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Tag: Ayokunle

  • North’s Christians back Ayokunle for second term

    Ahead of its election in June, the Northern wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday passed a confidence vote on and expressed satisfaction with the leadership of its National President, Dr. Supo Ayokunle,

    The Vice Chairman of CAN wings in 19 Northern states, Rev Joseph John Hayab, announced the association’s confidence in Ayokunle.

    He spoke on the association’s preparation to elect new national officers for the Christian body.

    Hayab said the CAN president had protected and defended the interest of Christians, though “some retrogressive elements are against him because he is not doing their bidding”.

    The CAN vice chairman said Christian leaders in the North and South were behind Ayokunle and his re-election next month.

    Hayab, who is also the Kaduna State CAN Chairman, criticised those campaigning against the body’s President.

    According to him, they are the same Christian leaders who supported Ayokunle to win his election in 2015.

    He said: “These leaders fell apart with him because he decided not to do their bidding and move CAN forward, which he is doing today.”

    Hayab, who said Christians in the North were behind Ayokunle, added: “I am in touch with many Christian leaders in Nigeria, including those who are part of the National Executive Council (NEC). Over 90 per cent of them are satisfied with Ayokunle’s leadership.

    “What I know is that, there are shadows and people who have certain scores that they want to settle with the incumbent President of CAN. Instead of acting as Christians and going to Ayokunle to tell him that we don’t like certain things, they are now trying to mislead every Christian to believe in their blackmail.

    “Interesting, I knew what happened in the last elections in 2015. Some of these leaders, who are now telling us that Ayokunle is bad, why were they saying then that he was an angel?

    “When suddenly has he seized to be an angel and now a devil and want us to believe that he is a devil? We know why he is a devil to them today. Because they thought they could manipulate him when they enthroned him. But, when he now told them we must not continue business as usual they withdrew their support.”

  • Ayokunle, Okonkwo react to Osinbajo’s allegation on corruption

    President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rev. Samuel Ayokunle and ex-President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Dr. Mike Okonkwo have reacted to the allegation by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo that rather than preach against corruption, clerics preached on prosperity.

    Osinbajo, at an event on Saturday, berated gospel preachers for failing to lend support to the Federal Government’s anti-corruption war by failing to preach against the scourge.

    Speaking at the 30th National Biennial Conference of the Students’ Christian Movement of Nigeria holding in Enugu, the acting president noted that preachers were preoccupied with preaching prosperity rather than righteousness.

    The CAN president said although the acting president might have exclusive information for him to make the claim, the church had been speaking against the manifestation of corruption for a while, to no avail.

    The Special Assistant (Media & Communications) to the CAN President, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, who spoke on behalf of his boss, said: “Being a pastor, the acting president may know what we don’t know and he has a right to correct those whose teaching or preaching contradicts the scripture. What we know is that the church must speak against evil in the land, corruption inclusive. The

    church has been speaking against the perceived genocide in the country, insecurity of life and property, hypocrisy, nepotism, greediness, tribalism, favourism, treasury lootings, lopsided appointments, etc.

    “These are all manifestation of corruption. Corruption goes beyond greed and diversion of public money into personal hands. Whether our leaders, politicians and civil servants are listening is another thing entirely.

    “Those who have not been preaching against the evil in the country should heed the counsel of the acting president and the leadership of CAN in turn tasks those in the position of authority to be sensitive to the yearning of the church for peace, security, job opportunities, good roads, affordable medical care, and an end to every form of hardship in the land.”

    Okonkwo, the presiding bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), said Osinbajo must have had a reason for his statement accusing clerics for not supporting the anti- corruption fight of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The cleric, who spoke yesterday at the end of the 2018 Leading Edge Conference of TREM in Abuja, said:

    “The acting president must have a reason for saying what he said. I don’t want to speak for him, probably there’ s something he knows I don’t know. He’s the acting president; he has the security issues on his table. If he says so as a pastor, not just a nominal pastor, a spirit-filled, born-again, if the acting president said that, then, there must be some iota of truth in it that the church has not played the role it should play.”

    On the alleged yet-to-be-confirmed allegation of huge sums being found in the home of the sacked Director-General of DSS, Lawal Daura, he said it was a wrong thing to say the government was not fighting corruption because an appointee was alleged to have erred.

    “There is an Igbo proverb that says I can only trust the child in my womb, not the one at my back. That somebody is in the government, who had decided to follow a different agenda…if I had a different agenda, I will plan towards it, so anything I’m doing would be towards getting the money. But it’s wrong. They’re not God to know everything; they can only know the one He shows to them.

    “That’s it, but when the person’s cup is full, boom, it blows up…that’s what has happened. The man could have still been there amassing wealth, and no one will know until Buhari’s tenure is finished and he carries the money and goes. I believe things are unfolding, many more will still happen.”

  • Ambode, Ayokunle, Chief Judge, others for IDDS

    Lagos State Governor Akinwumi Ambode will next Saturday lead others Christians to the annual Inter-Denominational Divine Service (IDDS) of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Lagos chapter.

    The service, which holds at Shepherdhill Baptist Obanikoro by 10am, has as its theme humility in service.

    Lagos CAN chairman Apostle Alexander Bamgbola told reporters last Wednesday that the service will also attract CAN National President, Rev Dr Supo Ayokunle.

    Ayokunle, he said, will be the special guest preacher during the service where prayers would be offered for peace and progress of the state.

    Also expected at the service, according to Bamgbola are Wife of Lagos Governor, Bolanle and Chief Judge of the state Mrs. Opeyemi Oke.

