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Tag: Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)

  • CAN urges govt to reintroduce religious studies in schools

    The Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Oyo state branch, Pastor Benjamin , has urged government at all levels to reintroduce Christian Religious Studies in primary, secondary and higher institutions.

    Akanmu made the call while speaking on the significance of Easter, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Sunday.

    He said this would go a long way to help the young ones to know about God early in their life as they pursue their academic dreams.

    He said this will also ultimately bring peace to the society, as the students grow with the fear of God.

    Akanmu urged Christians to have faith in the power that resurrected Jesus Christ from the dead, live patiently and trust in God despite their plights.

    “If Jesus didn’t resurrect, we will still be in sin, the Jewish leaders chose to make up the story that it never happened, but on the third day after his death He rose, today He is alive and reigns eternally.

    “For broken homes, the neglected, betrayed, bereaved, prisoners, sick, among others can be restored by the power of His resurrection, the same power that raised Jesus is available for us today, if we can embrace Him,” he said.

    Also speaking, the Catholic Bishop of Oyo Diocese, Most Rev. Emmanuel Badejo, urged Christians to emulate Jesus who laid down His life for the redemption of man.

    “Easter Sunday changes the history of humanity, for the righteous, death is a mere passageway, not the end, death will not have the final word, but love and God will; Jesus conquered the devil, death, sin and darkness.

    “We must emulate Jesus and live sacrificially; our leaders must similarly make sacrifice for the people, no leadership has legitimacy if it doesn’t make sacrifice and serve citizens.

    “Our government must do everything possible to protect Nigerians, secure freedom for the kidnapped, deal with all forms of killings,

    “We suffer heavy loss of lives and the authorities do little about it, this must change.

    Read Also: CAN to FG: tackle increasing kidnapping, insurgence

    “All Nigerians should believe in Christ and never lose hope, don’t commit suicide, do not despair, God conquered death so what else can He not do for us, let’s always love one another irrespective of tribe, religion or status,” he said.

    Badejo further urged Christians to spare a thought for fellow citizens suffering from all manner of insecurity, especially in the North and other places, even as they celebrate the season.

    “I express solidarity with fellow Nigerians who are victims of clashes, bloodshed, killings, kidnappings, other tragedies, I pray fervently for a turnaround for peace and harmony all over Nigeria,” he said.

    Also, Rev. Alex Okoye of All Saints Anglican Church, Koroduma, Nasarawa, called on the government to emulate the selfless life of Jesus Christ and offer selfless service to the masses.

    Okoye urged them to also show love and compassion to the masses by fulfilling the promises they made during electioneering.

    “Easter shows that Jesus Christ has power over death, grave, it gives Christians hope, it shows that he who believes in Christ has eternal life; Jesus Christ is the resurrection and life.

    “As we celebrate Christ’s resurrection, I pray that everything dead in Nigeria comes back to life in Jesus name, amen,” he said.

    NAN reports that Easter is observed by Christians three days after Good Friday, it commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead; churches in Ibadan metropolis joined their counterparts to celebrate the day.

    NAN

     

  • Northern CAN backs national leadership’s visit to Buhari

    The Northern wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has cautioned members of Christian group in the north against internal wrangling that may also pitched them against the national leadership and destroy the association.

    This was as it cleared the air that, the national leadership of CAN has the support of Northern CAN over its recent congratulatory visit to President Muhannadu Buhari.

    The religious body also urged all Christian clerics and members to join hands together in fighting the insecurity that is presently threatening the lives and properties of Northerners, rather than engaging in bickering that may tear Christians apart.

    In a statement issued by the Northern CAN Public Relations Officer (PRO), Reverend Joseph John Hayab Saturday, he said;  “It is sad to note that at a time when Christians need unity and love, for progress, some few elements do not seem to want to allow CAN to focus on the security challenges the nation is facing today”.

    According to Reverend Hayab, “One of such distractions are from different views about the visit of CAN to President Buhari, but what we do know is that the meeting was not planned without consultations.”

    He said: “As to whether CAN consulted or not, we need to wait for explanation from the CAN President which should come during next CAN NEC meeting.

    “Without given a benefit of the doubt, it is sad that some have gone to media houses using the names of prominent elders to propagate falsehood, creating an impression that there was a crack in CAN.”

    Hayab explained that, “the truth, however, is that the rumour peddlers do realise that some of us from the North are familiar with the elders whom they claim to have spoken against CAN’s visit to the President.”

    READ ALSO: Buhari greets Prof David Ijalaye at 90

    He further stressed that what some the Christian leaders in the north did not understand is that, “the visit by CAN leaders to Buhari received the blessing of Northern CAN and our Chairman was there with the National leadership of CAN who paid solidarity visit on him in Abuja.:

    “Please, if anyone has any problems with Rev Dr. My Supo Ayokunle, the CAN President, or the leadership of CAN, such should go in person to inquire from, or confront them and stop misleading the not so informed.”

