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Tag: Christian Association of Nigeria

  • CAN’s post-election visit to Buhari sparks quarrel

    Arow broke out yesterday over Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) leaders’ visit to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    CAN President Samson Ayokunle led the visit, which the National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) described as “shocking”.

    CAN, said NCEF, should not have congratulated Buhari on his victory at the February 23 election.

    But the CAN insisted that it remained apolitical, adding that since the electoral umpire has declared Buhari winner, it had no right to say no.

    Besides, it stressed that the  NCEF had no authority to speak for Christians because “it has been disbanded”.

    NCEF disassociated itself from the visit, claiming that it is “sub judice” as the determination of who won the election is still in court. “It is, therefore, premature and presumptuous for anyone to congratulate President Buhari for ‘winning’ an election that is contested in court.”

    The forum said the visit, which was made last week, is also not in the interest of Christians.

    A statement issued in Abuja yesterday by the  Chairman of NCEF, Solomon Asemota (SAN), said: “The National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) was shocked to read in the news that the President of CAN, Rev. Dr. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, with some CAN officials and Christian leaders paid a ‘congratulatory’ visit to President Muhammadu Buhari on his purported victory in the 2019 General Elections.

    “The NCEF wishes to state that the congratulatory visit to Aso Villa by CAN could not be in the interest of Nigerian Christians who daily bear the agony of thousands of their brethren being killed, maimed, displaced and marginalised in the Jihad launched in the northern parts of the country. It is well known the indifference of the Buhari Administration to the murder of Christians all over the country. This indifference has led many, including foreign observers, to conclude that the Buhari Administration is complicit in the genocide that is taking place in Nigeria.

    “The action of the CAN President, Rev. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, is a further confirmation of all the protests and petitions of NCEF in 2018 querying the faithfulness of Dr. Ayokunle to Christ and to His Church. In its 2018 Report titled FACTORS HINDERING CHRISTIAN POLITICAL CONSENSUS FOR 2019 ELECTION, the NCEF provided irrefutable facts that Rev. Ayokunle deliberately frustrated Christian political consensus in a country in which religion has become a major factor in politics. With this ill-advised congratulatory visit to President Buhari, it should be clear to every Christian of good conscience that Rev. Ayokunle is running CAN as an appendage of APC which has proven by its religiously popularism biased appointments and policies that it is primarily a religious party that is to the disadvantage of Christians whom Rev. Ayokunle claims to be representing.

    “It would be recalled that during the elections, Rev. Ayokunle presumptuously deployed a 1,000 man CAN Election Observers team to monitor the elections nationwide. The action was presumptuous since CAN does not have the constitutional responsibility of engaging in politics. Christian leaders deliberately established Christian Social Movement of Nigeria (CSMN) for this purpose in 2001 as the socio-political arm of the Church. Nonetheless, after observing the elections, the 1,000-man CAN Election Observers is yet to release its report before CAN rushed to congratulate one of the contestants. Since all the other observers have since released their reports, where is the report of the CAN Observers Team?”

    According to NCEF, a notable arm of the Church, the Catholic Church, did not join the delegation that went to congratulate Buhari.

    REad also: CAN to elders forum: your stand on visit to Buhari baseless

    “This would be consistent with the communiqué issued by the Catholic Church expressing concern about the elections and advising that dissatisfied individuals should seek recourse in court of law. This in the view of NCEF is how a Christian body should respond to issues of this nature.

    “NCEF is making these points for record purposes so that in years to come, if any further evil befalls Christianity in Nigeria, no one would claim ignorance of the issues that led to the emasculation of the Church. As Christian Elders, we affirm that it was ill advised and ill motivated for anyone claiming to represent the Body of Christ to rush to congratulate President Buhari pending the determination of the suit in Court.

    “Presently, Christians are mourning over 200 people murdered in Kajuru and Adara in southern Kaduna. There are increasing reports of Clergy routinely kidnapped and murdered in Middle Belt and parts of the North. These are in addition to genocide in Benue, Taraba, Plateau, and other parts of southern Kaduna. So far, no arrest has been made and no one has been prosecuted. Therefore, for any Christian leader to go and shake the hand of the man who has done nothing to stop the genocide is morally and spiritually reprehensible.