    The CAN helmsman pointed out prayers have been sustaining Lagos State, saying the state even needs more prayers to remain on top.

    He appealed to Christians in the state to register and obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to enable them vote for candidates of the choice in the 2019 general elections.

  • Shun corruption, Ayokunle charges

    Shun corruption, Ayokunle charges

    PRESIDENT of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)
    Rev Supo Ayokunle has charged Nigerians to shun corruption and embrace love, service, humility and fairness.
    This, he said, will enable the nation to get out of the biting recession.
    Ayokunle spoke at the 50th anniversary celebration of The Ajayi Dahunsi Memorial Baptist Church, Lagos last week.
    He said corruption is an old garment that dragged the nation to the mud.
    Corruption, Ayokunle said: “does not befit us. It has only caused us shame, ridicule, pain and part of the pain is what we are bearing today. We should throw it away.”
    He encouraged Nigerians not to give up or lose hope as better days were ahead.
    According to him: “God, who rules and reigns in the affairs of men, is alive.
    “He that loses hope will not see the time of the wet seasons that will come. It is not our nation that is passing through this recession alone.
    “Other nations have passed through this time and they came out of it successfully.”
    He went on: ”Let us see this period as a period of dry seasons and it will not last. God is a God of dry and wet season.
    “Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning. We have been oppressed but we shall not be crushed. We may be persecuted but we will not be move.”
    Ayokunle, who is also President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), called for love among Nigerians.
    “We have to be fair to ourselves. I should not consider myself alone but other people.
    “In fact, we should put others first. In the appointments of office, we should look at all our diversity and let everyone be
    satisfied, that is fairness.”

  • CAN must operate withoutgovt funding, says Ayokunle

    President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) RevDrSupo Ayokunle has called on Christians to support the body’s Trust Fund to enable it operate outside government funding.

    He made the appeal last week at the closing session of the 64th annual convention of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) on Kilometre 46, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    CAN, he stressed, is not prepared to be held down by government’s funding.

    He said Christians should donate a minimum of N500 monthly to fund the body’s operations and activities.

    “We want to retain our integrity and do the task that God has committed into our hands without going hand in cap from any government,” Ayokunle reiterated.

    He also canvassed for prayers for the umbrella Christian organisation, saying the church in Nigeria is under a siege.

    According to him: “One thing we are sure is that the gate of hell will not prevail against the church.”

    He noted it was time for Christians to continue to pray for the church.

    “Please pray for us. Pray for the body of Christ and the Christians in Nigeria.

    “Your prayer alone can change things. If you forget anything, don’t forget to pray for the body of Christ,”he admonished.

    He also urged Vice PresidentYemi Osinbajo to make good use of the opportunities he has as a Christian in the helm of affairs.

    “It is a privilege that you are in the position of leadership today; please make best use of it as the destiny of Nigeria lies in your hands,” he appealed.

    Ayokunle applauded efforts of the General Overseer of the church, saying:”The crowd I see here is unprecedented. I have never seen the kind of crowd in the world where multitudes of people gather like this to worship God. This is an inspiration and hope to the body of Christ in Nigeria.”

  • Motailatu backs CAN leader Ayokunle

    Motailatu backs CAN leader Ayokunle

    The process that led to the emergence of Rev. Supo Ayokunle as president-elect of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) was flawless and incontestable, Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide (MCCSW) has said.

    The church, which Elder Prof. Joseph Otubu belongs to, said it has no objection or complaint with the process that led to the defeat of its General Evangelist at the poll.

    In a statement by its General Secretary, Special Apostle Samuel Adekoya, the church’s Prelate and Supreme Head, Baba Aladura Dr. Israel Akinadewo, said the church is willing to work with Ayokunle to reposition CAN for greater impact.

    It said those allegedly working towards scuttling the inauguration of the new executives of the umbrella Christian body should have a rethink.

    MCCSW said: “In view of the recent matter emanating from the outcome of the CAN presidential election, the Prelate and Supreme Head of MCCSW, restates the support and total acceptance of the process, which produced Rev Ayokunle and Elder (Professor) Otubu, as the President-elect and Vice President-elect respectively…

    “Our church is committed to the unity of the Body of Christ in Nigeria, and we will absolutely work with the new president in repositioning CAN.”

  • Baptist cleric Ayokunle replaces Oritsejafor at CAN

    Baptist cleric Ayokunle replaces Oritsejafor at CAN

    President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC) Rev Dr Supo Ayokunle yesterday emerged new national president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

    Ayokunle defeated Elder Prof. Joseph Otubu of the Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Movement (MCCSW) with 54 to 28 votes.

    Ayokunle earlier won the Electoral College votes 8-2 some weeks ago.

    He won again yesterday during the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the apex Christian body.

    The electoral process was almost disrupted when some delegates belonging to the TEKAN/ECWA bloc of CAN claimed there was a court order against the exercise.

    A shouting order prevailed for about ten minutes before frayed nerves were calmed.

    The delegates later staged a walk-out, claiming the process was already compromised.

    They claimed that the president of Ever Church Winning All(ECWA) Rev Dr Jeremiah Gado was duly nominated and should have contested the election.

    Our correspondent, who was the venue of the election, also observed that at least five delegates of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) walked out of the venue.

    They were believed to be carrying out the withdrawal threat of the bloc from the national body.

    Outgoing president of the body, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor announced the result around 2:30pm to a rousing applause at the Ecumenical Centre, Abuja.

    As soon as the results were announced, delegates from the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), which Ayokunle’s church belongs to moved to congratulate him.

    With the result, Otubu automatically become the vice president of the body.