Tag: CAN

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday condemned Thursday’s Nyanya bomb blast, which claimed 19 lives and left 60 injured.

Last night’s attack in Nyanya, the second in 15 days, CAN said, is a clear indication of the terrorists motive, which is to demoralise and destabilise the Nigerian work force by putting fear in their minds, saying “we must not allow this to happen.”

In a statement signed by the Secretary General of CAN, Rev. Musa Asake, CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor said it is an act that must be condemned by all, adding: “No sane person will seek to destroy the lives of fellow compatriot in the name of an `ungodly ideology’ of a so called `religious belief’.”

It reads in part: “It is with shock and dismay that I received the news of last night bomb attack at the Nyanya motor park barely 15 days after the first attack on April 14. The news of the second attack is not only devastating but a sad day for our nation.

“Like I have reiterated in recent times, terrorists or their sponsors must not be given the opportunity to prevail, and I state categorically again, evil cannot overwhelm good and darkness cannot prevail over light. This is a known fact that I want all Nigerians to take to heart in these trying times.

“The forces of evil may have made inroads in one or two places, but the collective good of the majority of Nigerians must and will always rise above the goal of the terrorists.

“At this moment, I want to commiserate with the families of those who lost their lives and pray for speedy recovery for those injured in the attack. This calls for more vigilance and caution by all citizens. Let us not allow these acts of inhumanity to dampen our spirit of patriotism for our country. Let us all rise against this monster.

“I once again call on those in charge of security to work harder to contain the situation while I call on relief organizations to see to the welfare of the victims.

“CAN on its part, will commit the country in the hands of God through prayers, to ensure that the situation is put under control, ours is to take this petition to God, we cannot carry guns and bombs to fight this battle but through prayers we shall win this battle.”

CHAIRMAN, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the President, South West Zone, Christian Welfare Initiative, Archbishop Magnus Adeyemi Atilade, has expressed fears over the persecution of Christians in Nigeria. According to him, while the persecution is full blown in the north, the south west part of the country is gradually beginning to witness it. “These are trying times for the Church of Jesus Christ in Nigeria, and heaven demands of us leaders to provide sound and credible spiritual leadership for the church. The final outcome of the present crisis confronting the church shall be determined by the decisions that we, as leaders of the church, take.” He observed that the church in Nigeria is under intense attack by forces that are clearly opposed to Christ. Atilade is worried that rather than for the attacks to abate, it has continued to escalate. “In the northern parts of this nation, churches are burnt, Christians are killed, and the business locations of our brethren are willfully and ruthlessly destroyed, while all sorts of discrimination and intimidation are unleashed on followers of Christ in the northern zones.” While agreeing that the magnitude of attack on Christians in the south has not reached that of the north, he said Christians in the south are beginning to “witness subtle, but consistent discrimination by the existing government structures.” The South West ACN president wondered why the premises of the Word of Life Bible Ministry in Victoria Island, Lagos, was demolished a week after CAN convened a press conference to protest the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.” According to him, if the church of the president of CAN could be demolished, then other churches should be worried. He enjoined Christian leaders to find solutions to the present attack on churches. “The leaders of the church need to agree on a course of responsive action to the present challenges. We should be able to articulate clear steps and directions for the entire body of Christ in Nigeria. The stamp of authority and veracity of these proposals to the church should not be difficult to convey to the Christians in Nigeria.

Christians are seeking an amendment to 1999 Constitution to enable governors control Commissioners of Police.

Besides, they are recommending massive deployment of electronic and human intelligence gathering to overcome security challenges facing the nation.

They also would like Nigerian to withdraw from foreign religious organizations, including the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC).

The Christian Association of Nigerian (CAN) made its position known in a 20-page memo to the ongoing National Conference in Abuja.

In the memo, which is sub-titled “That we all may be ONE”, has been submitted to the leadership of the National Conference being headed by a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi.

In the document, the organisation says the constitutional establishment and funding of Sharia Court amount to tacit adoption of Islam as a state religion.

It sought for another amendment to the constitution which will ensure the establishment and funding of Ecclesiastical Courts for Christians in Nigeria.TCAN said: “By Section 14(2) of the Constitution of Nigeria (1999), state governors are chief security officers of their respective states. However, the law gave them responsibility for security of their respective states without giving them any corresponding powers to carry out this function.

