Review constitution to tackle challenges, Christian leaders tell FG

Christian leaders, yesterday, expressed the need to review the nation’s Constitution towards tackling the myriad of challenges in the country, particularly the issues raised in the recent #EndSARS protests. 

Federal Government, they stated, should urgently revisit the Report of the 2014 Constitutional Confab, pay attention to security and scale down activities of insurgent groups.
Those were part of the 18 recommendations taken by the leaders on Sunday at its ‘Consultation meeting of the steering/facilitation committee for proposed national prayers/peace summit with Christian leaders in Lagos.’

The meeting, which held under the auspices of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), a Presidency agency, was the first in the series of consultations, with others proposed for other parts of the country and with leaders of other faiths.

According to the NCPC Executive Secretary, Rev Yakubu Pam, it followed President Muhammadu Buhari’s support for the agency’s peacebuilding. 
Pam, who steered the meeting, said after extensive consultation with well-meaning Nigerians and stakeholders, the NCPC began work towards a national prayer/peace summit, adding that Sunday’s meeting was a prelude to the summit. 

He commended the event’s chairman, Dr. Kenny Martins, for accepting and reaching out “to a broad spectrum of church leaders in Lagos” to attend the meeting.

They urged the Church to play “its appropriate role in guiding the government”, and also step up its role of “preaching peace to Nigerians, thereby promoting unity in the country.”
Some of the recommendations were, among others, 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. 

“The church should set up budget monitoring teams (at both federal and state levels) to enhance national growth 

“The Federal Government should take urgent steps to direct universities in the country to resume academic activities in order to reduce youth restiveness.

“That the Church should be co-opted to play a defined role in promoting grassroots development.”

The religious leaders also canvassed a role for traditional rulers to enable them to promote peace and development.”

Participants at the meeting and signatories to the communiqué included 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, National Youth President, Kingdom Ways Living Church; Pastor Wole Oladiyun, Senior Pastor, Christ Living Spring Apostolic Ministry; Pastor Chioma Mercy Ndeobi Senior Pastor, Straight Gate International Church, Ikeja; and Apostle Paul Ndeobi General Overseer, Straight Gate International Church, Ikeja, among others.