    He argued that “Many of us Christians in northern Nigeria who are active in CAN as stakeholders wish to categorically disassociate ourselves from the self-paraded champions of Christianity using our name and image whereas the truth is that their aim is to destroy the name of CAN for the sake of their stomachs.”

    “Nigerian Christians are wise and mature to recognise the differences between fighting for the church and settling scores with the persons in the leadership of CAN. Their new game is to call anyone who refuses to do their bidding the enemy of the church whereas they are the real destroyers of the church.”

    Hayab continued: “Since CAN elections were yet to hold neither has the electoral college been inaugurated, anyone who goes public to say that CAN will have a new leader in July misleads the public and that is unfortunate. The calibre of the persons in the electoral college are not ‘cash and carry people’ so cannot be cajoled. Given that it is God who knows who and what will transpire between now and July, God will choose for CAN leaders that will lead her.”

    “Christians must come together to pray and work to address the killings and security challenges in our country. We are calling on every true lover of the church to champion what will unite and not what will destroy the church,” he explained.

     

  • Post-election: CAN wants warring factions to sheathe swords

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Taraba Chapter, on Saturday called on warring factions in the violence that broke out in Jalingo following the announcement of the governorship election results in the state to sheathe their swords.

    Dr Innocent Solomon, the CAN Chairman in the state, made the call after a tour of the affected areas in Jalingo and a sympathy visit to the victims at the Specialist Hospital and the Federal Medical Center in Jalingo.

    Solomon assured the people that CAN and the Muslim Council were working closely with the State government to restore peace in the state.

    “We condemn the violence that broke out at the declaration of the governorship  election results in the state, and in Jalingo in particular.

    “Crises have never done any good to anybody in any society across the world.

    Read Also: Election: ‘Anglican Church committed to better Nigeria’

    “Our politicians must call their supporters to order and join hands with us in preaching peace.

    “We want to call on our political leaders to eschew violence and work for the peace of Taraba,” he said.

    While commending the role of security operatives in ensuring the return of peace in the state,  Solomon called for the release of those arrested in the wake of the crisis being kept in military facility in Jalingo, as a measure toward ensuring peace.

    “The continuous detention of those arrested in the military facility in Jalingo without being charged to court is raising concern among the people.

    “We made efforts this morning to see the Commander of the military in Jalingo, but we were told he wasn’t on seat,  but I am sure he will cooperate with us in finding solution to this problem,”he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CAN Chairman, who was accompanied on the visit by the state executives of the association, prayed for the victims and made cash donations to them.

    NAN

  • INEC, CAN, others work for peaceful elections

    Following the rescheduling of the presidential and National Assembly elections, The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and others are working towards peaceful polls, report Sani Muh’d Sani, Sunny Nwankwo, Rasaq Ibrahim, Kolade Adeyemi, Osagie Otabor, Okungbowa Aiwerie , Bisi Olaniyi and Vincent Ikuomola

    INEC warns politicians to

    be cautious of utterances

     

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has advised politicians not heat up the polity.

    INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu spoke yesterday while giving update on INEC’s preparation. He assured Nigerians and international community that the commission would ensure free and fair polls on Saturday.

    He said: “While we fully understand the disappointment and even anger that followed that rescheduling of the elections on 16th February, I wish to appeal to stakeholders to be more dispassionate and circumspect in their comments in order not to overheat the polity.”

    Yakubu also debunked the report that one of the National Commissioners was invited by the Department of State Security (DSS).

    He said: “No commissioner of the commission was picked up by any security agency, no house of any commissioner of INEC was raided, no commissioner of INEC has been picked up by security agencies.

    “The particular commissioner you are referring to that was mentioned in the social media is as we speak in his office in the commission. No six directors were picked up by any security agencies.”

    Yakubu added: “All decisions of the commission are taken by the commission as an independent constitutional body and we will continue to protect and jealously guide our independence”.

    Also reacting to the punishment for ballot box snatchers, the INEC boss said the commission would stand by the law which has stipulated some measures of punishment for would be offenders.

    “The position of the commission is that all violators of Electoral Acts should be punished according to the provisions of the Electoral Act,” he said.

    The Act stipulates two years jail term for any offender.

    He said all the electoral materials have been successfully deployed to the states.

    He also revealed that 95% of the Smart Cars Readers have been configured ahead of the scheduled time.

    Yakubu further assured that the remaining 5% would be concluded by Wednesday.

    He also said it was not true that one of the suppliers of the Smart Cars Readers was involved in the configuration process; stressing that the configuration was done entirely by the staff of the commission.

    The INEC boss also said the commission has not received any complaints of missing result sheets.

    According to him: “The commission is unaware that any of our result sheets have gone into the wrongs hands, yes we agreed that we deployed on Saturday but we recalled the sensitive materials and returned them to the vault of Central Bank.”

    He went on: “To ensure the integrity of the process and the audit that I promised stakeholders on Saturday, we dedicated today in all the states of the federation to confirmation and verification of the materials returned to the Central Bank by political parties and other stakeholders before we begin deployment to local government from tomorrow and it is not only the EC8A- the result sheet for the polling units.

