By Danjuma Auta
The Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) has expressed its anger over the non-released of the remaining 90 Chibok girls and Leah Sharibu who have been in Boko Haram captivity for ten years now.
In a communique issued at the end of its just concluded 71st General Church Council (GCC) meeting in Jos, the church said, “The Council expressed dissatisfaction over the non-release of the remaining 90 Chibok school girls who by Monday 15th April 2024 had spent 10 years in captivity, Leah Sharibu and others without obvious efforts by the government to rescue the innocent children.”
The communique signed by the ECWA President Rev. (Dr) Stephen Baba Panya and ECWA General Secretary, Rev. Ayuba Asheshe called on the Nigerian government and international bodies to do more to ensure the release of the girls without further delay.
On the state of the nation, the church expressed disappointment at the rising level of insecurity in the country through banditry, kidnappings for ransom, incessant killings of innocent citizens by unknown gunmen, destruction of lives and properties with impunity by terrorists, particularly Islamic extremists, across the nation.
The church described the security situation as such that has turned the country into disarray leading to a near-total collapse of the economy leaving Nigerians in helpless hardship.
It added that the insecurity in rural communities where food is produced in large quantities has been paralyzed and tasked both the states and the federal governments to urgently put in place measures to tackle the problem and ensure that farmers return to their farms.
While applauding the efforts of the Nigerian Military and other security agencies for risking their lives in the battle against terrorism, insurgency and other forms of insecurity, the Council commiserated with the families of security personnel and other Nigerians who lost their loved ones in the course of defending the nation.
The church decried the prevailing economic hardship being faced by Nigerians and advised the government to put in place appropriate mechanisms to reduce the current economic hardship in the country.
On the steps so far taken by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the council expressed satisfaction with the recent proactive measures taken by the apex bank towards checkmating the devaluation of the naira.
The church, however, employed the government to put all necessary measures in sustaining the efforts geared towards curbing inflation and reducing the high cost of goods and services.
During the 4-day meeting, elections were conducted for the office of the ECWA President, Assistant General Secretary and trustees.
At the end of the poll, Rev. Dr. Job Ayuba Bagat, emerged as the new ECWA President while Rev. Dr. Sunday Congo was elected Assistant General Secretary.
For the office of ECWA Trustee, Rev. Prof. Musa. Gaiya returned as the Trustee representing Zone 5 while Elder. Danjuma Haruna was re-elected as ECWA Treasurer for another term of 3 years.
Similarly, the GCC approved the establishment of a new Department known as the ECWA Strategic Plan Department.
The Council also approved the setting up of a committee for the upgrading of ECWA Guest Houses into a fledge Department, ECWA Leadership Institute as well as the creation of ECWA Chad, Togo and Cameroun DCCs respectively.
The 5-day meeting was attended by the ECWA Executive, ECWA Trustees, Chairmen, Secretaries and Delegates from the 94 DCCs including the USA, heads of ECWA Departments, Institutions, Chief Executive Officers of ECWA Strategic Business Units and ECWA leaders from the Republic of Chad among others.