Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
Federal Government has been call upon to speedily implement its economic policies for the naira to gain value against the Dollar.
This is contain in a communique at the end of the 41st Session of Southern Conference of the United Methodist Church UMC, held in Zing, Zing local government, Taraba State.
“This conference therefore, calls on the government of Nigeria to speedily implement economic policies which in turns can help our naira gain value against dollar, reduce the rate of poverty and hunger and bring down prices of goods and transport fare.
It pointed out that hunger is the leading cause of death in the world.
“God has provided us with tremendous resources and vast land to cultivate fight hunger and feed ourselves.
It attributed such to the increase in insecurity and over dependence on the government which has seen a sharp decrease in farm produce.
“The presence of kidnappers in our lands and mountains has forced farmers to desert their farms which has led to insignificant harvest this year.
“To avert the impending hunger and poverty, the Conference therefore, call on all her members to avoid selling out their food produce unnecessarily to pay for luxuries, especially seeing the insignificant harvest this year.
The Conference also calls on the Federal, State, Local Government, and NGO’s to as a matter of urgency provide farmers with machines, chemicals and fertilizers to enable them to cultivate during the dry season.
“This will complement the low output of harvest this year which in turn will help in alleviating the impending sufferings, hunger and starvation.
The Communique said that African continent in recent times has recorded an unprecedented security challenges.
“The acts of insecurity occur on daily basis in Nigeria for instance, insecurity comprises of insurgency, killer herdsmen, extrajudicial killings, ethno-religious conflicts, armed robbery, militancy, banditry and cybercrime.
“These vices have posed a serious threat on the citizens of Nigeria. According to global security experts, about 555 Nigerians killed by Boko Haram/ISWAP, while 267 kidnapped, just in August 2023 with huge ransom placed on each of them.
In a related development, the Taraba News on Thursday 7th December, 2023 reported that, Bali local Government was under siege and 33 people were killed by unknown gunmen respectively. Insecurity has greatly affected and dwindled our economic growth, increased poverty, and insecurity has brought fear to farmers which has affected farm produce output.
The conference also affirms that the causes of these problems in the country is not far from corruption, injustice, bad governance, bad economy’s policies.
The conference therefore, calls on government at all level to enhance security infrastructure, weaken terrorists, and kidnappers, strengthen border protection, tackle corruption in the defense sector, focus on the welfare of the citizenry and armed forces and above all, justice be served.
“Knowing also the importance of security, the conference calls on every citizen of Nigeria to cooperate with the security personal and also secure himself.
The conference earnestly calls on all pastors, members of the Conference and the body of Christ to embark on discipleship classes to thoroughly teach Christian doctrines.
“As Church growth is the product of proper discipleship and discipleship, when done properly will lead the Church to have matured Christians that can stand the test of time.
The conference also calls on pastors and members to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit for life and ministry.
“Jesus did ministry in the power of the Holy Ghost, he used miracles and signs to draw people to Himself: he healed all diseases. If the Church will stop relying on the flesh and starts relying on the power of the Holy spirit, then the Church can reach the masses for Jesus.
Members of the Communique Committee include, Rev. Cletus David Kuhturu -Chairman, Mrs. Aisha D. Mazong – Member, Deac. Iliya Obadiah -Member, Rev. Lydia Andrew – Member and Rev. Ambrose Ibrahim Keto -Secretary.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Director Connectional Ministries of United Methodist Church UMC, Rev Philip Micah Dopah said that the conference is adopted and maintain the theme of the year “Without holiness no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14b)”, adding that the expectation of the leadership of the church that is very mindful and cautious of holy living is that holiness will have a permanent stay in all areas of our life to the extent that it will be shown in our living as family, community, state and the nation at large; and we will have to make the world a better place to stay.
“Till now some of us don’t want to hear about holiness or practising holy living; that is why our society has become contagious with bandits, terrorists, kidnappers etc.
“The leadership of the church under the direction of the Holy Spirit decided to come up with the theme of the year for 2024 from (Revelation 22:12) which says “Behold I am coming soon, my reward is with me and I will give to every one according to what he has done”.
“With this theme, I hope all the good people of Southern Conference will maintain a high level of spiritual alertness in anticipation of receiving a positive reward from our creator so that our labour will not be in vain. So help us, God, Amen.
He pointed out that in life there is time for everything and every purpose under heaven, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance (Eccl. 3).
“By God’s divine providence, at the seat of this conference especially morning session on the 8th and 9th December, 2023, we will celebrate 100 years centenary.