    “In addition to the concerns expressed above, it should be remembered that we all witnessed the debacles during the campaigns for the 2019 Elections as well as the violent conduct of the elections. We witnessed the widespread application of ‘inconclusive’ elections where the opposition party had upper hand. We saw with regret the way Kano, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Lagos, Taraba, Bayelsa, and Plateau states election, amongst others, were handled. The campaign debate and presidential interview exposed the competence and capability of the candidates and Nigerians spoke through their votes and expressed their preference. Therefore, the will of the people must not be subverted. It is wrong for anyone, or any group of people, to seek to use CAN to legitimise an illegality. That congratulatory visit, we insist, was not on behalf of Nigerian Christians.

    “Fortunately for the NCEF, in making this clarification, no one can accuse the Christian Elders of religious bigotry or ethnic discrimination since both front runners are Muslims from the North and of the same ethnic stock. In the same vein, no one could say that NCEF is holding brief for any political party since NCEF neither supported any political party nor adopted any candidate during the elections. The interest of NCEF is that Democracy should be permitted to flourish and prevail in Nigeria. As President Goodluck Jonathan demonstrated in 2015, the will of the people must not be subverted. We are no longer in the era of military coup in which individual(s) can impose themselves as rulers over the nation. This is Democracy and the will of the people must not be subverted.  Any attempt to kill democracy by a President who subverts the very process that brought him to power under the instrumentality of stealth and conventional jihad must be resisted and rejected.

    “NCEF aligns itself with the stand of the ethnic nationalities in South West, South East, South South and Middle Belt Zones that the Judiciary should perform its rightful oversight and ensure that the rightful winner of the 2019 Elections is sworn into office in May 29, 2019. If the Judiciary, for whatever reason, is unable to take a stand and defend the will of the people then Nigeria would have destroyed Democracy and signed on as a fascist state.”

     

  • Christian elders fault CAN’s visit to Buhari

    The National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) has described the visit of the President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Ayokunle, with some CAN officials and Christian leaders to President Muhammadu Buhari on his victory in the just concluded 2019 presidential election as shocking.

    NCEF disassociated itself from the visit claiming that it is: “sub judice” as the determination of who won the 2019 General Election is still in Court. It is therefore premature and presumptuous for anyone to congratulate President Buhari for “winning” an election that is contested in Court.”

    The forum said the visit which was made last week is also not in the interest of Christians.

    A statement issued in Abuja on Monday by the  Chairman of NCEF, Solomon Asemota, (SAN) said: “The National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) was shocked to read in the news that the President of CAN, Rev. Dr. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, with some CAN Officials and Christian leaders paid a “congratulatory” visit to President Muhammadu Buhari on his purported victory in the 2019 General Elections.

    “The NCEF wishes to state that the congratulatory visit to Aso Villa by CAN could not be in the interest of Nigerian Christians who daily bear the agony of thousands of their brethren being killed, maimed, displaced and marginalized in the Jihad launched in the northern parts of the country. It is well known the indifference of the Buhari Administration to the murder of Christians all over the country. This indifference has led many, including foreign observers, to conclude that the Buhari Administration is complicit in the genocide that is taking place in Nigeria.

    “The action of the CAN President, Rev. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, is a further confirmation of all the protests and petitions of NCEF in 2018 querying the faithfulness of Dr. Ayokunle to Christ and to His Church. In its 2018 Report titled FACTORS HINDERING CHRISTIAN POLITICAL CONSENSUS FOR 2019 ELECTION, the NCEF provided irrefutable facts that Rev. Ayokunle deliberately frustrated Christian political consensus in a country in which religion has become a major factor in politics. With this ill-advised congratulatory visit to President Buhari, it should be clear to every Christian of good conscience that Rev. Ayokunle is running CAN as an appendage of APC which has proven by its religiously popularism biased appointments and policies that it is primarily a religious party that is to the disadvantage of Christians whom Rev. Ayokunle claims to be representing.

