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Tag: CAN

  • Tukur, CAN condole with Ondo, crash victims

    Tukur, CAN condole with Ondo, crash victims

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has commiserated with the Ondo State Government and the families of the victims of Thursday’s plane crash in Lagos.

    A statement by CAN’s President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, said that the association was stunned by the news of the death of 13 persons in the air crash.

    Also, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has described the crash as a national disaster.

    He said, “It is with sense of anguish, that I received the sad news of yet another plane crash in our country with utter shock.

    “The CAN President in his statement said, “Coming barely 16 months after the crash of a Dana Airlines plane, in which about 150 passengers died, CAN believes that the recent crash portends a bad omen for the aviation sector in Nigeria.

    “CAN offers its deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the air crash, the government and people of Ondo State and prays that God in His infinite mercy, should give them the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”

    It added, “Our thoughts go to the bereaved Agagu family, as we continue to pray for the protection of those the late former governor, Olusegun Agagu, left behind.’’

    It, however, blamed the frequent air crashes in the country on the Nigerian factor.

    The statement noted that the take-off and landing of planes remained the most dangerous aspects of flying in Nigeria.

    “We call on the Federal Government to come up with practical measures that would reduce the margin of errors in traffic air signals, mechanical faults and bad weather.

    “It should also undertake periodic investigations of the financial base and repair history of airlines operating in Nigeria. This will ensure that they do not adopt short-cut policies that would endanger the lives of passengers,’’ the statement said.

    Tukur, in his statement said, “My sorrow knows no bound, particularly in view of the circumstances of the tragedy.” The statement signed on his behalf by Prince Oliver Okpala, the Special Assistant on Media, “I share in this national grief. The accident is so painful, given the fact that it occurred as arrangements for the burial of our departed friend, party faithful, associate and ex- governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, had reached the climax.

    “The loss of members of the deceased family and friends of the family in the aircraft is most unfortunate. We are greatly pained by this development.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • CAN seeks probe of Lagos air mishap

    CAN seeks probe of Lagos air mishap

    The Christian Association of Nigeria on Friday advised the Federal Government to conduct proper investigation into what led to the crash of a chartered Embraer 120 marked 5NBJY, belonging to Associated Airlines Limited.

    In a statement issued in Abuja by the President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the body offered its deepest condolences to the victims’ families, the government and people of Ondo State and prayed that God should give them the fortitude to bear the loss.

    The statement reads: “Our thought go to the bereaved Agagu’s family as we continue prayers for protection of those the late former governor left behind.

    “Again, CAN restate that the frequent air crashes in the Nigerian aviation sector is the result of the Nigerian factor which receives strident denunciation in policies, passionate homilies of the clergy and tirades of well-meaning Nigerians, yet nothing works. It shows that take-off and landing remains the most dangerous aspects of flying in Nigeria’s aviation industry.

    “We call on the Federal Government to come up with practical measures that would reduce the margin of errors in traffic air signals, mechanical faults and bad weather. It should also undertake periodic investigations of the financial base and repair history of the airlines operating in Nigeria in order to ensure that they do not adopt short-cut policies that would endanger air travelers.”

     

  • Arewa to CAN: Promote peaceful co-existence among Nigerians

    The pan northern socio-political organization, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has taken a swipe at the the Christian Association of Nigeria, saying the organization owe it a responsibility to encourage peaceful and harmonious co-existence in the country.

    In a statement made available to The Nation on Friday in Kaduna, the ACF said CAN should be working hard to overcome what divide the people and not to promote cleavages along ethnic and religious lines.

    Reacting to CAN statement on its advice to the Federal Government to reconsider its position on the 2016 national census, the ACF said its view on the issue was misunderstood by the Christian body.

    The statement reads “the attention of the ACF has been drawn to reports credited to CAN in which the religious body expressed its displeasure over the ACF’s call on the Federal Government to reconsider its decision to allow the 2016 census to be conducted under the watch of Chief Festus Odimegwu.

    “And so, given the apparent misunderstanding of ACF’s positions on this issue of national importance, it has become necessary to issue this press release in order to dispel any misconceptions arising from ACF communiqué.

    “The new NPC chairman, since assumption of duty, has repeatedly said the census exercises from 1816 to 2006 have not been done with the best of intentions as a result of undue manipulations to favour some sections of the country. More so that data on religion and ethnicity were not included. Consequently, the NPC would go as far as efforts could go to make corrections in 2016.

    “Many people and groups reacted by saying such statements by the chairman would make many Nigerians conclude that the outcome of 2016 census would be work from the answers, thereby generating avoidable controversies that will be unhelpful. What is more, religion and ethnicity, being emotive issues, will compel adherents not to accept results that do not favour them.

    “In addition, since census figures are for planning and management of socio-economic development, and not for promotion of religion and ethnicity, the inclusion of such data will be superfluous, besides generating avoidable controversies.”

