My attention was drawn to a write-up by Dr. Aliyu Tilde on the alleged controversy in the media between Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) and some youth alleged to have been found in one of ECWA’s training facilities in Jos, the Plateau state capital.
Though the ECWA President, Rev (Dr) Stephen Baba Panya, issued a statement clarifying the whole needless controversy, it has become clear that I need to also help in clarifying some of the observations raised by Dr Tilde who, by the way, has been a columnist since his time in Daily Trust (that caused disaffection in some people by its title and manner of reporting the matter) and through other newspapers.
His article had a headline: “ECWA Should Search Its Soul.”
I agree that introspective soul searching like change should be a constant process in either an individual or organisation. That Dr Tilde fondly spoke of his relationship with some ECWA outfits and ECWA’s humanitarian gesture over the years, including the small health center in Tilden Fulani then that cattered to the needy, speaks greatly of his closeness with ECWA. More significantly, he called it “my ECWA,” saying that if he were to be a Christian, ECWA would have been his church. This shows his deep connection, appreciation, and respect for ECWA.
Having been in ECWA from my childhood till date, I agree totally with Dr Tilde’s words as described above.
However, it seems Tilde has reservations with the explanation given by the ECWA General Secretary, Rev. (Dr) Yunusa Sabo Nmadu jr, who said, “ECWA, as a global organisation is involved in a lot of projects and shouldn’t be labeled with the allegation of abduction. According to Rev Nmadu: “we have healthcare, institutions, spiritual welfare, empowerment and so on… That house that was raided is one of the places we have, and used it to help people irrespective of their ethno-religious affiliations. The place is just like a school where somebody has to bring you. We don’t accept anybody below 18 years and charge money for admittance. We train them on different business and skills, and you would spend one year before graduation.”
There is absolutely nothing here that Rev. Nmadu said that is a lie! What Tilde thinks as denial is actually his lack of knowledge of how certain things now work in ECWA. If Tilde insisted on seeing the receipts by the sponsors of the youths in those training facilities, he should have then asked.
More importantly, the ECWA President later issue a statement giving more clarification on the controversy, including adding that all trainees at the facility are adults with none below the age of 18 and are all free to withdraw from the facility once they are dissatisfied with the training, the condition of the facility or its policies.
The ECWA President further added that when the DSS visited the facility, all the trainees the DSS met freely admitted that they were there of their own volition and not forced. More significantly is the fact that trainees at the facility are given two weeks break, after six months at the facility. They usually go and return. Abdurahman and his brother would have left earlier if they had wanted to. The Abdurahman had earlier gone on this two-week break and returned to the facility. So he was probably acting a script when he went out and then alleged that he was forced to stay in the facility with his brother.
Let me state here and inform Dr. Tilde that ECWA as a faith-based organisation DOES NOT AND CANNOT deliberately infringe on the fundamental rights and freedom of anyone. We believe in and practice freedom of religion and association.
It is important that Dr Tilde knows this and where he needs more clarification, then he should ask us instead.
Rev. Romanus Ebenwokodi, is the
ECWA Public Relations Officer