    “The commission is focusing on the elections to be held on 23rd February and 2nd March 2019 to ensure that they are free, fair and credible.”

    He further added: “By 4pm yesterday (Monday), all issues relating to the delivery of the materials were identified and virtually addressed. Ballot papers, result sheets and a host of non-sensitive materials are now in location across the 37 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    “Our state offices commenced the process of inviting stakeholders to the Central Bank of Nigeria to examine the retrieved materials deployed last week and to witness the batching of materials according to Local Government Areas. This is ongoing at the moment and is expected to be completed today Tuesday, 19th February, 2019.

    “The movement of materials to LGAs for batching according to wards and polling units shall take place on Wednesday and Thursday.”

    On the possibility of voting in Borno State, Yakubu said: “We have identified eight local government areas where citizens reside in IDP camps, we will afford citizens to vote in the camps based.

    “For what we know elections will take place in Borno State in the substantial part of the state in a normal way, just like Nigerians will vote in other states.”

     

    NGO demands apology from INEC, NYSC over Corps members’ plight  

     

    A pan-African youth organisation, Youngstars Development Initiative (YDI), has demanded apology from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for the poor treatment of Corps members who were to work as adhoc staff in the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    NYSC members recruited as ad hoc staff for the elections, who had reported at their deployed areas across the country, were abandoned.

    Reports and pictures in the media showed how the corps members slept in open fields, benches and buses across the country, with INEC not caring about their safety and other conditions.

    In the statement signed by its Executive Director, Mr Kingsley Bangwell, YDI said it was “greatly disappointed at the inadequate provision by INEC for the wellbeing’’ of the corps members.

    It said, “Aside from the news of the postponement, Nigerians also woke up to embarrassing pictures in different media platforms depicting the pathetic conditions under which our corps members were forced to serve.

    “Feedbacks from certain quarters revealed that the list of the corps members selected for the ad hoc work was released barely 48 hours to the election without proper posting details, causing further confusion for many of them.

    “Corp members were not given any document stating their benefits; there are conflicting reports of how much they would get as allowance.

    “Adequate security was not provided at some of the centres across the country where many corps members arrived at on Friday, neither were there any team to receive them.’’

    The organisation said the corps members were therefore forced to stay dark spaces, while some slept in open fields, benches and even in buses, with no proper arrangement for conveniences.

    “Due to these gaps, the lives of the NYSC members were put at risk in the course of their service to the nation,’’ it noted.

    It said the situation was unacceptable as it was “below the standards of dignity of labour and dignity of the human person.’’

    “Besides tendering a joint public apology, INEC and NYSC should immediately address the logistics and welfare issues,’’ the group also demanded.

    It asked INEC to formally inform the corps members of their welfare packages to avoid conflicting reports and malpractices.

    On Monday, the NYSC issued a statement confirming the reported hardship suffered by the affected corps members across the country.

    In the statement signed by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Adenike Adeyemi, the corps said that INEC had promised to improve on the safety and welfare provisions for the corps members.

     

    ‘CBN takes delivery of

    sensitive materials in Niger’

     

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Minna, has taken delivery of all sensitive materials for the rescheduled Presidential and National Assembly elections in the 25 local government areas.

    Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim, CBN Branch Controller, who made the disclosure in Minna yesterday, while leading the police, security agencies, leaders of various political parties and other stakeholders, to inspect the sensitive materials at the bank premises.

    Ibrahim said that all the sensitive materials earlier distributed to the 25 Local Government Areas are intact for the rescheduled elections.

    He said that all the retrieved sensitive materials are being kept in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for safe keeping.

    He explained that the sensitive materials, comprised ballot papers and result sheets, which were earlier, distributed to the 25 LGAs for the conduct of Presidential and National Assembly elections on Feb. 16.

    Also speaking, Prof. Samuel Egwu, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), said that the commission would collaborate with other security agencies to ensure smooth conduct of the rescheduled Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.

    “Already, we have trained the 23,000 electoral workers and equipped them with basic electoral knowledge for the exercise,” he said.

    The commissioner expressed hope that the exercise would be successful, “because we have plugged holes exploited by miscreants to cause confusion during elections.”

    “We have also put in place security measures to guarantee the safety of electoral materials and our workers before, during and after the exercise,’’ he said.

     

    Saturday is your day of reckoning, Ajimobi tells opposition

     

    Oyo South Senatorial District candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Abiola Ajimobi, has described this Saturday as a day of reckoning for the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to reap its 16 years of misrule.

    He, therefore, urged leaders and supporters of the APC to remain steadfast and faithful to the course of the ruling party by ensuring that they come out in large numbers to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari to consolidate on the gains of the past four years.

    Addressing a stakeholders’ forum at the Western House, state Secretariat, on Tuesday, the governor warned against complacency, adding that the desperation of the opposition to upset the applecart was unimaginable.

    Ajimobi, who attended the National Executive Committee meeting of the APC in Abuja, on Monday, said the national leadership of the party had given the state executive committees the marching orders to go and reenergise the party’s campaigns.