     

     

  • CAN women make case for girl-child

    The National Chairperson, Women Wing Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN), Mrs. Mabel Oyin Sowoolu, has sought an end to the vices against the girl-child.

    Mrs. Sowoolu said the group would write to the National Assembly to protest against underage marriages.

    She spoke with reporters in Abuja after the association’s quarterly executive meeting in preparation for the WOWICAN convention in October in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

    According to her, should the lawmakers ignore the protest and legislate in favour of underage marriage, mothers would go naked to oppose the law.

    Asked what the association would do if the lawmakers vote in favour of underage girl-child marriage, she said: “I pray that will not happen. But if it happens, look, don’t underrate anybody. If it happens, mothers will go naked.”

    She said no right thinking mother would support the marriage that favoured a few people in Nigeria.

    She said had the female lawmakers and others occupying prominent positions married at 13, would they be where they are today?

    Said she: “If they are not having proper education, will they be able to perform? Why is it that all the time we are bashing the girl-child and women?”

    The chairperson said the association has been organising capacity building programmes for girls to acquire skills to make them ignore harmful offers from men.

    She said the onslaught on the girl-child has become worrisome as incidence of rape is on the increase.

    Mrs. Sowoolu said since the association has realised that most rape victims hardly expose themselves, it has encouraged them to speak out whenever they are raped so that the issue can be addressed.

    She said “:Our girls are being shattered, being destroyed, the main thing in all of this is the psychological side of it. Many of them are dying silently. Nobody wants to say my daughter is raped because of the stigma, but we are encouraging them now to say it so that this thing will be addressed.”

     

  • CAN, Muslim body disagree over pastor daughter’s abduction

    CAN, Muslim body disagree over pastor daughter’s abduction

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) on Wednesday engaged in war of words over the alleged abduction of the daughter of a pastor by the Emir of Bida, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar.

    The Vice President of CAN, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, called on the police to ensure the immediate release of the pastor’s daughter.

    The victim is a student of Federal Polytechnic, Bida.

    Ayokunle made the call during a press conference held at the NBC Secretariat, Dugbe, Ibadan, on Wednesday.

    The president of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, had accused the Emir of abducting the daughter of a pastor and keeping her in his palace for some weeks.

    But, the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs described comments by the CAN President as being deliberately targeted against Islam and Muslim leaders.

    NSCIA, in a statement signed by its acting Director of Publicity, Muhammad Kassim, said it had become a normal routine for the CAN president to target his outbursts at some Muslim personalities in the country.

    However, the CAN Vice-President, said the response of the NSCIA to the Oritsejafor’s statement on the alleged abduction was unfortunate and could lead to unnecessary incitement.

    “As Vice-President of Christian Association of Nigeria I wish to state that the comments our President made were never directed at Islam because we are never a disrespectful people.

    “CAN will never fail to speak through our president or any other officer mandated to speak on our behalf on any national issue or about anyone in the society whose action appears to be inappropriate,” Ayokunle said during the press briefing.

     

  • Nigeria can only be saved by cultural defences

    The war against terror may consume Nigeria except cultural defences are built across the nation, the Special Adviser to the National President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on anti-terrorism and security matters, Rev. Ladi Thompson, has declared.

    Thompson said sponsors of terror in the nation are working tirelessly to spread the attacks to the South, a development he said can be curtailed through cultural defences.

    Speaking in a chat last week in his office, Thompson said: “If we don’t want the Boko Haram insurgency to come down South and consume this nation, we must begin to build defences along cultural lines.”

    The defences, he explained, have to do with respect for human lives and strong aversion for killing under religious guise, which he said stopped with the abrogation of ritual killing before independence.

    “Africans believed in rituals and human sacrifices but our forefather rose against the practice. This is the same path that Boko Haram wants to take us through again.

    “It is up to different ethnic nations to rise up in unison and insist anyone who kills for religious reasons is satanic and unworthy of relations,” he added.

    He pointed out that different nations have always rallied round different cultures to save threats.

    While the United States of America relied on its culture of equality and democratic freedom, Thompson said the United Kingdom thrived on the culture of stoicism while France’s culture of refinement has been a main stay.

    The cleric said Nigeria as a multicultural nation has different defence themes that can help out.

    He advised that youths of each region should also be mobilised and empowered to resist unnecessary religious aggression and persecutions in any part of the country.

    Allaying fears such groups will turn to armed militia organisations, Thompson said they will operate under strict regulations and supervisions with regular contacts with community leaders.

    According to Thompson: “This is one of the things that can save this country with the increasing inability of government forces to tackle terrorism.

    “If we handle it at the community level, we would save this country and flush out insurgents that have infiltrated government forces from among us”.

