The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Presbyterian Church

  • Presbyterian Church seeks prayers for Buhari’s health

    The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria has expressed solidarity with President Muhammadu Buhari on his health challenge and pledged to continue to pray to God for divine healing to enable him complete his mission as the President of Nigeria.

    It also wants all Nigerians to imbibe the biblical injunction to always pray for those in authority in order that “we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”

    Rising from its first bi-annual meeting in Calabar, Cross River State, the General Assembly Executive Committee (GAEC) of the Presbyterian Church commended the federal government on the successful negotiations that resulted in the recent release of another batch of 82 Chibok girls by Boko Haram and urged it not to rest on its oars until the remaining 113 abducted girls are released.

    In a communiqué jointly signed by the Prelate and Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church, the Most Rev. Nzie N. Eke and the Principal Clerk, Most Rev. Nzie N. Eke, the church also asked government to “effectively enforce the all-round surveillance mounted at all entry points to the country in a bid to forestall the outbreak of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease which is reported to have broken out in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”

    But it  expressed disappointment at  “the ever-declining electric power supply in the country in spite of the billions of naira that have been sunk into power generation and supply projects within the past few years,” saying  regular and affordable supply of electricity is critical to  the revitalization of  the economy.

  • Presbyterian church rejects merging of CRK,Islamic studies

    Presbyterian church rejects merging of CRK,Islamic studies

    The  Synod of the North of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria has rejected the planned merger of the Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK) with the Islamic Studies in the Basic Education Curriculum.

    The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) developed the nine-year basic education curriculum to reduce workload of students in primary and junior secondary from 20 to 10 subjects.

    Under the curriculum, CRK, IS, social studies, civics and security education—all previously single subjects—will be taught as a single subject known as religion and national values.

    The Church said the curriculum has compromised the narratives of the Bible.

    Also, the Church called for the restoration of the teaching of CRK in Northern public schools, including the higher institutions. The teaching of CRK has been prohibited in most of the schools in the North. Briefing reporters at the end of the 21st annual Synod of the North in Abuja, Rev. Ini Ukpuho said: “ We are saying that this is a merger that is absolutely unnecessary because, our children’s right to their faith,  religion and belief have been impugn because they are been forced to learn or study what they may not want ordinarily to do on both sides. Muslims young people with their young mind are been given manual that has Christian religious knowledge therefore they are been forced to study them vice cereal. We have also discovered that in the process of merger, both the content and quality of the curriculum, particularly that of religious knowledge curriculum have been compromised and that is not in the best interest of the Christian faith.”

     

  • Presbyterian Church seeks clean politics

    The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria has appealed to politicians to avoid acts capable of plunging the nation into crisis.

    Rising from its fourth quarterly General Assembly Executive Committee (GAEC) meeting in Calabar, Cross Rivers, the church urged political parties and their members to conduct their primaries, congresses and other electioneering activities with utmost decorum.

    In a communiqué at the end of the meeting, the Church noted the apparent helplessness of the military in the face of the worsening security situation occasioned by the heinous activities of the terrorist Boko Haram sect.

    The communiqué signed by the Prelate and Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church, Most Rev. Prof. Emele Uka and the new Principal Clerk of the Church, Rev. Eseme David William, expressed dismay over the federal government’s proposal to establish cattle ranches for Fulani herdsmen.

    While insisting the ranches should be established only in states where cattle is the main occupation, the church said ” any attempt to establish cattle ranches in other states would only replicate the tension and friction between Fulani herdsmen and host communities, thereby worsening the security situation in the country.”

    The church also commended the National Assembly for approving the provisions for local government autonomy and Independent candidacy.

  • Don urges pharmacists on war against Ebola

    The Secretary General of the West African Post Graduate College of Pharmacists, Professor Wilson Erhun, has urged pharmacists to intensify health promotion efforts as the world awaits the best therapeutic alternative against Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

    Erhun gave this challenge at a symposium organised by the college to mark World Pharmacists Day. The venue was the Presbyterian Church, Yaba, Lagos.

    With the theme: Ebola Virus Disease: The fact and friction about hand sanitisers,  the programme brought together hundreds of pharmacists, health experts and other stakeholders. They made presentations on: “An overview of Ebola Virus Disease; “Hand sanitizer, fact and fiction; ‘Hand washing with water and soap”.

    According to him, it is imperative for community’s pharmacists to continue to provide information that would improve the health of the residents in rural area, as most pharmacies are regarded as Ebola Information Centres in rural areas.

    He noted that communities pharmacists are by reason of their location, in the heart of the communities and must continue to provide opportunities for community involvement and supporting individuals to take control of their lives, their health and where applicable, self management of their long term condition.