    Ajimobi said: “The opposition had adopted all manners of subterfuge and empty rhetoric to mislead the people into supporting them without success. Our people have refused to buy into their deceits, hence their desperation and provocative statements.

    “I want to appeal to you not let off your guard for a moment until victory is assured in all the elections. We should not be complacent, because the opposition is throwing everything into this election as if the world will end when, mark my word I did not say if, they lose.

    “This Saturday is a day of reckoning for the PDP for its 16 years of misrule. After ruining our economy and creating many loopholes and leakages that has pauperised the people and enriched their friends they are now desperate to stage a comeback.

    “The APC has invested in the people in the last four years at the national level and eight years at our state level. Abandoned infrastructure and projects have been revived, with many at different stages of completion.

    “Saturday is around the corner. All APC leaders and members should go back to their various units and wards to solicit the continued support of the good people of Nigeria. That is the mandate from our meeting on Monday, in Abuja.”

     

    Poll shift won’t save Buhari

    from defeat, says Ogwuru

     

    A member of PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Prince Tim Ogwuru, has said the postponement of the presidential and National Assembly polls would not save President Muhammadu Buhari and his party, the All Progressive Congress, APC, from defeat in the 36 states of the federation.

    He explained that majority of Nigerians have rejected Buhari and his party and would be ready to vote them out on February 23 and March 9 and urged INEC to ensure free, fair and credible elections.

    In an interview with The Nation, Ogwuru, stated that the Buhari administration has nothing more to offer Nigerians after four years and has brought Nigeria to a ground zero, stressing that it will be criminal on the part of Nigerians for Buhari to emerge President of Nigeria after May 29, 2019.

    “Buhari’s days in office are numbered and if am to advise him, he should quietly do the decent thing and not continue with the process of him getting a second term. In any case, if he ready to be humiliated out of office through the ballot box, the choice remains his and his alone. The postponement of the election won’t save him and his party, APC, from electoral demise. Nigerians are yearning for genuine and credible Barton change.

    “Buhari has brought pains, frustration and suffering of a monumental proportion Nigerians. The avalanche of electoral rejection from Nigerians electorate is now unstoppable. Buhari has nothing to show for the period he has been in power.”

     

    Rivers PDP, APC in war

    of words over elections

     

    The Rivers State chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are engaging in war of words over the February 23 and March 9 general elections.

    The PDP Campaign Council in Rivers state, through its Director-General, Desmond Akawor, yesterday at a crowded news conference at the campaign headquarters on Aba Road, Port Harcourt, alleged that leaders of APC in Rivers were plotting to cause havoc, destabilise, rig and abort this year’s general elections in the state.

    APC in Rivers, through its Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone, however, urged the peace-loving people of the state and other lovers of democracy and good governance to ignore the lies and propaganda of the frustrated leaders and members of PDP, who it said would no longer be able to rig the elections, in view of the activities of vigilant and fearless security agents.

    Rivers PDP said: “The purpose of this press conference is to draw the attention of Nigerians and the international community to the plot and brazen determination of the APC to violently prevent the general elections from holding in Rivers State and scuttle the rights of our people to freely and fairly elect their leaders on the 23rd of February and 9th of March, 2019.

    “While the APC and its leaders continue to publicly declare their perverted intentions to take the laws into their own hands and disrupt the general elections in Rivers State with maximum violence, neither the security agencies nor the Presidency has deemed it necessary to reprimand, investigate, caution and/or arrest and prosecute them on the possible consequences of their outrageous and inciting utterances, threats and hate speeches to the peace, public order and security of lives and property in the state.

    “Instead, we have started witnessing concerted efforts by the APC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies, especially the Nigerian Army and the Police, to actualise both the intent and content of the dangerous agenda of the APC to truncate the electoral processes in the state, as we get closer to the elections’ dates.

    “Information available to us indicates that APC has procured armed thugs, military uniforms and branded military and police vehicles for the purpose of rigging the rescheduled elections.

    “Let no one take our obedience to the rule of law and constitutionality in the pursuit of our democratic rights to vote and be voted for through the electoral process as an act of cowardice, acquiescence or capitulation to intimidation, lawless behaviour and dictatorship. No one has the monopoly of violence.

    “We have the capacity and the will to mobilise our teeming supporters to resist intimidation and defend the collective rights of our people in Rivers State to effectively participate in the democratic process and frustrate those who are bent on denying our democratic rights, as expressly guaranteed by our constitution.”

    Rivers PDP campaign council also appreciated the patriotic members of the security agencies, who it said were daily working hard under very difficult environment to ensure the protection of lives and property, and guarantee the will of the people during the general elections in the state.

    The ruling PDP in Rivers then most sincerely thanked the teeming supporters of the party in the state and other parts of Nigeria for their peaceful disposition, solidarity and comportment throughout the campaigns, which it noted held without any crisis, casualty or unpleasant consequence.

    Rivers APC, however, said: “The attention of our party, the APC, has been drawn to a long litany of lies placed in the public space by the Rivers State chapter of PDP, in which outlandish falsehood was bandied as truth. We can only summarise that the PDP in Rivers State is doing exactly what the Holy Bible refers to as the guilty running when no one is pursuing.

