The Church Has A Role In Re-educating our Youths: Lalongs Speaks At The 2nd Annual Conference Of Chaplains Of Government House In Jos.
Protocols.
It is with great delight to address this very important meeting which is the Second Annual Conference of the Chaplains of Government Houses holding here at the Government House Chapel, Rayfield – Jos.
On behalf of the Government and good people of Plateau State, I welcome you to our beautiful capital city of Jos for this very important spiritual exercise. Your choice of Plateau State to host this second edition of the meeting is no doubt appropriate because of the Status of Jos as Nigeria’s spiritual headquarters.
The people of the State especially the Christian community is no doubt happy that you are here to pray, fast and intercede for the State and the nation at large. That is why your choice of the Theme “Increase In His Peace” taken from the Book of Isaiah 9:7 is an appropriate and timely selection especially at this critical time when we need peace in our land.
As you may be aware, the nation has continued to battle with many challenges relating to insecurity, poverty and disease which are making life difficult for the citizens. Some of these challenges are made worse by the complexities of politics, corruption, intolerance and absence of the fear of God.
Only recently, Plateau State witnessed some disruption of peace and tranquility which our Rescue Administration has worked hard to cultivate in the last six years when attacks left many death and properties destroyed. Indeed we are pained by this setback and have worked hard to ensure that normalcy is restored within the shortest time.
Such effort is what has given you the confidence to host this meeting here in Jos which is another confirmation that Plateau remains the destination of choice for all citizens from within and outside Nigeria. Your coming here should therefore give us more energy to work in giving the proper perspective about happenings in our State.
My spiritual fathers, while I specially commend you for setting aside time to pray for our nation, I wish to remind you and indeed all religious leaders of the enormous responsibility that you carry in ensuring that our society moves forward. While you have the divine mandate to speak truth to the society and in particular to those in power, you should be mindful that such responsibility needs to be exercised with utmost caution and sincerity.
The situation where some religious leaders have resorted to propagation of hate speech and spread of fake information must be avoided for the interest of the peace and unity of the country. Religious leaders cannot afford to politicize the pulpit and make it a platform for attacks which end up weakening the Church and bringing the Body of Christ to disrepute.
Similarly, the clergy particularly those of you who serve as Chaplains in Government Houses must shun sycophancy and the attempt to bury the truth for monetary or other gains. This type of behaviour ends up putting the society in more danger because those in leadership positions are denied the truth that is needed to guide them in serving the people. At all times, Jesus Christ must be our model.
Let me also bring to your attention that the Church has a great role to play in educating and re-educating our people particularly the youths on the concept of love and sacrifice as taught by the Lord Jesus Christ. From the rhetoric we hear everyday, there is a huge dose of misinformation and brainwashing of our youths towards hatred rather than love and tolerance.
We must rise up and confront this negative development which is very disturbing especially when we see the level of wickedness and division among people of various denominations or faiths. We must teach our children love by profession and practicing love wherever we find ourselves. This we must do quickly to save our nation from disintegrating because of ethno-religious sentiments.
Although there are issues we need to address as Governments at various levels, the issue of justice, fairness, tolerance and peaceful coexistence cannot be achieved if religious leaders particularly Christians fail to show the light. As the Bible says, we are the Salt of the Earth, and as such we must not loose our taste no matter the provocations. That way, we will conquer hate with love and bring many into the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
That is why apart from setting up a Peace Building Agency, our administration has gone ahead to set up the Plateau State Inter-Religious Council which has equal representation of the top leadership of the two leading religions. We have deployed those structures towards facilitating dialogue, conflict resolution and addressing ethno-religious crises.
Recently when the National President of the CAN Rev. Dr. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle and the President, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, His Eminence Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto led members of NIREC to Jos for consultations over the recent disturbances in our State, the position was reiterated that those who engage in using their positions as religious leaders to fan the embers of hate and division, will be arrested and prosecuted. That is our position in Plateau State.
Let me therefore assure you that our administration shall continue to do all within its power to support the Clergy to carry out its duties of leading the people to God and teaching them the path to righteousness. We urge you to continue to pray for the Government at these difficult times as well as be available to offer your counsel. Let me at this juncture also congratulate and thank Pastor Seyi Malomo, Chaplain, Aso Villa Chapel for this wonderful initiative and for his leadership of the body and support to government at all levels.
On this note, it is my pleasure and privilege to declare open the second Annual Conference of the Chaplains of Government Houses in the name of the Father, the son and the Holy Spirit.
God bless Plateau State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Rt. Hon. (Dr) Simon Bako Lalong, KSGG
Executive Governor, Plateau State.
23rd September, 2021.
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