The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission NCPC, Rev. Yakubu Pam has been navigating the waters of peace in Southern Kaduna since the recent killings of innocent persons in the affected communities.

Just over the weekend, the NCPC boss who doubles as the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN 19 Northern States visited the two internally displaced persons camp for Christians and for Muslims.

At Mercy Camp which was donated by the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) at Zonkwa Southern Kaduna and Ladduga Community at Kachia Local Government of Kaduna State.

At the Mercy camp, the Executive Secretary was warmly received by the leaders and displaced persons in the camp.

He commended the efforts of the well-meaning Nigerians who had demonstrated love for these persons whose situation was no fault of theirs. Some of them have been providing relief materials to these persons in terms of food and materials.

Rev. Pam admonished them to forgive the perpetrators of the heinous crime because to err is human but to forgive is divine. According to the NCPC boss “you must forgive, if you do not forgive you will die in hypertension, adding that God allowed it for a purpose”. He further advised them to be patient and accept the situation they found themselves.

He told them that he came with his team under the love of God and God will never abandon them.

Rev. Pam further affirmed “on behalf of the NCPC and CAN 19 Northern States, we brought this good gift for you; good friends contributed when we appealed to them for assistance”

He urged them to be prayerful at all times “because life in the camp is never easy” He called on the States, Federal government and the Federal Ministry of humanitarian Affairs, Disaster and Social Development to come to the aid of the displaced persons.

He assured them that the Government would surely do what is humanly possible to assist them.

At the Fulani Settlement at Ladduga, the NCPC boss informed them that he had been to the Christians IDP camp to empathize and encouraged them with relief materials hence he decided to replicate same considering the fact that we are all one irrespective of our religious divide.

Earlier, the NCPC boss paid a condolence visit to His Royal Highness, The Agwatyap, Dominic Yahaya whose communities were greatly affected by the crisis.

He urged him to bury the hatchet and seek for permanent solution confronting his people. “The NCPC boss further assured His Royal Highness, “We will do our best to always search for peace to make sure that peace returns to Southern Kaduna”

Rev. Pam also encouraged the traditional ruler not to apportion blame, rather he said there was need for everyone to join hands and dialogue so that peace will reign. According to him, “solutions must come from within and Government needs to do a lot”

Speaking, His Royal Highness thanked the NCPC boss for finding time to communicate with him and his subjects at their trying moment.

He promised to initiate a peace summit comprising all the Fulani leaders and the Christian leaders so that the objective of returning peace and harmony in the chiefdom would be achieved.

In the same vein, the NCPC boss also visited His Royal Highness, Mallam Nuhu Bature, the Agwam Bajja at Zango Kataf Local Government.

The NCPC boss called on the federal Government to give the traditional rulers very important role to play in our constitution because they are the custodian of our culture and should play the role of stabilizer.

Responding, His Royal Highness thanked the NCPC boss for coming. According to him, “this courtesy call is very specially, the very nice way you said your words have gone very far to console us”

The Royal Father averred that the Good Lord had a way of helping them even though they do not know what to do.

He affirmed, “It is personalities like you that have been coming to offer assistance” He explained that the incident was very unfortunate and the Good Lord would not allow it to happen again.

The NCPC delegation was joined by the CAN officials of the affected local Governments

The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev Yakubu Pam has said that peace makers were the best people on earth.

He revealed this recently in Abuja while playing host to the members of the Benue state Christian Pilgrims welfare Board who paid him a congratulatory visit in Abuja. He explained that peace making was biblical and eternal for ” blessed are the peace makers for they shall inherit the kingdom of God”.

He thanked the delegation from Benue State Christian pilgrims welfare Board for their solidarity visit. He described Benue state as his second home considering his robust relationship with the good people of the state. The NCPC Boss reiterated that they were doing the work of reconciliation just as Jesus came to reconcile the world. He explained that recently he was in Kaduna to meet with the Governor over the killings in southern Kaduna, adding that he was also in Benue state to navigate peace between the Tivs and the Jukuns. He decried the alarming rate of absconders during pilgrimage which had given the Commission a bad name. He tasked them to join hands with the Commission to put an end to this ugly situation.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation and Special Adviser to the Benue state Governor on Religious Matters, Hon. Blessed Favour Onah told the NCPC Boss that the people of Benue were overwhelmed when the news of his appointment was made. He affirmed that Rev. Pam had always distinguished himself in any assignment given to him. He described him as a man “with excellent spirit”. He urged him to remain focus as God would help him to stand tall, adding that his appointment was a motivation to many of them.