    “We hereby warn the PDP to desist from maligning innocent members of the APC, who have done nothing wrong whatsoever. We believe that the Nigerian military and police that the PDP has unfortunately chosen to malign, blackmail and insult can adequately speak for themselves. We must, however, caution the PDP that our gallant soldiers and policemen, who place their lives on the line everyday to protect us, deserve a better treatment than what the PDP has chosen to embark upon.

    “As a party, we shall adequately respond to the trash the PDP has put out to the public, but may I unequivocally state that no part of that PDP text should be taken seriously, as it is mere hogwash, intended to deflate attention from the evil rigging schemes of the PDP in the coming elections.

    “We will like to remind the PDP leaders in Rivers State that they should gladly accept the consequences of whatever malfeasance they sent thugs to embark upon on Saturday, February 16, 2019 (stealing of 31 card readers of INEC, which were later recovered by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Rivers State) and consequently.”

    The main opposition APC in Rivers also admonished the teeming members and supporters of the party to remain focused and not to be deceived by the lies of PDP leaders in the state.

  • CAN declares six-day prayers for Nigeria

    •Ayokunle warns against fresh shift in polls’ dates

    THE Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged Nigerians at home and in Diaspora to pray from February 19 to February 24 for the success of the rescheduled general elections.

    Its President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, called for the prayers in a statement by his Special Assistant, Media and Communications, Mr. Adebayo Oladeji, yesterday in Abuja.

    Ayokunle said the prayer was necessitated by the postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections to February 23 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    “The excuse INEC gave does not go down well with all stakeholders.

    “The unfolding scenario on the political scene is not ordinary and there is a need for the Church to intercede for Nigeria.

    “I want you to pray very well this week against some evil forces that are plotting against the election.

    “If it’s about the things we see in the spirit, I am not sure that elections will hold at all. We should rise up and ask for transparent, free, fair and credible election that will even be better than those of 2015.

    “That is why we have asked you to pray this week. This is a week for prayers. Pray that bad people will not be involved in Nigeria’s affairs.

    Read also: Nigerian Breweries to pay N19.4b net profit to shareholders

    “About the elections, we will pray that they will not result in war, bring hardship and suffering unto the populace,” he said.

    The cleric prayed that God would take power from people who intend to cause problems for the nation and bind them.

    He added: “It is our prayers that this will be the last time INEC will toy with any postponement again.”

  • Kaduna killings: El-Rufai lied, plotting crises – Southern Kaduna, CAN

    …bigots minimizing casualty figure – El-Rufai,  ACF, Council of Imams want sponsors prosecuted

    Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has come under heavy verbal attacks from the leadership of Southern Kaduna and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), over the recent killings in Kajuru local government area of the state.

    The Southern Kaduna under the auspices of Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU) the indigenous community of the troubled area, Adara Development Association and CAN in their separate reactions called Governor El-Rufai a liar.

    Kaduna state chapter of CAN, SOKAPU and Adara people also accused the Governor of trying to instigated crisis in the area.

    But, Governor El-Rufai who visited the scenes of the killings warned against politicizing the killings. The Governor in turn said, those minimizing casualty figures are bigots.

    SOKAPU called on the Inspector General of Police and the Director of Department of State Service (DSS) to carry out an independent investigation on what actually transpired in Kajuru, as it claimed that the state’s governor is making false claim that 66 persons were been killed in the council.

    The union said  it has always been in the character of the governor el-Rufai  to promote violence through spreading hate speech for the advancement of his waning political survival.

    In a statement by the body’s National PRO, Yakubu Kuzamani, he said “SOKAPU is shocked at the deliberate falsehood by El-Rufai who found it convenient not to inform the world of an earlier attack that claimed the lives of 11 Adara natives.

    “SOKAPU is convinced that Governor el-Rufai is on an irrevocable journey of inflaming ethnic conflagration that has always been in line with his deliberate chronicle of profiling Southern Kaduna people as favourably disposed to violence.

    “We are startled that it was the governor and not the police that announced the alleged killings in Kajuru. Let Nigerians and the world know that, should there be any breakdown of law and order in Kaduna state, Governor el-Rufai should be held responsible.

    According to the statement, “SOKAPU has reached out to the various community leaders in Kajuru, including officials of the Adara Nation to ascertain what actually happened. On Sunday, February 10, 2019, the Adara natives residing in Ungwar Barde in Kufana District of Kajuru Local Government Area came under attack by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen.

    “The attack lasted from 10pm of Sunday to 4am of Monday February 11, 2019. By the time the merchants of deaths and destructions were through with their mission, no fewer than 11 lives, including a pregnant woman, were lost. Scores of victims of the attack on Ungwar Barde sustained injuries, with some of them presently receiving treatment at some health facilities in the state capital.

    “We have been informed that the attackers, seven of them in number, were arrested by a team of policemen. Sadly, not a statement was issued by el-Rufai over that gruesome attack on Ungwan Barde.” SOKAPU said.