“It is recommended that Section 215 of the Constitution be amended to give state governors operational control over the Commissioner of Police in their respective states while their administrative control should reside in the Inspector-General of Police.”

CAN challenged the government on the prevalent insecurity nationwide because Section 14(2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution makes the security of the people the primary purpose of government.

The memo added: “Government must rise to the occasion against the current level of insecurity and nip in the bud violent criminal tendencies masquerading in the name of religion and freedom of worship before it blossoms into a national religious crises to the detriment of us all.

“Intelligence gathering machinery involving both electronic and human intelligence must be urgently developed and deployed for this new phase of insecurity.

“Our borders must no longer remain porous. The movement of small or medium arms and ammunition into our country is massive and should be checked.

“The menace of Fulani or other militia attacking villages in the late hours of the night under the guise of ‘unknown gunmen’ should be immediately checked before there is a sudden eruption of violence overwhelming the nation.”

On national census, CAN asked the government to ensure that it reflects “both the religion and ethnicity of the citizens in all the states and local governments”.

It demanded immediate withdrawal of Nigeria from membership of foreign religious organizations, such as OIC and the D8.

“It is on record as a known fact that Nigeria is a member of some foreign religious organizations such as the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) and Islam in Africa Organisation (IAC) and the D8 Group of Nations.

“The membership of Nigeria in these religious organisations is (a) without any legislative approval of the National Assembly (b) a clear breach of the provision of Section 10 of the Constitution of Nigeria which prohibits the adoption of any religion as state religion because membership depicts Nigeria as an Islamic country; (c) the theocratic ideology behind the current bloodshed in our nation is traceable to these external influence.”

On the fight against corruption, CAN recommended the “designation of some Federal and State High Courts within the existing court structure to handle corruption cases to the exclusion of all other cases to enable speedy trial and disposal of cases.

“The present situation in which trial of corruption cases look like a legal picnic and purely theatrical can only serve the course of impunity.”

The organisation claimed that the establishment of sharia courts was a “tacit adoption and promotion of Islam as State religion.

“Christians therefore demand for constitutional amendment to make equivalent constitutional provisions for the establishment and funding of Ecclesiastical Courts for Christians in Nigeria. Equality of treatment is the life blood of all fundamental rights.”

CAN faulted the government’s takeover of Christian mission schools without applying the same law to Islamic schools.

It also queried the establishment of Almajir schools in some parts of the country.

It said: “Ironically, government has never taken over any Islamic school but has been very busy establishing and funding Almajir schools which are purely religious schools.

“This is a clear act of injustice, inequality and discrimination against Christians. Government should establish and fund new Christian schools corresponding to the standard of the Almajir schools being presently established to ensure equality of treatment to both religions and end the obvious discrimination.

“Christians, therefore, demand the return of all Christian mission schools compulsorily taken over in 1972 to their owners with full financial grant for their rehabilitation.”

As security operatives continue search for the abducted 273 students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the National Coordinator of ‘Nigeria Mothers Pray’, Pastor Esther Okorie and the Catholic Bishop of Kwara Diocese, Ayo-Maria Atoyebi, are calling for prayers.

CAN has declared tomorrow as a day of fasting and prayer for peace, unity and progress of Nigeria.

In a statement by its National President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor , CAN urged Nigerians to pray for the release of the Borno abducted school girls and the high spate of bombing and general insecurity in the nation.

The association said only God can salvage Nigeria. Pastor Oristejafor urged Christians to use Friday to pray against Boko Haram and for God to expose them and their sponsors.

He also urged Nigerians to pray for quick recovery of victims of Nyanya bomb blast still at various hospitals.

Oristejafor requested Nigerians to pray for general peace of the land and to pray for repentance of wicked people who are bent on creating tension in the country.

The Catholic Bishop of Kwara Diocese, Ayo-Maria Atoyebi, yesterday said fervent prayers, fasting and honesty of purpose are the solutions to the security challenges in Nigeria.

He urged government and well-to-do in the country to establish industries for the teeming Nigerian youth to have access to gainful employment.

Bishop Atoyebi told reporters in Oro, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, saying Nigerians should to take a clue from Jesus Christ by living sacrificially.

