christians, both at home and abroad, that based on credible reports of concern, it has decided to suspend the Christian Day of Mourning formerly scheduled to take place globally on Sunday 19th March, 2017.

The President of CAN took cognizance of the preparations that various Christian groups have made to participate in the program which was designed, in all honesty and sincerity, to mourn the death of thousands of Christians murdered by religious insurgents.

UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES:

WHY NIGERIAN CHRISTIANS MUST SPEAK OUT GLOBALLY ON 19TH MARCH, 2017

(Part 1)

The clarion call in Nigeria today is “restructuring”. We wholeheartedly endorse this demand. The current structure of the country has proven, over a considerable period of time that it is incapable of fostering peace, unity, and progress.

However, while arrangements should be underway for the restructuring of Nigeria, there should be an immediate implementation of the Report of the 2014 National Conference. About 500 eminent Nigerians were gathered in Abuja in 2014 to propose constructive changes for Nigeria. The Report of the Conference has been ready but Government has not implemented it. It is crucial that immediate implementation should commence in the best interest of the nation.

UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES:

WHY NIGERIAN CHRISTIANS MUST SPEAK OUT GLOBALLY ON 19TH MARCH, 2017

(Part 2)

 Section 14 (3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, (as amended) states as follows:

“The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few State or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.”

UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES:

WHY NIGERIAN CHRISTIANS MUST SPEAK OUT GLOBALLY ON 19TH MARCH, 2017

(Part 1)

Section 38 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, (as amended) states as follows:

“Every person shall be entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom (either alone or in community with others, and in public or in private) to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance.”

1st March, 2017

To: All National Leaders,
Bloc Leaders,
Zonal Chairmen,
States Chairmen,
Denominational Heads,

Dear Sir/Ma,

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of CAN, during its meeting in Abuja on Tuesday 28th February, 2017, passed a resolution that the National day of Christian Protest and Mourning which earlier took place on 8th January, 2017, should be repeated on Sunday 19th March, 2017.

Non-Governmental organisation, Human Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has asked the Department of State Services under the leadership of Alhaji Lawal Musa Daura to halt the harassment of Christian leaders by its operatives.

In a statement, the National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director Miss Zainab Yusuf condemned as “selective persecution and harassment”, the recent interrogation of National leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria over a global campaigns to attract funds to rebuild churches destroyed by Boko haram terrorists in North East. 

Nothing sums up the dangerous way in which the DSS is handling the Apostle Johnson Suleman affair better than the words of the Southern Kaduna-based Pastor Owojaye Matthew. He said, "you want to arrest Christian clergymen who asked Christians to defend themselves against killer FULANI Herdsmen while you allow hundreds of foreign FULANI herdsmen invading Nigeria to kill and maim CHRISTIANS and take over their lands! DSS, tread softly!  Do not play into the hands of chaos! We are waiting for DSS to arrest the kill and go FULANI herdsmen!"

Introduction

Download Full Document

It is necessary for a better understanding of the subject to state briefly the constitutional history of Nigeria.  Prof Ben Nwabueze has suggested that Nigeria was not a state until amalgamation in 1914. He contends that “the central legacy bequeathed to Africa by colonialism is the organism known as a state in its strict signification.”[1]  The state of development of Southern Nigeria and Northern Nigeria, prior to amalgamation is clearly stated in Lugard’s Documentary Record compiled by Kirk-Greene.  With respect to the South, Lugard wrote: “the South was, for the most part, held in thrall by fetish worship and the hideous ordeals of witchcraft, human sacrifice and twin murder.

This document is prepared by the National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) to provide information, direction, as well as counsel to leaders of the Christian faith in Nigeria. Without the Unity of the Church, it would be difficult for the nation to overcome its travails. The Church is the light of the world and the salt of the earth. Nigeria is presently groping in darkness and it has lost its savor. Only a united Church can pull the nation back from the brink of the precipice and in the process, preserve Christianity for future generations. NCEF urges Christian leaders to patiently go through the contents of this document.

​

On Thursday December 22nd, the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, met with President Muhammadu Buhari to secure the President's backing to declare a 24 hour Curfew in three local government areas of Southern Kaduna State namely: Jema'a, Kaura and Sanga. However, it is relaxed to 12 hours on Christmas day. The reason for the curfew is already public news. Nevertheless, the timing is deceptive and the reasons misleading. As a Southern Kaduna citizen, who lives in Plateau State but in touch with what is going on in Southern Kaduna, I am very troubled. The path our Governor is pursuing will not lead to peace but more animosity, nurturing distrust laced with security miss-steps.  My concerns are three-fold:

To:  All Christians in Nigeria and Diaspora.