    In its own reaction issued by state chapter chairman, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said, the state government should be held responsible in case of any crisis in the state.

    “The incidence of raising false alarm by the Kaduna State Government should make Nigerians realized that some of our leaders are also guilty of hate speech themselves and that makes them major actors in the game that have denied us peace and have claimed the lives of our love ones.
    “We call on the general public to treat with disregard the press statement from the office of the Kaduna State Governor and to note that should Kaduna State experience any bridge of security before, during and after the general elections we shall hold the Kaduna State Goverment responsible.
    “We call on our media to grow above the temptations that water down our trust in them, the media houses must not allow themselves to be bought over but be objective and honest in their reportage.” CAN Chairman said.

    In the same vein, the indigenous community of the troubled area, Adara Development Association (ADA), said they were faced with deliberate lies being manufactured against them by the Governor Nasir El-Rufai

    Adara people in their statement titled;
    “Adara Incident: the Facts Behind the Deliberate Lies”, said the governor is currently trying to instigate a crisis in their area.

    According to the statement signed ADA National Assistant Secretary, Barrister Luke Godwin Waziri, “In view of the unfortunate incidents that we are faced with in Adara land and the deliberate lies being manufactured against us as a people by the governor of Kaduna state, Malam Nasir el- rufai , we deem it necessary to state the facts and correct the official and deliberate lies.
    “It has also become necessary to highlight the high handedness and mischievous manner that the governor of Kaduna state has been deploying against us as a people. Not satisfied with a deliberate attempt to balkanize our traditional institution and culture, the governor is currently trying to instigate a crisis in our area.
    “On Friday 15th February 2019, on the eve of what would have been our national elections, we watched with shock the governor granting an interview that 66 people were allegedly killed in Kajuru, Kaduna state. The governor went ahead to list the number of villages that were attacked but deliberately excluded Ungwan Barde where our people were killed.  He also gave the gender statistics of those allegedly killed and the tribe of the victims but again mischievously left out the 11 Adara people who were killed.

    “He insinuated that the incident happened on the eve of the election. But the truth is that the incident took place between Sunday 10th February, to Tuesday 12 February 2019 in Ungwar Barde in Kufana District, where 11 innocent Adara people were earlier killed without any provocation.
    “The district head of Kufana wrote an official report to the police about the incident. The member representing Kajuru in the Kaduna State House of Assembly also informed the government about the incident. Even the chairman of the Local government, Cafra Caino was also aware of the incident.  But to our greatest surprise, the chairman did not take steps to set the records straight when lies were being spread against the people he leads.
    “After the incidents, the communities that were affected even came together and started the process of reconciliation amongst themselves. Through all these, nothing was heard from the government, nothing was said by the government and nothing was done.  None of the affected community was even visited by him.
    “We were shell shocked when on Friday the governor issued a statement about killings days after the dust had settled and the people themselves were working to understand the incident in order to find measures to address it.

    “To further complicate matters, media houses kept reporting it as ‘Breaking News’.  It is really incredulous that the eve of the election was the most appropriate time the governor found to disclose the attacks, give the ‘specific number’ of those allegedly killed, the ethnic group they belong and the names of the villages affected.  There could never have been a clearer attempt by the governor to instigate crisis than this malicious, insensitive and incendiary strategy.
    “The Governor did not stop there. He went up on different TV houses and newspapers on the issue as one heralding news – still giving a one-sided version and intermittently spicing it with the word ‘reprisal’ at a time when he ought to have been putting finishing touches to his candidacy for elections that would have held in hours. It is not hard to see what such theatric was intended to achieve.

    “This completely lends credence to everyone’s belief that the governor is seriously working toward instigating a crisis in our land and Kaduna state for his own deadly benefit. But we in Adara land have resolutely decided that no amount of blatant provocation would make us to lose our calm. Our peaceful disposition is legendary and we will continue with that.
    “Faced with mounting pressure to prove his allegations of ‘66 killed’, the governor hurriedly visited some few places but ensures that the District head of Kufana, Mr Dauda Titus and the National President of the Adara Development Association, Mr Dio Maisamari were quickly arrested and locked up for the duration that he visited.  The reasons are just too obvious! The District Head was released only when the governor had concluded his visit while Mr Dio is still being held by the Police.

    “We invite the world’s attention to the serious and indiscriminate arrest of our people and chiefs. Many of them have been arrested for just no reason and without due process. We call for their immediate release and demand that Governor Nasir El-Rufai desists from making life difficult for our people with his arbitrary, divisive and incendiary use of power.

    “We want to place on record before the whole world that El- rufai is working assiduously to instigate a crisis in Kaduna for his own political gain, and that should crisis break out, local and international observers should know who to hold responsible.” Adara people said.

    However, El-Rufai who was accompanied to the scene of the attack by Major-General Faruk Yahaya, GOC 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Air Cmdr. I. Sani of the Nigerian Air Force, Police Commissioner Ahmad Abdurrahman and State Director of the SSS, A.I. Koya. The chairman of Kajuru local government council, Cafra Caino, also joined the governor on the visit, condemned the killings.