    He cited the words of the President of the International Pharmaceutical Federation,  Dr, Carmen Pena  that, “access to health is not just an economic issue. It is also about access to medicine which has big research evidence elements, access to correct information and access to education”.

    Erhun said further: “Prevention is very germane against Ebola as there are no medication that has been approved or is readily available to treat Ebola, though an experimental treatment called ZMapp was used on Brantly and NancyWritebol. For now, patients are given fluids, antibiotics and blood transfusions to help their immune system fight”.

    He stressed that pharmacists are expected to be involved in every aspect of the preparation and the use of medicines from research and development to eventual supply to the patients.

    While reiterating the commitment of the college in empowering pharmacists on best practices, he said: “We have been consistent in mobilising and encouraging pharmacists to adopt best practices as they increased their counseling activities. At the same time, pharmacists have been mobilised to use their training and calling to educate people about Ebola while ensuring that they themselves do not become victims in the crusade”, he said.

  • Presbyterian Church marks 168 years, urges unity

    THE Presbyterian Church of Nigeria (PFN) yesterday marked its 168th year of existence.

    Speaking at its 21st General Assembly to mark the occasion, the Prelate of the General Assembly of the PCN, His Eminence, Rev (Prof) Emele Uka, called on Christians to emulate the virtues of missionaries who came to Africa and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

    He said the missionaries despite all odds which they face at the time due to the differences which existed in language, culture, religion and race still persevered in the aim.

    Uka called for unity, urging Christians to see themselves as brothers and sisters who are in the vineyard of God.

    Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State said arrangements have been concluded to restructure the missionaries’ cemetery to meet up with the state’s tourism initiative.

    Represented by his Special Assistant on Religious Matters, Eyo Ene, Imoke said that the cemetery would be sited at Creek Town in Odukpani Local Government Area of the state.

    He pointed out that the cemetery would be in recognition of the stewardship of the missionaries who spent all their lives inculcating Christian values in Nigeria.

    The Governor challenged Christians in the country to emulate the virtues of early missionaries who denied themselves comfort to spread the word of God.

    The Obong of Calabar, His Eminence, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, urged the church not to despise the Ekpe society because it was through them that the church passed to gain its members for inculcation of the Christian values.

  • Presbyterian Church warns against politicisation of Chibok

    Presbyterian Church warns against politicisation of Chibok

    The Synod of the West of  The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria has warned against the politicization of the abduction of the Chibok school girls by Boko Haram.

    In a communiqué  at the end of its 19th Annual Synod held at the PCN church, Ikotun, in Lagos State, the Church urged all Nigerians to rise above political and join hands with security agencies with a view  to rescuing  the Chibok girls and dealing   a death blow to the security challenge posed by  insurgents.

    It said: “It is particularly disconcerting  that despite the spiritual interventions by churches and mosques and the numerous inter-faith conferences and dialogues, the level of insurgency, religious intolerance, and other criminal activities as well as social vices remained on the increase. Government must be alive to its responsibility of providing security and the freedom of worship to Nigerians.”

    It asked government to embark on a well-articulated and result-oriented job creation programme as a means of fully engaging  the youths in useful and productive ventures.

    In the communiqué, signed by the Moderator of the Synod, The Rev. Nnanna Odege and the Synod Clerk, The Rev. Bassey Ayek,the church also  lamented that despite  effort at improving power supply by privatizing the sector, power outages remains  a big problem across the country.

    It called for an effective mechanism to ensure creditable performance by the registered distribution companies.

    On the strike embarked upon by doctors under the aegis of the Nigerian Medical Association as well the incessant strikes in the education sector, the Synod blamed the situation on Government’s insincerity, saying the strikes could have been avoided if the Government had demonstrated sincerity in negotiations with the doctors and in the implementation of the memorandum of understanding reached with the stakeholders at all spheres of education.

  • Presbyterian Church canvasses true federalism

    The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria has challenged delegates at the on-going National Conference to enthrone true federalism and the nation’s secularism.

    It said these will form the basis for the peaceful co-existence of Nigerians.

    This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the first quarterly meeting of the General Assembly Executive Committee (GAEC) in Calabar, Cross River State.

    The communiqué, signed by the Prelate and Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church, Most Rev. Prof Emele Mba Uka and the Principal Clerk, The Rev. Ndukwe Nwachukwu Eme, expressed delight with the commencement of the Conference.

    It urged delegates to courageously tackle the issues before them in the spirit of justice and fair-play.

    The church also commended President Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration for a possible referendum to back up the decisions of the Conference.

