Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Christian Association of Nigeria, Taraba State chapter, has issued a powerful call for stronger collaboration among the church, government, and traditional institutions to promote peace, unity, good governance, and sustainable development in the state. The call was contained in a 10-point communiqué issued at the end of a three-day Ministers of the Gospel Conference held at the CAN Secretariat along FGGC Road, Jalingo. The conference, themed "The Roles of the Church and the State in Advancing God's Purpose in a Changing World," brought together bishops, pastors, church leaders, traditional rulers, politicians, and CAN leaders from the 16 local government areas and two development areas of the state, as well as participants from across the country.
The communiqué, signed by the CAN Chairman in Taraba, Rev. Fr. Williams P. Awoshiri, and Chairman of the Conference Working Committee, Bishop (Dr.) Innocent R. Solomon, stated that the church and government had distinct but complementary roles in nation-building. "The church has a spiritual and moral responsibility to preach the gospel, defend human dignity, promote peace and justice, care for vulnerable people and speak for the voiceless," the association said. It said government was responsible for providing security and justice, delivering essential services and creating an enabling environment for development. CAN urged Christians holding political offices to regard their positions as opportunities for service rather than personal advancement, citing biblical figures such as Joseph, Daniel, Esther and Nehemiah as examples of integrity and effective leadership.
The association also called on the church to provide moral and ethical leadership without becoming an instrument of partisan politics. It urged churches to prepare Christians not only for participation in elections but also for responsible service in governance, including in the areas of economics, security, law, agriculture, education and technology. On church-state relations, CAN advocated constitutional independence, mutual respect and constructive cooperation. It urged the church to complement government efforts in education, healthcare, poverty reduction and peacebuilding while retaining the courage to speak truth to power when necessary.
The association further called for greater consultation between government and traditional rulers, describing traditional institutions as important custodians of culture and grassroots values. It urged authorities to involve traditional rulers in policies affecting their communities. CAN expressed concern over divisions among Christians and called on church leaders to resolve differences within and across denominations, stressing that denominational differences should not undermine Christian unity or become sources of conflict. The association also resolved to establish continuous channels of engagement among church leaders, traditional rulers and Christian politicians beyond election periods and times of crisis. It said such engagement should focus on government policies and issues affecting citizens.
CAN called for greater involvement of church leaders in conflict prevention and peacebuilding, particularly in view of Taraba's multi-ethnic composition and history of communal conflicts. It urged leaders to adopt early intervention mechanisms and traditional methods of dispute resolution to prevent conflicts from escalating. The conference also featured a special prayer session for Taraba State and Nigeria, as participants expressed optimism that the conference would provide spiritual renewal and practical guidance for Christian leaders.
Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State, who declared the conference open, commended CAN leadership for convening the event and described the theme as timely, particularly against the backdrop of economic hardship, insecurity, drug abuse, moral decadence, social divisions and other challenges confronting society. He said the church and government had distinct responsibilities, but could complement each other in areas of common interest to promote peace, justice and sustainable development. According to him, while government is responsible for providing security, justice and the welfare of citizens, the church must continue to uphold truth, compassion, moral discipline and the fear of God.
Governor Kefas urged Christian leaders to have the courage to speak truth to power and provide constructive counsel to those in authority, stressing that the Church must not allow partisan politics, ethnicity or personal interests to compromise its prophetic role. He cautioned against turning the Church into an extension of political parties, saying religious leaders should remain united and focused on their spiritual responsibilities irrespective of political differences. The governor also urged the church to intensify its campaign against corruption, drug abuse, violence, hatred and injustice, while encouraging young people to pursue legitimate means of achieving success. He called on Christians to emulate the early church by promoting fellowship, prayer, generosity, forgiveness and care for one another.
Dr. Kefas further solicited the prayers of the Christian community for his administration, saying leadership came with enormous responsibilities that were not always visible to the public. He assured the gathering that his administration would continue to promote justice, fairness, peaceful coexistence and freedom of worship, irrespective of religious or sectional affiliations. The governor said his administration was prepared to deepen its partnership with the church and other religious bodies in areas including education, peacebuilding, community development and the fight against drug abuse. He reiterated the government's responsibility to provide justice, security, order and social welfare for citizens.
The Archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of Abuja, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, who also spoke at the conference, called on the church to uphold the spirit of speaking the truth to maintain its independence. In a paper titled "Practical Strategies for Sustainability in a Changing World," the Catholic Bishop insisted that the church was an independent organisation that is not only meant to preach the gospel of Christ but also to attract societal and human development. According to him, speaking the truth when necessary will maintain the respect accorded to the church, and further uphold its independence. Bishop David Abioye also urged Christians to overcome spiritual complacency and live according to God's standards.
Earlier, the CAN Chairman in Taraba State, Rev. Dr. Williams Awoshiri, expressed that though the Church and the government have distinct responsibilities, they both need to collaborate for the common good. He urged political office-holders to uphold integrity, justice and accountability, and always portray peace against tribal or political differences. The conference, which ended on Friday, August 21, featured a fundraising programme for the construction of a proposed 5,000-capacity ultramodern Christian Centre in Taraba State. Among the prominent clergy at the conference were Bishop David Abioye, Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama, Archbishop Benjamin Kwashi and Rev. Dr. Caleb Ahima.
The conference underscored the growing recognition that the church and government must work together to address the multifaceted challenges facing Nigerian society, from insecurity and economic hardship to moral decay and social divisions. As CAN Taraba has made clear, the church has a critical role to play in providing moral and spiritual guidance, speaking truth to power, and complementing government efforts in education, healthcare, poverty reduction and peacebuilding. The call for stronger collaboration between the church and government is not just a matter of policy, but a moral imperative that could determine the future of Nigeria's development and stability.
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