The Tor Tiv, His Royal Majesty Prof. James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, has been elected chairman of the Northern Christian Traditional Rulers Forum, vowing to lead with humility and a commitment to national peace.
Ayatse emerged at the Second Northern Christian Stakeholders Forum and Solemn Assembly, organised by the Stephanos Foundation at the Glory Dome of Dunamis International Gospel Centre in Abuja on Thursday.
In his acceptance speech, the monarch thanked God and forum members for their confidence, promising purposeful and God-fearing leadership. He stressed that his message had consistently been one of collaboration—not conflict.
“We are not gathered for war; we are gathered for the sake of peace in this nation,” Ayatse declared. “As a nation, we must prepare to work together.”
The royal father said the forum would seek partnerships with all peace-loving Nigerians, including moderate Muslim leaders committed to religious freedom and justice. He pledged to advocate for the protection of vulnerable communities, defend constitutional rights to worship, and speak out against violence, displacement and oppression.
“Unity is indispensable,” he stated. “If we are united, it will be difficult for anyone to defeat us.”
Ayatse urged Christian leaders, traditional institutions and political stakeholders to promote peace, justice and development, warning that division emboldens those who seek to destabilise society. He also called for strategic engagement on insecurity, insisting that prayers must be complemented by practical action.
The forum, he added, would engage diplomatic missions and international partners to advocate for persecuted and marginalised communities.
History of Violence
Earlier, the Programme Coordinator of the Stephanos Foundation and convener of the forum, Engineer Mark Lipdo, recalled that more than 100 Christian traditional and religious leaders had gathered in Abuja in December 2025 to seek divine intervention over Nigeria’s worsening security.
“That meeting produced a conviction that Nigeria’s security cannot be prayed for from separate corners—it must be prayed for and worked for in unity,” Lipdo said.
He presented data documenting more than 9,000 violent incidents over 25 years, resulting in over 79,000 deaths, thousands of injuries and kidnappings, and the destruction or displacement of more than 500 communities—many of them Christian. The hardest-hit states include Borno, Plateau, Kaduna, Benue, Zamfara, Niger, Rivers, Delta, Katsina and Kogi.
Lipdo noted that the foundation has provided humanitarian aid, trauma counselling, shelter, rehabilitation, education and medical care to victims, while engaging international bodies such as the US Congress and the European Union on Nigeria’s security situation.
A Call for Christian Unity
Delivering the keynote address, Rev. Prof. Yusuf Turaki traced the escalation of religious violence since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999 and the rise of insurgency in the North-East. He called on the Church to respond through coordinated leadership, proper documentation of attacks, and sustained humanitarian assistance.
“The body of Christ must become one family,” Turaki said. “Denominations should cooperate in prayer, missions, advocacy, humanitarian response and discipleship. When Christians speak with one voice, that voice carries greater moral authority.”
He also urged improved documentation to strengthen advocacy and legal engagement, and called for coordinated relief, trauma healing, education, livelihood restoration and community rebuilding.
Broad Representation
The assembly attracted prominent figures, including representatives of Bishop David Oyedepo, Pastor Agi Emmanuel; Dr. Paul Enenche, Senior Pastor of Dunamis; and the newly elected Vice Chairman, His Royal Highness Col. Paul Zakka Wyom (Rtd.). Heads of Christian denominations and traditional rulers from across Northern Nigeria also attended.
Quoting Ecclesiastes 4:12—”Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves”—speakers stressed that silence and division could not provide lasting solutions.
The forum concluded with prayers for peace and national unity, and a reaffirmation of commitment to collaboration among Christian leaders and with other Nigerians to promote justice, reconciliation and lasting peace.