    “It would be recalled that during the Elections, Rev. Ayokunle presumptuously deployed a 1,000 man CAN Election Observers team to monitor the Elections nationwide. The action was presumptuous since CAN does not have the Constitutional responsibility of engaging politics. Christian leaders deliberately established Christian Social Movement of Nigeria (CSMN) for this purpose in 2001 as the socio-political arm of the Church. Nonetheless, after observing the Elections, the 1,000 man CAN Election Observers is yet to release its Report before CAN rushed to congratulate one of the contestants. Since all the other Observers have since released their Reports, where is the Report of the CAN Observers Team?”

    REad also: CAN’s post-election visit to Buhari sparks quarrel

    According to NCEF, notable arm of the Church, the Catholic Church, did not join the delegation that went to congratulate President Buhari adding that: “This would be consistent with the Communiqué issued by the Catholic Church expressing concern about the Elections and advising that dissatisfied individuals should seek recourse in court of law. This in the view of NCEF is how a Christian body should respond to issues of this nature.

    “NCEF is making these points for record purposes so that in years to come, if any further evil befalls Christianity in Nigeria, no one would claim ignorance of the issues that led to the emasculation of the Church. As Christian Elders, we affirm that it was ill-advised and ill-motivated for anyone claiming to represent the Body of Christ to rush to congratulate President Buhari pending the determination of the suit in Court.

    “Presently, Christians are mourning over 200 people murdered in Kajuru and Adara in southern Kaduna. There are increasing reports of Clergy routinely kidnapped and murdered in Middle Belt and parts of the North. These are in addition to genocide in Benue, Taraba, Plateau, and other parts of southern Kaduna. So far, no arrest has been made and no one has been prosecuted. Therefore, for any Christian leader to go and shake the hand of the man who has done nothing to stop the genocide is morally and spiritually reprehensible.

    “In addition to the concerns expressed above, it should be remembered that we all witnessed the debacles during the campaigns for the 2019 Elections as well as the violent conduct of the Elections. We witnessed the widespread application of “inconclusive” Elections where the opposition party had upper hand. We saw with regret the way Kano, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Lagos, Taraba, Bayelsa, and Plateau states Election, amongst others, were handled. The campaign debate and Presidential interview exposed the competence and capability of the candidates and Nigerians spoke through their votes and expressed their preference. Therefore, the will of the people must not be subverted. It is wrong for anyone, or any group of people, to seek to use CAN to legitimize an illegality. That congratulatory visit, we insist, was not on behalf of Nigerian Christians.

    “Fortunately for the NCEF, in making this clarification, no one can accuse the Christian Elders of religious bigotry or ethnic discrimination since both front runners are Muslims from the North and of the same ethnic stock. In the same vein, no one could say that NCEF is holding brief for any political party since NCEF neither supported any political party nor adopted any candidate during the elections. The interest of NCEF is that Democracy should be permitted to flourish and prevail in Nigeria. As President Goodluck Jonathan demonstrated in 2015, the will of the people must not be subverted. We are no longer in the era of Military coup in which individual(s) can impose themselves as rulers over the nation. This is Democracy and the will of the people must not be subverted.  Any attempt to kill democracy by a President who subverts the very process that brought him to power under the instrumentality of stealth and conventional jihad must be resisted and rejected.

    “NCEF aligns itself with the stand of the ethnic nationalities in South West, South East, South South and Middle Belt Zones that the Judiciary should perform its rightful oversight and ensure that the rightful winner of the 2019 Elections is sworn into office in May 29, 2019. If the Judiciary, for whatever reason, is unable to take a stand and defend the will of the people then Nigeria would have destroyed Democracy and signed on as a fascist state.”

     

     

  • NASS: CAN seeks religious balance in principal positions

    Ahead of the inauguration of the 9th National Assembly, the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN ) on Monday pleaded with the incoming leadership to balance the appointments of Principal officers across religious divides.

    Yielding to the advice, CAN said it will avoid domination and marginalisation of any kind in the interest of equity, justice, and fair play as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

    The religious body also urged both the Presidency and the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to: “support the position of the Association in its quest to find an enduring peace, unity and development for our Fatherland. Doing this will go a long way in fixing some of the problems confronting our country today that are rooted in religious, tribal suspicion, domination and marginalisation at every level of the government.”