    According to his spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, the governor noted that there has been concerted and coordinated efforts by whom he described as ‘bigoted busy bodies’ to deny or minimise the casualty figures.

    Quoting the governor, Aruwan said, “Only irresponsible and insensitive people can recklessly dismiss the deaths of members of a community with whom they have no contact. Private individuals and unelected actors cannot be allowed to reduce weighty matters of state security to the province of their limited networks, inexperienced lenses and narrow agendas.”

    “Governor El-Rufai during the visit warned the community against reprisals and to shun violence.

    “Also, the Commissioner of Police, confirmed that some arrests had been made in connection with the incident and that the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are completed.

    “Also “Gen. Yahaya briefed the governor on the recovery of 66 corpses by soldiers in the Maro and Iri axis of Kajuru local government. The general conducted the governor around the scenes of the crime which were littered with the burnt wrecks of buildings and dead animals.” Aruwan said.

    Meanwhile, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and Council of Imams and Ulamas ‎on Sunday call on Kaduna State Government to immediately apprehend and prosecute the masterminds of the Killings of 66 persons in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.

    ACF in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim Biu said, perpetrators of the dastardly acts must be brought to book to serve as deterrent to others.

    According to him, “Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) is deeply pained by the recent unwarranted killings of innocent lives and destruction of property of some Fulani settlements in Kajuru Local Government Areas of Kaduna State on the eve of the postponed elections by some armed bandits. The heinous acts by the gun men or bandits were callous and inhuman, considering the number of casualties. Killings of innocent people for whatever reasons cannot in any way address the perceived concerns or grievances of the perpetrators of these crimes.

    “ACF would not be tired of appealing to all aggrieved persons to always channel their grievances through due process of law rather than taking the law into their hands. This is because both the attacks and reprisals are often targeted at innocent people who know nothing about the feuds.

    “ACF condemns such spate of killings of innocent people by armed bandits and gunmen not only in Kaduna State but also in some other parts of the country. The forum therefore calls on the Security Agencies to always be proactive in their operations in order to avert such incidence.

    “Perpetrators of this dastardly acts must be brought to book to serve as deterrent to others. The the issue of intelligence gathering and sharing should be a continuous and sustained effort by both the communities and the security agencies to ensure peaceful coexistence within the communities. This is because peaceful coexistence is sine qua non to meaningful socioeconomic development.

    The religious leaders also urged the state governor Nasir El-Rufai to ensure that  the foot soldiers that participated in the killings face the wrath of the law to serve as deterrent to others.” ACF said.

    Similarly, the State Chairman of Council of Imams, Ibrahim Nakaka who addressed newsmen in ‎Kaduna on Sunday said, it is the responsibility of the state government to protect the lives of Muslims and other indigienes  as enshrined by the constitution of the country.

    The council lamented how attacks on Muslims communities in Southern Kaduna become a routine duties.

  • CAN: we’ve not endorsed any presidential candidate

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Tuesday denied endorsing any presidential candidate.

    It also advised Christians to avoid violence before, during and after the forthcoming 2019 general elections.

    The body further urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to be neutral to all political parties without fear or favour.

    In a statement in Abuja by its Acting General Secretary, Daramola Joseph, CAN said: “The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has not endorsed and will never endorse any of the candidates eyeing the number one seat or any elective post but asks its members to vote according to the leading of the Holy Spirit and their consciences.

    “We have been hearing speculations going the rounds that CAN has endorsed one presidential candidate or the other. Nothing can be farther from the truth.

    “CAN is apolitical, non-partisan and impartial but we are for God and His people.

    “Our members cut across all political divides and some of them are even contesting for one post or the other including the Presidential.

    “So, the idea of endorsing any candidate as favourite does not arise.

    “We have not and will not endorse any candidate for any elective office in the country.”

    On who the body is backing, it said: “The choice of CAN is any candidate who exhibits godliness, trustworthiness, sincerity of purpose, decency, patriotism, true commitment to national service and who has shown care for the Christian community over the years.

    “Christians are called upon to vote credibly and trusted candidates into the various elective positions.

    “We must also be discerning about their policy and the understanding of policy details.

    “CAN stands for a credible, fair and violence-free election. We urge all the candidates to show maturity, leadership, sportsmanship and eschew electoral malpractice and violence in whatever form.

    “They should also call their followers to order and ensure they all operate within the framework of the law.

    “Voter intimidation and vote-buying are anathema to democratic governance and should never be allowed.

    “The law enforcement agencies and other election umpires are enjoined not to be partisan in any form.

    “The peaceful elections and smooth transition of power witnessed in 2015 should be re-enacted in 2019 if new leaders are elected at any level.

    “The Church in Nigeria through CAN is committed to praying and working earnestly towards actualizing this goal.

    “We trust God to give Nigeria a Leader and Deliverer of his choice in February 2019.”

  • CAN, muslim community endorse Ayade for second term

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Cross River State has endorsed Governor Ben Ayade for for a second term in office.