Said he: “My message to all the people is to be sensitive to the situation where in now in our country, particularly the danger of Boko Haram. We should be more prayerful. We should storm heaven with prayers with our weeping, fasting and with any self-denial we can offer so that there will be a lasting peace in our country.

“The presence of evil men in any country can only be eradicated by the presence of very many good men. If you have that the good men will overcome the evil. With that I will urge every Nigerian to be more honest and work for the common good of all and those who have sufficiently should share with those who do not have. The rich should establish factories and industries so that the youth can have access to gainful employment.

“Many of the atrocities being perpetrated stem out of the fact that there is no job. So let the government do something and the government alone cannot do everything. The well-to-do should invest in the country so there will be a lasting peace in Nigeria.”

He said that: “Government should provide enough logistics for the military and para-military forces to tackle the Boko Haram insurgents. They should have sophisticated weapons to match that of the insurgents. Security consciousness is necessary for everybody. All suspicious persons should be immediately reported to the police or the SSS.

“Many are afraid because they think that they will be killed, but we should take a clue from the life of Jesus Christ. If one person does not die many people will not live. So, people need to be sacrificial and think for the common good of all not of my own tribe or my own religion.”

On the 2015 elections, the clergyman urged “politicians should play the game according to the rule. If they do that there will be peace and they should not see any position in government as do or die.

“Those who do well if they win should thank God and fulfill their obligations. Those who do not win should thank God and compete in the next elections. Do or die politics is not good at all.”

Pastor Okorie called on mothers to pray for the safety of the girls and the peace of the country.

Pastor Okorie who spoke yesterday in Abuja regretted that “the nation is in serious danger of being destroyed.

“Which woman will fold her arms and watch her child at the brink of destruction and not do all in her power to salvage her child, not even the mad one. But it seems that most of us have become too busy to hear the cry of our child of destiny – Nigeria”

“Dear women of Nigeria, let us put away religious, ethnic, political sentiments and status in life and unite together in prayer and positive action to salvage our country before it becomes too late for all of us”.

Continuing, Pastor Okorie asked: “Which nation can take us (170 million people) as refugees should we allow another civil war in the country? Women remember we are worst hit in any unrest – you may lose husband or children; you may suffer rape or your daughters; your life is not also spared. Arise Nigerian women and hear the cry of your child (Nigeria)”.

While calling on women to become vanguards for change, she maintained that every woman can make a difference in her very corner.

Mrs Okorie, while lamenting the recent bombing of bus station in Abuja, which claimed the lives of many Nigerians, urged Nigerians not to forget in a hurry the Rwanda experience which she said happened about 20yrs ago.

According to her, “if we have forgotten the Nigerian civil war which started in 1966, we should not forget the Rwanda genocide of 1994.

“Rwanda is planning and holding many activities for the 20th anniversary of the genocide of almost a million Rwandans.The Rwandan genocide was 100 days plus of killings of fellow citizens. It started in April 1994 and did not end until sometime in July 1994, Nigerian women should not allow the experience of Rwanda to repeat in Nigeria.

“The truth of the matter regardless of which ethnic group you may come from is that women and children always end up being the worst affected victims of genocides and wars”

“ We end up paying a high price for these conflicts that we did not cause! We end up being offered as the sacrifice for the fighting amongst our people. We end up becoming collateral damage in the hostilities”

“I am really upset with my fellow Nigerian women. I can see that our country Nigeria seems to be heading in the same direction Rwanda was 20 years ago. We just cannot afford to allow that to happen!

“We just cannot afford to let our country continue to slide down that slippery slope of disaster. Please let us do whatever we can to stop the downhill ride to tragedy, ruin and catastrophe! We must do something now to stop it! And do it with a great sense of urgency!

“We Nigerian women must read the handwriting on the wall. For how long are going to continue to watch while our children are massacred? Not long ago, about 59 of our children were murdered in their sleep in their hostels. Our children and husbands are slaughtered on the altar of politics and wanton killings. We have to stop the madness now! We have time to stop the madness going on in our country. Now is the time to stop it!

“All mothers should rise up in prayers, Queen Esther prayed in the Bible and the fate of her people was changed, we are the Esther’s of our time. And the time to pray is now”.