  • Keshi can recall Osaze, others if he likes – NFF

    Keshi can recall Osaze, others if he likes – NFF

    The leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has given Super Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi the green light to recall players like Osaze Peter Odemwingie, Ikechukwu Uche, Kalu Uche, Victor Anichebe back to the Eagles if he so desire.

    Chairman Technical Committee of the NFF Barrister Christopher Green disclosed this to NationSport from Turkey venue of the ongoing FIFA U- 20 World Cup yesterday.

    “The choice of players to prosecute any Eagles match lies with the Chief Coach of the team, Stephen Keshi. If he decides to bring the said players (Osaze Odemwingie, Joseph Yobo, Ikechukwu Uche and others) back to the he has the right to do so because he is in charge of the team and I don’t think anybody would ask him why. If he brings in any player there is no reason for anybody to question his choice of players.”, Barrister Green disclosed.

    The former Sports Commissioner in Rivers State stated as a matter of fact that Keshi is responsible for the success or otherwise of the team.

    “The Coach has the free hand to recall any player since he is responsible for the success of the team and otherwise. This is our (NFF) philosophy”, Green explained.

    The NFF Board member also advocated for full support for Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi adding that the Eagles’ project is for all Nigerians not only Keshi and the NFF.

    “Like I always say he (Keshi) can also take decisions that is opened to advice from people. So anyone that has advice that could help him should not hesitate to give him. Like I said I also want people to because this projevt is not a personal project but a national project.

    “If we rally round him and eventually qualify for the 2014 World Cup

    and also fair well in the competition will help Nigerian football a lot”, Green observed.

  • Atilade mourns Mogaji, praises Tinubu

    Atilade mourns Mogaji, praises Tinubu

    The Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), South West Region, Archbishop Magnus Atilade, has described the late Alhaja Abibat Mogaji as the greatest mobiliser in the nation.

    The deceased, he said, used her position as President General of the Nigerian Market Women and Men Association to mobilise Nigerians to worthy causes.

    Atilade, in his tribute, recalled how the late Mogaji single handedly saw to the success of the Primary Health Project initiated by the late Prof. Ransom Kuti, in the 80s.

    According to him: “We called a stakeholders’ meeting that people were reluctant to attend. Then, we approached Mama who mobilised all the market women and men to the venue.

    “The meeting was a sell-out and other states took a cue from Lagos in the implementation of the project.

    “I can say that she was the main catalyst for the scheme as someone who worked from the inside.”

    He condoled with Ahmed Bola Tinubu on the incident, asking him to draw inspiration from her worthy lifestyle.

    The deceased’s courage, he pointed out, has rubbed off on the national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

    Tinubu, according to him, deserves credit for daring to fulfill the promise to hand over private and mission schools to their proprietors despite stiff oppositions from vested interests and religious organisations.

  • Jonathan distorting facts on Boko Haram victims- Northern CAN

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yesterday accused President Goodluck Jonathan of distorting facts regarding victims of the Boko Haram insurgency.

    Reacting to a statement credited to Jonathan that Muslims have been the major victims of the Boko Haram attacks in the north, northern CAN said the statement was misleading and unacceptable.

    Spokesman of northern CAN, Sunday Oibe, said in a statement yesterday in Kaduna that the body was disappointed with the President’s statement, considering the fact that Christian interests and businesses have been the major targets of the Boko Haram sect.

    The statement reads in part: “If it is true that Mr. President actually made this assertion, then we are highly disappointed and sad at this veil attempt to distort the facts as it concerns the activities of the Boko Haram Islamic sect.

    “We say this because there has never been any bomb that has been exploded in any mosque or targeted at any mosque in the entire activities of the Boko Haram Islamic sect in the north.

    “The Boko Haram members even said that even when a Muslim is killed, it is by mistake. They came out openly to say that their targets are Christians and government institutions.

    “So we are shocked, surprised and puzzled when a newspaper quoted Mr. President as saying that the Boko Haram terrorists have killed more Muslims than Christians in the north.”

    The body added: “Everybody, including the international community, knows that Christians and their churches have been the target of the terrorists. The statistics are there for everybody to see how Christians have been massacred by the terrorists.”

     

  • Kwara CAN commends FG for proscribing Boko Haram

    Rev. Cornelius Fawenu, the Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kwara, has commended the Federal Government for proscribing the Boko Haram sect.

    Fawenu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Ilorin that the proscription was long overdue.

    The clergyman said the Boko Haram insurgency was giving the country and its citizens a bad image outside the country.

    The CAN scribe described the proscription of the militant sect as a welcome development that would bring lasting peace to the northern part of the country.

    Fawenu, who urged the Federal Government to also ban other militant groups in the country, appealed to religious leaders to work for peace.

    “We should all support the Federal Government’s efforts in its quest to wipe out terrorism in the country,” he added.

    He advised adherents of Christianity and Islam not to hide under religious cover to commit crime, adding that both religions preach peace.