By Katdapba Yunana Gobum
It is difficult to know and describe him in one or two paragraphs. Thus, what you read here, may have been picked from snippets of what he has done since he arrived Jos on his tour of duty as Lead Pastor, COCIN Headquarters Church.
There are reasons to believe that, if God had not called him into ministry, he probably would have been an activist. Many of what he does, apart from preaching from the pulpit, points to a direction of a servant of God who is at home, making friends with people.
Except you are one who is fond of disparaging the clergy, any meeting with Rev Aaron Ndirmbita is likely to change your disposition. If you ever did, perhaps you may vouchsafe for what you are reading.
His training as an agriculturist notwithstanding has, nonetheless, not limited his foray into other areas; inputting as much ideas as to be able to turn things around for the good of the society.
In the years that followed after his arrival in 2006 until 2013, the COCIN Headquarters Church in Jos, became a familiar turf for him; building new friends and ingratiating himself into the hearts of the congregation. But above all, focus his attention on the word.
Indeed, before long, the man many may have considered as a ‘local pastor’ from far away Chibok, Borno State was at home, with the congregation.
He superintended over the poor, rich and mighty, and his two colleagues; Rev Amos Tang’an and Rev John Haruna. Before long, he had spent some time in this assembly. It was not the number of years that matter, but the friendship, he, together with the Church Council ensured it lasted in the church.
Rev Aaron Ndirmbita has been a recurring decimal on a number of media handles expressing his opinions that may not necessarily be the views of the church; but are not in any way contradictory to what should be from the holy books.
On Nigeria’s democracy, he reckons that it is a bad model. For him, ‘it is characterized by imposition of candidates on the electorate, rigging of elections, winner takes all (that’s nepotism) in governance and corruption at all levels. Except we change the narrative, we cannot move forward’.
He is very much concerned about the treatment minorities get in Borno State. Aware of that background, his voice is consistent in the avalanche of how they deserve to be treated in the area of appointments and services for southern Borno.
Justice is the essence of being together. He is aware, and truly so, he knows as many do; ‘someone has succeeded in dividing the country along regional, ethnic and religious lines’.
Despite the injustices in his home state; which affects him directly, he bleeds to his marrows when calamity strikes in Borno. The Monday Market, Maiduguri fire incident, Chibok school girls’ abduction and the recent flood in the state. His pains are indeed palpable.
During the 2023 general elections, the palpable frustration under INEC where some results were majorly inconclusive; it earned the organisation’s chairman a sobriquet of ‘Inconclusive Chairman’.
However, he had raised a concern about what some religious leaders who, while expecting the result of the election at the center to favour a particular candidate; had engaged in religious politics.
Writing a congratulatory message on the centenary celebrations of the Church of the Brethren (EYN), he remembers with nostalgia the impact of the church in the north east. Recalling several names such as: ‘Baba Ibrahim, Baba Dauda, Baba Yohanna and many others, God helping them, were used to sustain the church’.
It is interesting to note that apart from the gospel, ‘EYN has touched, impacted and improved our lives in many ways within 100 years. Many of us wouldn’t have been what we are without the CBM coming to establish the EYN’.
His transfer to Abuja in 2013 may have woken him up to the reality of uncomfortable traffic holdups in the Federal Capital Territory. He is forced to ask, when it happens: Is it true that there’s nothing the government can do about the traffic holdup alone the Keffi-Abuja road?’
Jocularly, he provides an advice: ‘If you are coming to Abuja form the keffi axis, please avoid the major road or relax somewhere, maybe it’ll open up later’. That happens everyday, thus, it calls for interventions to open more roads coming into the capital city.
If you live in Nigeria and worried about education, the war between university teachers and the federal government, one would understand the pains of parents over time.
It is in this regard, that during the past administration, he called on Muhammadu Buhari ‘to call Minister Ngige and his collaborators to order. They are trying to bastardize our university system by paying university lecturers salaries that are unjustifiable and worse unimaginable.
‘That our public universities remained closed for almost eight months is due to the arrogance and insensitivity of some of such leaders, simply because it doesn’t affect them directly. It is now left for Mr. President to order the likes of Ngige to do the right thing to save our university system.
‘If in the 21st century, politicians are still toying and playing with our university system, then we’re in a big trouble. We cannot move forward like this’.
In 2022 while celebrating Nigeria’s 62nd independence anniversary, he offered a few notes on how to make Nigeria a better place: ‘Let’s solve our problems as they come and not pile them. The energy, time, resources etc that ought to be used for development are wasted in solving problems.
‘Today, we are faced with Boko Haram, killer herdsmen, banditry, kidnaping, corruption, poverty, inflation, bad roads, ASSU strike, etc are all looking for solutions.
Over the years, Nigerians were told of the ‘impenetrable’ Sambisa forest, which had hindered military operations. It is unimaginable, according to him to convince Nigerians we have a forest in the north so thick that the military cannot penetrate to flush out these miscreants and killers. Anything short of it, they’ll continue to come out of their hiding places and kill our people.
‘Appointment into offices should be done purely on merit, while at the same time putting into consideration the Federal Character as enshrined in the Nation’s Constitution and the diverse nature of our country. Our leaders should be just to all irrespective of tribe, region or religion in their appointments.
‘Those who are given the opportunity to serve and are not performing should be sacked and replaced with more capable hands. If they fail too, they should be removed from office.
Today, there are some office holders who have no reason being in government because they have failed woefully. For example, security, education (ASUU strike), economy, bad roads, why are the officials in these sectors still in power in spite of ttheir colossal failure?
‘We have never been so divided as a nation and that’s why some sections of the country are involved in agitations. It is possible to love, respect and treat each other with equity and we’ll all have a sense of belonging and contribute towards the progress and development of’ Nigeria.
Rev Aaron Ndirmbita is convinced if a census of some political office holders is taken, they may regret their entrance into the political landscape to contest for any elective position. He is quick to give a reason: Many of them have exposed their weaknesses and lost their integrity due to abysmal performance.
Being a minority Christian from Borno, he should know better how Christians are being treated in the state. It is a big phenomenon which cannot be swept away easily: They are marginalised in the north and seen as incompetent by the south. Where do we go from here?’
The COCIN has a transfer policy which takes its clergy round several cities and villages in Nigeria and abroad on account of its mission work in nations.
It is only Rev Aaron Ndirmbita himself who can say if his transfer to Gwagwalada in the FCT, Abuja given him a wider range of what working for COCIN entails.
It has, given the comments one is privy to assessing about his tour of duty to this part of the world.
Whatever it is that comes from the lips of any assembly reflects the quality of service through the word and action rendered to them by their Man of God.
Thank God, he has been defended; even to the point of an alleged protest, when it was contemplated he was being moved out of FCT, where he had served as Chairman of RCC Gwagwalada and Chairman PCC Abuja.
It does happen sometimes. Know it, when such takes place: He must have served well, perhaps it is the fear of the unknown that often overwhelms such assembly. Assemblies don’t choose their shepherds, the call is God’s and only him is able to equip them for the journey.
Rightly or wrongly, they say, the end of the matter is better than its beginning. The gratitude of the family is not hidden: As he is being pulled out today, December 1, 2024, they can only take a look at what has happened in the past; and remain on their knees, thanking God for the future.
I have often wondered if there is retirement in this work. Whether there is or not, wherever he chooses to settle, I am sure he will be ready to say: Lord, only speak, your servant is ready to go the extra mile.