    A statement issued in Abuja by Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, Special Assistant, (Media & Communications), to the CAN President, Rev Dr Samson Ayokunle reads: “The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) congratulates all the newly elected members of the National Assembly on their victory at the recently conducted general election. It is our prayers that God who granted you the victory will not let you down. You will experience a successful tenure of office. You will not disappoint God and the people who gave you the mandate.

    “As you prepare for your inauguration, CAN urges you to balance the appointments of your Principal Officers across religious divides to avoid domination and marginalisation of any kind in the interest of equity, justice, and fair play as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended). We, from the Christian Association of Nigeria, recognize the importance of the National Assembly to the stability and growth of our polity.

    “It is in this regard that we call for ethnic and religious balance with depth in picking the leadership of that great institution of democracy. To ensure that this happens is to remove any apprehension and suspicion harboured towards the leadership of this country.

    “Although both the Senate and the House of Representatives have several principal officers but our focus here are the Senate President, the Deputy Senate President, the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker. As it has been the practice since 1999, whenever the Senate President is a Christian, the Speaker of the House has always been a Muslim and vice- versa. And the same thing happens to their deputies.”

  • I’ll base appointment of new ministers on merit, spread — Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday hinted on what to expect during his second term in respect of appointments and security.

    Buhari declared that he would focus on merit and national spread in making political appointments with a view to giving every part of the country a sense of belonging.

    He also vowed that government would ensure harmony among Nigerians.

    ‘‘In the area of allocation of political offices, our focus will be on merit and national spread such that every part of Nigeria will have a sense of belonging,” the President pledged  while  receiving a delegation of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) led by the Reverend Samson Ayokunle, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The visitors had tasked him to “take your leadership beyond party politics” and run an all-inclusive government.

    They asked for “inclusiveness and fairness as you constitute your cabinet and appoint worthy Nigerians to the headship and membership of critical agencies, boards and parastatals.”

    Responding to CAN’s demands, Buhari said: “We will continue to strive for peaceful co-existence among all Nigerians irrespective of their religious beliefs.

    “We remain resolute in the fight against terrorism and insurgency, and efforts to bring back all those in captivity and other victims of kidnappings will be intensified.”

    He commended religious bodies for the roles they have been playing in the country since he assumed office and promised to continue supporting several programmes anchored by the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), geared towards peace, tolerance, unity and harmony in our country.

    Ayokunle in his speech, a copy of which was obtained by The Nation, advised the President to look beyond party politics and embrace all Nigerians, irrespective of party ideology, in making appointments.

    “Having been re-elected President, you have become the President of all. In view of this, we urge you to see yourself as father to all by embracing all,” he said.

    ”We solicit for inclusiveness and fairness as you constitute your cabinet and appoint worthy Nigerians to the headship and membership of critical agencies, boards and parastatals.

    “This is the true and objective way in which you can give all in the country, a sense of belonging.

    “We from the Christian Association of Nigeria, recognise the importance of the National Assembly to the stability and growth of our polity.

    “It is in this regard that we call for ethnic and religious balance with depth in picking the leadership of that great institution of democracy.

    “To ensure that this happens is to remove any apprehension and suspicion harboured towards the leadership of this country.

    Read also: Saboteurs, Politicians in cassock didn’t want us to meet Buhari, says CAN

    “We equally solicit that the principle of separation of power as it is enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria would be allowed to thrive as an intrinsic aspect of modern day democracy.”

    The group also commended the President for the revival of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) and ”the sincere efforts of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation in ensuring that your passion to build peace through NIREC becomes a reality.”

    CAN made a fresh call for the release of Leah Sharibu and other Chibok girls from captivity saying: “We solicit passionately for deliberate and relentless effort to free Leah Sharibu and other Chibok girls from captivity.

    “Each passing day inflicts anguish in the hearts of the parents of this young girl, the rest of us who are parents, all Nigerians and others all over the world who love freedom and regret that Leah’s life is being wasted in captivity for no sin of hers other than for her religion.

    “Doing all within you to free Leah Sharibu and according it top priority, shall confer greater credibility on your government and on you as a person.

    ”Please and please, Mr. President, let Leah Sharibu and those in captivity of insurgents be freed to enjoy their lives.”

