From Scholastica Hir Makurdi
The paramount ruler of the Tiv nation, the Tor Tiv, Orcivirigh Prof James Ayatse has commended the contribution of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to addressing the plight of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Benue State.
The Tor Tiv gave this commendation in his Palace in Gboko Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, while receiving the members of the Church in Benue State led by its President, Godwin Aondohemba Timiun.
The paramount ruler stressed the need for Christians to embrace farming to enable them tackle both hunger and poverty as they worship God so as to lead a more prosperous existence.
While urging all Christians to prioritise the worship of God in Truth and Faith as penciled down in the Bible, he said: “God in His loving kindness had provided the rich soil for the people to cultivate and not lack. Therefore, it behoves the people to enjoy the abundant rich resources hidden in the soil.”
He decried the ungodly practices introduced into the church of God, such as selling of holy water, handkerchiefs and anointing oil and payment of money for prayers, even as Christ charges his followers that as they received free they should equally give free.
He commended the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for its philanthropic gesture of donating relief materials to those displaced following herdsmen’s attacks on Benue communities and encouraged them to keep up the good work.
Earlier, Dr Timiun had extolled the bold and fatherly role the Tor Tiv played during President Bola Tinubu’ s visit to Benue State, which, according to him, exposed the hidden agenda of the terrorists and their sponsors.
He informed the monarch that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints had been providing relief materials to victims of flood disasters and IDPs in Daudu, Makurdi International Market, noting that the West African headquarters of the church in Ghana and other countries would be coming to sympathise with those in Yelwata.
Timiun, who is also the National President of Farmers’ Initiative for Agriculture Development, Benue Valley, appealed to the Tor Tiv to advise the state government to enact laws that could prohibit scrap buyers popularly called ‘iron condemn’ and illegal checkpoints on the Benue roads.
He said their illegal activities had posed more challenges to the farmers in the state.
He also solicited the support of the paramount ruler to enable their farmers to get farm inputs from the government on time.