The Special Adviser was accompanied on the visit by the Executive Secretary of the Benue state Christian pilgrims welfare Board, Mrs Dorcas Otaru, the Accountant and the desk officer Pilgrims.

The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission NCPC, Rev. Yakubu Pam recently met with the Executive Governor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai and also held strategic meetings with the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN, Kaduna State chapter over the killings in Southern Kaduna.

While playing host to the Pentecostal Bishops Forum of the 19 Northern States in his office recently, Rev. Pam affirmed, “Last week I paid a courtesy call on the Executive Governor of Kaduna State as part of seeking urgent steps to stop the killings of innocent lives in Southern Kaduna”.

The NCPC boss actually commended the CAN leadership in Kaduna state for the efforts in ensuring that peace returns to the troubled communities in Southern Kaduna. He admonished them to work closely with the state government with a view to finding lasting and permanent solutions to the killings in Southern Kaduna.

Very Much to theChagrin of the NCPC helmsman,he was surprised that some section of the Media misquoted him out of context.To this effect, Rev. Pam reiterated and affirmed that “he is part of CAN, and being part of CAN, I empathize with the pains of the people of Southern Kaduna and will not speak against the efforts of CAN and what the leadership of CAN in Kaduna State are doing at this difficult period”.

He added, “I hold the leadership of CAN in Kaduna State in High esteem and empathize with them and cannot make negative statements to discourage their efforts in comforting the flocks” Rev. Pam told the College of Bishops of the Pentecostal Bishops Forum for the 19 Northern states led by Archbishop John Praise that they must work with CAN to find solutions to these incessant attacks and killings in Southern Kaduna.

In his meeting with the Kaduna state Governor, Rev. Pam assured him that he would do everything possible to engage with the eminent religious bodies such as Christian Association of Nigeria CAN, Jama’atu Nasir Islam JNI, Mayeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Community leaders and indigenous people in Southern Kaduna in a frank and open dialogue to help bring out genuine suggestions towards resolving the Crisis.

Rev. Pam assured the College of Bishops of the 19 Northern States that it was only dialogue that could resolve the current crisis in Southern Kaduna.

 He frowned at the sensational caption by an online Media that “NCPC boss cautioned CAN”, was malicious, misleading and a misrepresentation of the facts; according to him, “it is a figment of the writer’s imagination”.

He called on the media to be circumspect and always endeavor to cross check their facts before going to the Press.

Rev. Pam stressed that he is a family and product of CAN and would not do anything to tarnish the image of this revered Association.

Celestine Toruka

Head Media, NCPC

The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission Rev Yakubu Pam has said that the Judiciary plays very important role in our democratic experience.

He made this disclosure recently in Abuja while playing host to the members of the Plateau State Judiciary led by His Lordship, the Chief Judge of Plateau State, Justice Yakubu Dakwak. His words ‘ the Judiciary being the third arm of government which interprets the law of the land has a very important role to play in our democratic experience’. He further applauded him for the quick dispensation of justice in Plateau State under his leadership, because he was aware that justice delay is justice denied.     

The NCPC Boss commended the Chief Judge and his team for the genuine support they have been giving to the Executive Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency, RT. Hon. Simon Lalong.  He assured the members of the Plateau State Judiciary that NCPC under his watch would witness a complete turn around and would not bring shame to the people of God. 

Earlier, the Chief Judge of Plateau State, Justice Yakubu Pam said they were in NCPC to congratulate the Executive Secretary on his well deserved appointment. His Lordship thanked God and Mr President for finding him worthy of the appointment. He intimated the NCPC Boss that his appointment did not come to them as a surprise.

According to him, ‘you are a highly experienced person, a man of peace and a round peg in a round hole’. He further explained that as a Clergy he was sure that Rev. Pam would be able to make a difference in NCPC. He urged Rev Pam to carry everyone along and be fair to all. His Lordship prayed that God would grant him the spirit of discernment to lead ncpc aright.