     

  • Saboteurs, Politicians in cassock didn’t want us to meet Buhari, says CAN

    The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Ayokunle, has said that saboteurs and politicians in cassock had attempted to prevent the association’s leadership from paying congratulatory visit to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Ayokunle, who spoke with State House correspondents after the leadership of CAN visited President Buhari at the State House, Abuja, on Friday, dismissed the allegation that pressure was mounted on the CAN leaders to congratulate the president on his re-election.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a national daily and some online platforms had on Tuesday reported that “some influential people working closely with the Federal Government are mounting serious pressure on CAN leadership to pay a congratulatory visit to President Muhammadu Buhari.”

    The report quoted a source closed to CAN leadership as saying: “If you know the pressure mounted on CAN leadership that we, as a body, have to go and congratulate the president.

    “However, the church is saying this election is controversial and we see what is happening. But, they are still mounting pressure seriously.

    “They are telling us if we don’t congratulate him, it means we are against him and that we are partisan.

    “However, we are saying let them resolve the issues (in court) before we go and congratulate whoever wins. That’s the situation we find ourselves as the Church of God.”

    The CAN leader, however, dismissed the report, saying it was the handiwork of saboteurs and enemies of progress, who did not wish the association well.

    Read also: Go beyond party politics, CAN tells Buhari

    He said:  “Saboteurs who didn’t want us to come here (Aso Rock). We are old enough to know what to do and what not to do.

    “If somebody like me after 60 years of age will be under pressure it means that my life would never have meaning again.

    “But by the grace of God we have a meaningful life, I know what to do. By God’s grace He has prepared me well for this assignment.

    “So, those distractors and those politicians in cassock should go and find better job to do,’’ he said.

    Ayokunle noted that the CAN leadership was in the villa not only to congratulate the president on his re-election, but to remind him of the yearnings of Nigerians.

    The cleric said that Nigerians wanted him to perform 100 per cent better than that of the first term.

    He, therefore, advised the president that only the best Nigerians should be considered while constituting his new cabinet, stressing that he should do more in addressing socio-economic challenges facing the citizens.

    “Now, he has mastered the job; he has mustered enough strengthen to be able to go full swing into action.

    “We want him to do more on security- kidnappings almost everywhere and the issue of insurgency in the northeast, the insurgents should be silenced once and for all.

    “These ethnic militias that have now moved to the northwest, which used to be peaceful, and they are now causing violence there – before they will grow wings their wings should be clipped completely,’’ he added.(NAN)

  • CAN condemns kidnap of Catholic priest

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has condemned abduction of the Parish Priest of St. Theresa Catholic Church, Ankwa Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Reverend Father John Bako Shekwolo.

    The religious body also lamented Kaduna has become centre of kidnapping with the security challenge becoming a big business in the state.

    In a statement on Tuesday by its state chapter chairman, Rev. Joseph Hayab, CAN alleged that the government has failed in tackling the security threat.

    It said: “CAN condemns the abduction of Reverend Father John Bako Shekwolo, the Parish Priest of St. Theresa Catholic Church, Ankwa Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    “While we note with pains that kidnapping in Kaduna State has become a big business, we appeal to the consciousness of the kidnappers to kindly release Father Shekwolo unhurt.

    “It is sad that Kaduna State has become centre of kidnapping with government doing almost nothing to stop it.

    “This shows there is governance failure as far as security of lives and properties is concerned.

    READ ALSO: CAN urges Nigerians to put God first

    “Unless we stop playing lips service to issues of security, the evil of kidnapping and other insecurity problems will not stop.

    “Government and security agencies must wake up to their full responsibilities of protecting lives and properties of its citizens which is the essence of government existence.

    “To the kidnappers, CAN appeal to them to please release the poor and innocent Priest unhurt to the waiting hands of the Church and his family.”

    But the Police Command, in a statement by its Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Yakubu Sabo, confirmed the kidnap of the Reverend Father.

    It said a team of Police Mobile Force (PMF) and the Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU) led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) have been mobilised with a view combing the area to rescue the priest and apprehend the kidnappers.