    It praised the decision of the Northern States Governors’ Forum to abolish the payment of secondary school fees in the northern part of the country.

    It however called for a total declaration of free primary and secondary education throughout the nation as a uniform system of investing in our children to secure their future as the leaders of tomorrow.

  • Presbyterian Church wants total war against Boko Haram

    The Prelate and Moderator of the General Assembly of The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Prof. Emele Uka, has called for an onslaught against the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, to put to an end to its relentless orgy of indiscriminate and senseless killings of innocent Nigerians.

    The prelate condemned the latest spate of killings including the massacre of innocent school children at the Federal Government College, Bunu Yadi, Yobe State, which he described as senseless and barbaric.

    Uka, in a statement, said the total war should be fought at all fronts including the arrest and prosecution of all those who directly and indirectly support the terrorist group.

    He wondered why the attacks and wanton killings by the Islamic sect were on the increase despite the state-of-emergency declared by President Goodluck Jonathan and the military onslaught against the sect.

    “The country is in a state of war,” the prelate declared, “and it is only a total counter war that will save the nation from this spate of mindless plunder and destruction of lives and property and the palpable state of fear and insecurity that have engulfed the nation.

    “With the sophistication of the sect’s arms and strategies, the impunity with which they unleash mayhem and the seeming ubiquity in parts of the North East geographical zone, it is obvious that they enjoy a massive support.

    “I am surprised that till today, no arrests of their sponsors have been made even though the government has made claims to the effect that they know those who are sponsoring the Boko Haram terrorist group.

    “If the government knows them, they should expose them and cause them to face the wrath of the law.”

  • Presbyterian Church warns against election crisis

    As Nigerians continue to express their condemnation of the poor conduct of thee November 16, 2013 governorship elections in Anambra State, The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria has blamed the “inconclusive election” on the high level of desperation by the political class and corruption, which has become endemic in Nigeria.

    Referring to the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the inconclusive election was caused by sabotage and subversion of the electoral process by an electoral officer, the Church cautioned INEC, the government, the political class and the generality of the citizenry that going by this report, it would be necessary to guard against any acts of manipulation and inducement that may mar the forthcoming general elections in 2015 to avoid any other political crisis that might destabilise the nation.

    The Church stated this in a communiqué issued at the end of the last quarter 2013 meeting of its General Assembly Executive Committee held in Calabar. In the communiqué, jointly signed by thee Prelate and Moderator of the General Assembly, The Most Rev. Prof. Emele Mba Uka and the Principal Clerk, Rev. Ndukwe Nwachukwu Eme, the church expressed support for the convening of the National Conference as a forum to discuss the issues and challenges to the peaceful co-existence of the people of Nigeria and the future of the nation. The Church recommended that there should be no “no-go-areas” and that the report of thee conference should be subjected to a national referendum to take final decisions.

    And while the Church condoled with the family, members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and the government over the death of former ASUU president, Prof. Festus Iyayi, in a motor accident on the way to Kano for ASUU meeting, it commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his initiative to end the strike by university lecturers.

    The Church also alerted the government at all levels to the World Bank report released mid-August 2013 to the effect that 100 million Nigerians, approximately 70% of the nation’s population, live in abject poverty.

    “The people are hungry and have no access to proper health care. Socio-economic infrastructure are decaying and education, which should be the right of every child, has become the exclusive preserve of the privileged. This state of affairs is lamentable in a nation blessed by God with vast natural resources. The situation is further compounded with general unrighteousness, crass corruption, social injustice, religious violence, criminal activities, civil unrest, etc.” the Church urged the three tiers of governments to be alive to the primary duty of governance which is to manage public funds in such a manner that will promote the general well-being of citizens in accordance to the will of God for humanity.”

  • Presbyterian Church hails National Assembly

    The East Synod of The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria has commended the National Assembly for enacting the law against same-sex marriage.

    In a communiqué at the end of its 26th Synod Meeting held at Isiama Parish, EluOhafia, Abia State, the Church lauded members of the National Assembly for resisting all external and internal pressures to pass the anti-gay bill.

    The communiqué, jointly signed by the newly elected Moderator of the Synod, Rev. Dr. Okeke Ndu, and the Synod Clerk, Rev. Chika Nwankwo, urged the Federal Government to maintain its stand against same-sex despite the massive support accorded it by the West.

    The Synod reminded churches of their prophetic role in reforming the nation spiritually, socially, morally, economically and politically, urging them to intensify efforts in that direction.

    It drew the attention of the Federal Government to the deteriorating condition of some of its infrastructural facilities, especially schools, roads and agricultural projects.