“This type of celebration is a one-time event in one’s lifetime because after witnessing God’s faithfulness, grace, goodness, mercy, love, and kindness from 1923 -2023, no one will leave to witness another centenary in the next 100 years to come, so I am very fortunate, all of us are very fortunate to be part of those that will celebrate God’s divine favour and the fruit of the labour of our missionaries. I hope and I pray that we will bring down God’s glory to attract more favour and grace from Him.
“I agree with the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 7:18-20 which says “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit; every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into fire; thus, by their fruit you will recognise them”.
He said that Southern Conference of United Methodist Church Though not perfect, by divine arrangement we it is strong, united, healthy, progressive, mission-minded and Christ imitators and lovers of the Kingdom work.
“Truth, they say doesn’t need any decoration you can go through the report of the leader of the conference to verify my claims, all to the glory, honour and adoration of God my Father our maker
Considering the global crisis that has befallen our church from 1972 till date, be it known to the world especially the people of the United Methodist Church around the globe that because our registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission in Abuja Nigeria carries the name Southern Conference of United Methodist Church, we remain and maintain our position as people of United Methodist Church yesterday, today and tomorrow.
“We are not and we won’t be part of those that would leave UMC to GMC. No perfect society, no perfect church and no perfect denomination and those clamouring for GMC should not attempt tempering with the properties of the United Methodist Church (Bishop Dabale Secretariate Mile 6, UMC Guest House Mayo-Gwoi and Jatutu Memorial Cathedral Magami); We will not allow that because they are substantive properties of the UMC.
He urge good people of Southern Conference to always live like Methodists, think like Methodists, act like Methodists and above all we should never forget about the three simple rules that define a Methodist which is “do no harm”; “do good”; and “stay in love with God”.
“Our Pastors, Pastor’s wives, farmers, teachers, doctors, lawyers, politicians, journalists and all our security operatives at the local state and national levels, should live and practice the three simple rules for you or for us to change the narrative in this country and generation as salt and light of the world.
“Christmas is at hand and is all about preaching the good news, and revealing Christ to the unbelievers and not about fornication, unhealthy competition and extravagant spending.
“Be careful and be watchful for times are hard, spend wisely and live wisely.
According to him, food security is key and very important.
“Selling our food crops at a cheaper rate and later buying them at a higher rate it’s not healthy, we should learn to imbibe the spirit of food security to survive any kind of situation that might arise later, God forbid.
“The minimum wage implementation by the governor should be used for God’s glory not for extravagant lifestyle that doesn’t glorify God.
He use the forum to congratulate the Governor His Excellency Dr. Agbu Kefas for emerging as the winner of the 2023 governorship election and also for starting his government on a very good footing by capturing the heart of the masses in this state, through his educational, agricultural policies, and following his five-point agenda diligently; if the tempo would be maintained and sustained the Taraba of our dream is guaranteed.
He appeal to the governor to engage security personnel, and traditional rulers in tackling banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and other social vices.
“Our land is under siege, the common man can no longer sleep with his two eyes closed nor go to his farm freely in his ancestral land. I believe this is not the will of God for us, for God’s plans for us are for good and not for evil.
“We will stand in our prayers with you as you move towards tackling this challenge.
He further call on the Governor to also look and support the private schools sector in his educational reforms, and to appreciate the proprietors for taking the bull by the horns in advancing education in the state.
“As a body of Christ, we are mindful of the fact that in all situations we should give thanks to God for this is the will of God concerning us, (1Thess. 5:18).
“As conference we have no reason not to congratulate President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for becoming our president at all costs and based on the permissive will of God, as rejoinder to the congratulatory message sent to him by the national CAN.
“We are making a passionate appeal to the President to as a matter of urgency come up with reforms that will end terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping in this nation and call the sponsors to book no matter how highly placed they are.
“We are equally calling on our President to end starvation, hunger, hike in pump prices caused by bad economic policies, because life has become unbearable to the masses.
“The President should review the current palliative policy, for the palliative measures on ground are not yielding any positive results.
“One Spaghetti, one blanket and a measure of rice cannot sustain an individual talkless of a household in this country.
“We are calling on the President to please look into this and come up with better positive majors for the citizens to enjoy and to alleviate the suffering of the masses.
He call on the people of Southern Conference, to keep on adding value to society and the nation in general by playing complementary roles through fasting and prayers for the peace and development of our nation.
“I appreciate all our guests and all of you for making the opening session of the 2023 Conference a reality. God bless you all, I love you all he said.