    The police spokesman further called people with useful information as well as the general public to assist in apprehending the culprits as well as rescuing the abducted priest

  • CAN urges Nigerians to put God first

    Apostle Alexander Bamgbola, Chairman, Lagos State Chapter, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged Nigerians to put the interest of the nation first rather than personal interest in order to make Nigeria great.

    Bamgbola gave the advice on Wednesday at a news conference to herald the 1st Ministers Development and Networking Summit entitle; “Building the Builder’ ’at Deeper Life Church, Gbagada, Lagos.

    He said that the conference slated for March 27 at the auditorium of the church, Gbagada, Lagos would attract Ministers of God from all over the country.

    Read Also: Deeper Life partners CAN, PFN to train church leaders

    `Let Nigerians put the nation in the hands of God, He will do well to our nation and Nigeria will change for better.

    “All that the country is going through now are temporal; God has great plans for this nation that is why he gave us these natural resources.

    “We should bring God to rule over our land, He will build our nation. The youth of this nation will enjoy the grace of God, this nation will be great

    Bamgbola said that the conference would strengthen and improve the Ministers of God in the spirit so that they could work with God as a people and as a nation.

    “Our aspirations as Nigerians will surely come to pass because God raised this nation.

    “The Church of 30, 40 years ago is not the same again because we have not been receiving the fundamental teachings of our faith which is righteousness and holiness.

    “That is why the church is filled with all the imperfections we see, so we must go back to the gospel of old.

    NAN

  • Boko Haram major threat to polls, says CAN

    The resurgent activities of Boko Haram terrorists may pose a threat to the forthcoming 2019 general elections, the Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN ) warned on Thursday.

    The CAN leadership urged the federal government to tackle the attacks before the polls.

    This was part of the resolutions at the first quarterly meeting of CAN in Abuja.

    The Christian body also pointed out efforts of the government in providing security is “not yielding the needed results as wanton killings have continued, especially in some States in the northern part of the country.”

    CAN urged Nigerians to pray for the peaceful conduct of the 2019 general elections.

    Read Also: Boko Haram: Elections’ll be restricted to 3 centres in Madagali

    A statement by Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, Special Assistant (Media & Communications) to the CAN President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle said: “Boko Haram appeared to have resurrected again, decimating communities in Borno and Yobe States in particular, not sparing soldiers.

    “This resurgence of insecurity in the Northeast portends danger for the forthcoming general elections if efforts at curtailing it are not increased. Many voters might be disenfranchised from voting.

    “The Association commends President Muhammadu Buhari for the continuous reassurance that all will be done by the government to make the forthcoming general elections free, fair and credible.

    “We at the same time implore Mr. President to make sure that all these promises are transformed into reality through concrete efforts that would prevent violence and other electoral malpractices.

    “The Association calls on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Police and other security agents not to make themselves available to be used for rigging or any form of electoral malpractice by the politicians.

    “No voter or election observer must be intimidated or harassed throughout the period of the election.

    “We equally urge politicians to run away from vote buying while the electorates should not allow anybody to buy their votes. If you sell your vote, you sell your future.”

    The body added: “We reaffirm our support for all efforts of government geared towards stamping out corruption from our country.

    “We, however, caution that efforts geared towards stamping out corruption from Nigeria must follow due process of the law while the independence of each arm of government for peace and harmony in the society must be well maintained.

    “Wisdom and caution should be applied by those in government and other Nigerians in all that we do so that our actions and speeches might not set our nation on fire at this crucial period of election.”

  • 2019: CAN calls for fervent prayers

    The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Ayokunle, has called on Nigerians to pray fervently for a peaceful election that will reflect the will of the people.

    Ayokunle who was in Owerri for the inauguration of the ultra-modern office donated to the Association by the Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, thanked God for making it possible for the governor to build the complex.

    He described the Imo governor as “a man of goodwill”.

    According to him, “it is a sacrifice and an offering to the Lord. God will continue to reward the governor and his generations as he has deemed it fit to build a house for God so shall God build a house for him in his Kingdom”.

    He prayed God should choose for Imo people, the right person to lead the state to glory.

    Okorocha in his speech, shortly before the commissioning of the edifice, said that most Imo people never believed that he was a Christian, while others had doubts over which denomination he belonged to when he came as governor.