    The association the governor in an interaction with him at the the Cultural Centre, Calabar.

    According to them their decision was because of the governor’s giant strides in the areas of industrialization, infrastructural development and human capacity development.

    The associations also made a cash donation of N1.2 million to the governor to assist his campaign.

    A voice vote put to CAN members at the event venue by the immediate past state chairman of CAN, Archbishop Archibong Archibong for the endorsement of the governor was affirmed by members of the association present.

    At the same event, the Muslim community led by the Chief Imam of the Calabar Central Mosque, Imam Abdul Kabir Olowolayemo, also endorsed the governor for the forth coming gubernatorial election.

    Earlier in his address, the State Chairman of CAN and Archbishop Emeritus of Calabar Archdiocese, Most Rev. Joseph Ukpo, commended the governor for the achievements recorded by his administration.

    He described the governor’s achievements as monumental.

    “You have made landmark progress especially in the industrializing the state; construction of the garment factory, the first rice seeds and seedlings in Africa, construction of Calapharm for our pharmaceutical needs, the ongoing construction of chicken processing factory, the rice mill in Ogoja and the cocoa processing plant in Ikom,” he said.

    Read Also: Ayade enjoins youths to embrace farming

    In his response, Governor Ben Ayade expressed his gratitude to the Christian body for finding him worthy of their endorsement.

    “If there is any endorsement that is important to me, it is the CAN endorsement. I am moved by this endorsement and appreciate all the prayers and insistence that I should continue and complete all the industrialization agenda of the state.

    “I cannot thank you enough. I am indeed grateful. This endorsement I must say is the greatest certification of my government and I promise I will not fail you because the church has made a huge statement and I will continue to offer good governance for our people,” Ayade said.

     

  • ‘CAN has not endorsed any candidate’

    Ahead of the general election and the 2019 gubernatorial election in Kogi, the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), on Tuesday said that it has not endorsed any candidate.

    The body made the clarification during the “Interactive Session with Religious Leaders,” organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in Lokoja, the state capital.

    The apex Christian association however stressed that the conduct of free, fair and credible election and security for the people remains of utmost concern.

    The leadership of the Jamal Nasir Islam (JNI) in the state, appealed for religious harmony, adding that the message of peace will continue to be preached by the clerics.

    Read Also: Adeboye canvasses living wages for workers

    The JNI chairman in the state, Ambassador Usman Bello however disagreed with the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. James Apam, over the level of insecurity in Kogi, asserting that the state has remained peaceful.

    He appealed to INEC to remain impartial, saying, “Once one side begins to feel cheated, the issue of injustice surfaces.”

    Leader of the state chapter of CAN to the parley, Special Apostle Isaac Ayo Okheme, expressed their preparedness to prevail on members to conduct themselves peacefully, before, during and after the exercises.

    “What is of concern to us is that INEC as a body should conduct free, fair and credible election. Security of the electorate should be very much guaranteed. On our part, we shall dedicate ourselves to the project that the people play their role peacefully,” he said.

     

     

  • CAN declares January 10 national day of prayers for 2019 poll

    President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Ayokunle on Saturday declared January 10, 2019 as national day of prayers for free, fair and credible election.

    The prayer session, Ayokunle said is also for the freedom of Leah Sharibu and others in the captivity of the Boko Haram terrorists.

    CAN disclosed that the prayer will be organized in Abuja and all the State capitals nationwide between 11:00 in the morning and 2:00 in the afternoon asking God to prevent violence, manipulation, intimidation of voters and other electoral crimes.

    He urged all churches and all Christians in the country to participate in the programme to usher the country into a new era of peace, unity, safety and prosperity.

    A statement issued in Abuja by the Acting General Secretary of CAN, Joseph Daramola said: “Christian politicians especially those contesting for any of the elections, all Christian groups or organisations and all stakeholders are invited to participate in the programme. CAN urges all Christian Groups, denominational, church and block leaders of CAN or their representatives to assemble at the National Christian Centre, Abuja on 10th January for this all important prayer meeting. All Christian candidates for all the elective offices or their representatives are also invited as they will be prayed for to be good Ambassadors of Christ before, during and after the election.

    “CAN asks all State Chairmen and all denominational leaders to organize similar programme and Christian candidates who could not make it to  Abuja, especially those who are contesting for State Assembly or positions of Governor to attend the one being organised at the State level.

    “We are to pray for all Christians contesting for one post or the other for the will of God to be done concerning their ambition. That the powerful in our nation will not be able to manipulate the election and edge them out.

    “We will also pray for the following: That all captives in the den of the terrorists like Leah Sharibu, the Chibok girls should be set free immediately. That the general election should be free, fair and credible. That it should be violence – free and without any bloodshed. That God should use the process to give the country good and godly leaders at all levels. That every evil plan against Nigeria be frustrated. That 2019 should be a New Dawn for Nigeria. That God should stop all groups behind the killings in Nigeria and their financiers. We urge you to please attach utmost importance to this prayer program for 2019 elections.”