Hardship: COCIN Church Warns Members to Shun planned protest to avert bloodshed

By: Ajiya Ayuba, Bauchi

The Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) has warned it’s members to shun joining the forthcoming planned nationwide protest by youths.

The leadership of the COCIN, argued that the protest will only worsen the current hardship affecting Nigerians.

The President, Rev. Amos Musa Mohzo and General Secretary, Rev. Benjamin Pokol, made this known in a statement signed and issued to newsmen in Bauchi state.

Mohzo, however stressed that the current socio-economic challenges in the country is enough violence to struggle with.

The statement reads in part:”COCIN position concerning the planned protest is that no church member should participate in it, because of the multi dimensional motives driving it. COCIN believes that God is dealing with the situation in his own way and we should be still and know that he is God ( Psalm 46:10 ).

Mohzo noted that the above position of the church is with the particular reference to “the Nigeria context where peaceful protest, usually lead to bloodshed, knowing that we had too much bloodshed in the land, should we assume that this one will be bloodless?

“As followers of Jesus Christ, we have been called not to just tread the path of peace, but to promote peace in the world (Mathew 5:9)

“Common sense usually tell us that when we are pushed to the wall and are angry, decision making ought to be carefully thought through in order not to worsen the situation. Anger in the hearts of Nigeria is justifiable because they have right to be cared for and treated better, but anger has to be constructive to breed something better than death”

“COCIN is also conscious of the much bloodshed and destruction of properties affecting it members in the recent past which has potential to choose protest, but as if this is not enough the prevailing socio-economic hardship has exacerbated our suffering rationally, nationwide protest would be the nearest option.

He added that the protest will midwive it at the end of it, “because from experience in the past, peaceful protest have never been peaceful. May the Lord give us the grace to forgive and endure, may we also take time to listen to the underlying message in this hardship that has been constructed for us in the midst of plenty”

“As citizens of Nigeria, COCIN members are aware that peaceful protest is deeply enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not just as a democratic right, but as a fundamental human right of every citizen which means it’s constitutionally right for citizens to protest peacefully, voicing out their grievances when those in authority fail in their God given mandate”

“As citizens and victims of this hardship, it’s incumbent on the leadership of our church to make our position clear in order to guide our teaming numbers in approaching the protest” the statement stressed.