COCIN SEMINAR ON THE GRAZING/RANCHING RESERVES POLICY

COCIN Headquarters Church organised a seminar on Saturday, August 13, 2016 to discuss the topic, “The Grazing Reserve Policy: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”. Resource persons invited to do justice to the topic were Prof. S. Tyoden, Plateau State Deputy Governor, Prof. John Wade, Director of Strategic Planning and Research, Dr. Musa, a retired veterinarian and practicing cattle rearer, Hon. Benny Lar, Hon. I. D. Gyang and Hon. Rima Shawulu. Hon. I. D. Gyang did not turn up and didn’t send in any apologies.  

The four-hour session was very interesting and emotive. Arguments for and against the proposed Grazing Reserve Policy were put forward. Of course, the Plateau State Govt. representatives tried to justify their interest in the Policy. They made it clear though that no final decision on it had been arrived at by Govt. Everything about it is still at the proposal stage. Even this Govt position was so obnoxious to the audience that they literally heckled and shouted down the Deputy Gov. The chairman of the occasion, Rtd. Rear Admiral S. B. Atukum, had a hectic time trying to make the audience to respect the dignitaries before them. 

Hon. Rima Shawulu stole the show and received several standing ovations for his "not politically correct" stand on the matter. He made it clear that his Taraba State, along with Benue and Nassarawa States have decided not to adopt the Policy and pleaded with Plateau State to join them so that voice of the Middle Belt will be one on the matter. He believes that the Grazing Reserve Policy is a ‘Trojan Horse’, a metaphor for a trick to invade and plunder us by the some Nigerians. He said the draft Bill on it is insulting as only herdsmen can be appointed by the President as members of to the proposed Grazing Reserve Commission. He argued that as far as he is concerned, cattle rearing is a private enterprise which does not qualify as a national cause to justify the taking over of land by the Federal Govt. The reliance on the Land Use Act, which specifies the circumstances under which the Fed Govt can take over land from users, cannot be met by the needs of cattle rearers and so any such law can be challenged in court.

During the question and answer session, 7 out of the 8 questions asked by the audience were directed at the Govt representatives. The tone of the questions was an indication that the public hates the idea of Grazing and/or Ranching Reserves. By the end of the session, the Plateau State Govt was roundly condemned to have even contemplated adopting the Policy.

Our advice to Plateau State Govt is to kindly adhere to the wishes of their people who elected them into office. Disaster looms if they don’t. The solution to the many problems of Nigeria is in restructuring the country. We need to install true federalism and not the present unitary State that molests and bullies the entire populace. 

HOPE IN PERSECUTION: DR. PANAM PERCY PAUL

Dr. Panam Percy Paul, Gospel Singer and Musician and one of the committed ministers of the Gospel of the kingdom of God in Plateau state, recently asked us to pass on the following powerful message. It is timely and dead on point. Enjoy it.

THERE IS HOPE FOR THE CHURCH EVEN IN THIS SEASON OF PERSECUTION AND SEEMING HARDSHIP.

I have heard from so many, and also read many articles concerning the plans of Islam and all their threats but no one seems to go beyond that to tell us the plan of God and the church. Everyone seems to entertain a deep fear for now and the future. I wonder why.

But as I waited on the Lord I keep hearing words of Hope. The Lord also revealed His victory strategies for the church. We've heard about the Church in Turkey and Europe generally and all these stories seem to convey is FEAR.

But here is the Word of The Lord. I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH AND THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT. The Lord made me realise that we have hijacked the church from Him. It's no longer HIS church. We call ourselves PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER...... We refer to the church as MY CHURCH.... and to the congregation as MY SHEEP. MY CHILDREN.

As long as it is not the Lord's Church, then certainly the gates of hell will always prevail against it. This is what we must do:

1. We the Senior Pastors and Bishops must deliberately repent and hand over the church to the owner. We must throw away all the titles that rob us of the presence of God. NONE OF US IS QUALIFIED TO BE PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF ANY CHURCH. We must resume our basic functions as APOSTLE. PROPHET. EVANGELIST. PASTOR AND TEACHER. As simple as this may sound it makes us to switch places with the Lord and give back to Him what was HIS in the beginning.

2. None of us owns any Ministry. It is the ministry of the HOLY SPIRIT.

3. We must be Humble. Today most Ministers get highly offended when they are not introduced in certain ways and by certain titles. That's idolatry.

Today the Shepherd is so far away from the sheep. We had more Power when we all called ourselves simply as BROTHER or SISTER. A strange spirit has overtaken us. We think of ourselves more highly than we ought. We fence ourselves from our members with very heavy security and bodyguards. Just to create a false sense of importance. Our Lord Jesus was so HUMBLE AND DOWN TO EARTH. We have reversed the protocol of the Kingdom of God. The GREATEST Must be the SERVANT of all. 

Finally. We must LOVE EACH OTHER AS OURSELVES. We must be sensitive and responsive to the needs of others and attend to them as if they were ours. This is Ps. 133. Acts 2. Acts 4. THEY WERE OF ONE HEART AND ONE SOUL . NO BODY CONSIDERED THAT WHAT HE HAD WAS HIS . THEY HAD ALL THINGS IN COMMON.  NOBODY LACKED ANYTHING.  This is the kind of Church Jesus Built. This is the church that even Hell cannot prevail against.

2 Chronicles 7.14 rings a loud bell. If my people who are called by my name shall

1. HUMBLE themselves

2. PRAY

3. SEEK MY FACE

4. TURN AWAY FROM EVIL WAYS....

The Lord said He will do the following. ..

1. HEAR FROM HEAVEN

2. FORGIVE THEIR SINS

3. HEAL THEIR LAND.

We need to Follow God's order of priority. HUMILITY IS THE FIRST... not prayer. GRACE HAS CHARACTER. It is expressed as HUMILITY. LOVE. FELLOWSHIP.

When we all repent and walk in love and humility and care for each other.... THE GATES OF HELL CANNOT PREVAIL AGAINST US. It's time to start looking for those who offended us and tell them I FORGIVE YOU. .... Don't wait for them to come to you.  THE KINGDOM OF DARKNESS IS AFRAID OF A UNITED CHURCH.

This is the word of the Lord. Thanks. 

Dr Panam Percy Paul.