    The governor had earlier handed over similar office Complexes also built by his administration to the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, and the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Stating that he has built these office Complexes to encourage institutions to strive in the State.

    According to the governor, “I am delighted that I have fulfilled one of the promises I made to God when I was seeking power in 2011. While I battle so many Challenges associated with my office, I am particularly happy that the vow I made to God has been fulfilled today in many ramifications. This came with a lot of difficulties as most people never understood me and some never even believed I was a Christian. I was baptized with so many names, but that did not stop my vision to win souls to God”.

    He added further that, “one of my very first projects was the construction of a modern Chapel in front of the Government House. Today, we have Chapels in all the Twenty-Seven Local Governments in the State and currently been manned by Pastors and Reverends. And the Chapels also serve as branches of CAN in the 27 Local Government.

    Read Also: CAN president to politicians: don’t set Nigeria on fire

    “Today, I am here to hand over this edifice to CAN, I pray and hope that this edifice will continue to be a symbol of peace and unity in the Christendom. In a few months to come, I will be exiting as your governor, I have been praying to God Almighty to help Imo State to get a good successor to continue with the good works already started. As a human being, Samuel was ordered by God to anoint Saul. It takes God to send a person to anoint another”.

    The governor added that “I have gone through the length and breadth of Imo State and Uche Nwosu will be the best in 2019. I urge CAN in Imo State to maintain peace and continue to pray for our leaders. I urge all Churches to support CAN and its leadership. They may not be perfect but together we can build the CAN of our dreams. I hand over the CAN headquarters with some operational vehicles and 2 million naira monthly subvention”.

  • Reject desperate candidates, CAN advises Nigerians

    THROUGH its President, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday advised Nigerians not to vote for any desperate presidential candidate next year.

    Rev. Samson Ayokunle gave the counsel while briefing reporters after meeting with presidential candidates of 14 political parties in Abuja on their plans for Nigerians and the church.

    He was shocked by what he described as the high level of desperation among politicians in the run-up to the February election.

    The cleric warned of the likely breach of public peace during the election, if police, Army, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other security agencies do not conduct themselves properly.

    His words: “The motive of the meeting is not to take for granted the 2019 general elections. The church cannot keep quite in this situation because the church can only prosper when Nigeria prospers. If the 2019 election is not free and fair all Nigerians will be in trouble including the church.

    “When I spoke with President Muhammadu Buhari and told him that when we conducted the 2015 elections, people didn’t expect it to be so free and fair but the way the then administration conducted it gave us a sense of pride in the international community.

    “If the 2019 election is not better, if the police are not better-behaved, if the Army is not better-behaved, if INEC is not better-behaved, then it will be a failure.

    “If politicians are not better behaved and they show desperation it will be a failure. We are again warning politicians. The desperation we saw at the intra-party election is given us concern. If they can be so desperate and they end up fighting what will they do when they contest with opposition? The desperation is too much. “Whoever knows that he do not have any other job then politics should forget about contesting. The person should go and look for a job that will last him his life time. It is not compulsory that you should lead us. “Leading Nigeria is a sacrifice. Why do you want to lead by force? You do not need to destroy the entire land. When you said you must lead us at all cost, then, we should suspect you.

    “You need to know that the world is not created for you alone. If you do not win the 2019 election, heaven will not fall. We have millions on Nigerians who can do what you want to do. Do not set this nation on fire.

    “So, we have decided to reach out to the stakeholders and the presidential candidates to ask them their credentials for aspiring to the highest position in the country, and also the plan they have for all, including the church.”

     

     

    “You will agree with me that in the past few years, we have witnessed bloodshed in an unimaginable proportion and we cannot afford to lose more lives any longer. So, we need to really confront them with questions that matter about the future of our country.

    “We have reached a stage where whoever will lead us must not complain for not repositioning our economy. We have a short time to live on earth and everyday matters. We must live a better tomorrow for our children. So those who want to lead us must get serious. They must also know what we want them to do.”

    Those at the forum included: former Anambra State Governor Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential running mate Peter Obi, Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi who represented the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the former Education minister and Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN).