The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Christian Association of Nigeria

  • Crisis hits CAN as leadership dissolves elders’ forum

    The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has dissolved the National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) over what it described as irreconcilable differences with its activities.

    The development is part of the outcome of its meeting where NEC also unanimously passed a vote of confidence in CAN President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, for the achievements recorded under his leadership.

    Members of the NCEF include Solomon Asemota, SAN (Chairman); Vice President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Prof. Joseph Otubu; Gen. Joshua Dogonyaro (rtd); Archbishop Magnus Atilade; Dr. (Mrs) Kate Okpareke; Dr. Ayo Abifarin; Gen. Zamani Lekwot (rtd); Elder Moses Ihonde; Elder Nat Okoro and Gen. T. Y. Danjuma.

    Others are Elder Matthew Owojaiye; Kalajine Anigbogu (rtd); Elder Shyngle Wigwe; DIG P. L. Dabup; Sir John W. Bagu; Dr. Saleh Hussaini; Elder Mike Orobator; Justice James Ogebe, JSC (rtd); Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife; Chief Debo Omotosho; Dame Priscilla Kuye; Dr. S. D. Gani; Mrs. Osaretin Demuren; Prof. Yussuf Turaki and Pastor Bosun Emmanuel (Secretary).

    A statement issued by the Special Assistant (Media and Communications) to the CAN President, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, in Abuja yesterday said: “The National Executive Committee of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at its meeting of Tuesday, November 20, 2018, unanimously applauded the CAN President for the unprecedented achievements recorded under his watch and dissolved the National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) due to irreconcilable differences with its activities.

    “Recall how NCEF has been using the social media and a section of the traditional media to attack its leadership, especially the President, Rev. Dr. Samson Ayokunle, using unprintable words to label him due to his refusal to take directives from its members.

    “NEC sees all the negative and baseless publications against the CAN President as mere distractions and a calculated attempt to malign his integrity and derail him from his focus of giving CAN credible leadership.

    “In the Communique issued on Friday, November 30, 2018 in Abuja, CAN, among other things, immediately dissolves the National Christian Elders’ Forum (NCEF) which was inaugurated on Thursday, January 15, 2015 by the powers conferred on the then CAN President. CAN NEC, by the same powers that inaugurated the forum, forthwith dissolves and dissociates completely from the NCEF in view of the incongruous and unacceptable operations manifested consistently by the group.

    “CAN NEC dismisses in its entirety the publication of the immediate past National Youth CAN Chairman, Mr. Daniel David Kadzai, who, in The Guardian newspaper of Monday, November 12, 2018, P.9, alleged that the CAN President defrauded CAN of ‘over N2.8 billion’.

    “CAN regrets that a man who had served the Association in the past and was tolerated in spite of his numerous incompetent leadership skills, could not only be malicious, but impersonate himself as Chairman of the Congress of Northern Nigerian Christians (CNNC).

    “Although he has apologised for his falsehood by the said publication and has verbally retracted his claims, and the CNNC has equally denied him being their Chairman, it is important to set the records straight.

    “However, because he has apologised to CAN leadership, he has been forgiven in the spirit of Christ as recorded in Matthew 6:14-15.

    “The meeting critically examined the activities and programmes under the leadership of its President, Rev. Dr. Samson Olasupo A. Ayokunle, and resolved as following: That the CAN President should be appreciated for his courageous leadership at such a time as this in the history of our nation.

    “The CAN National Executive Committee is particularly pleased with the CAN President for consistently speaking out about the plight of numerous voiceless people in our country, chiefly, on the terrorist activities as unleashed by Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen and other terrorist groups on innocent Nigerians.

    “His struggle for the release of the remaining Chibok schoolgirls, Miss Leah Sharibu, a captive of her Christian faith by the Boko Haram group, and other innocent captives all over the country has been greatly applauded.

    Read also: Can PDP bounce back in 2019?

    “That the CAN President should be appreciated for his great concern and positive actions in caring for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s) all over the country.

    “The Association recalled how CAN leadership travelled from state to state in the country, rendering support to people who have been displaced from their homes.

    “The CAN President should be appreciated for leading CAN in inter-faith activities which were almost completely closed up before he assumed office.

    “It was noticed that it was at his time that NIREC was revived and officials who were not giving the organisation the needed cooperation and cohesion were replaced.

    “The CAN President was appreciated for his ability to bring together Christian leaders from across the country to deliberate on moving the Nigerian Church forward. This was an unprecedented feat.

    “The CAN President was appreciated for ensuring that various court cases all over the country were withdrawn for out-of-court settlement.

  • 2019 : Groups urge CAN to be neutral

    The Concerned Christians Forum on Monday advised the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to maintain a neutral position as the 2019 general elections campaigns kick off.

    The National Coordinator of the group, Elder James Amedu, also urged CAN to refrain from making political statements.

    Amedu said in Lagos that any attempt to politicise Christendom in the days leading to the 2019 elections should be resisted by the Christian body.

    According to him, CAN should neither delve into politics nor utter statements that run contrary to the Christian faith.

    “CAN must not be seen as working for any party. Some of the CAN leaders have desecrated their pulpits by campaigning for certain candidates, under the pretext that they are relaying God’s voice,’’ he said.

    Read Also:  Cleric task churches on missions

    Amedu recalled that four years ago, in the build up to the 2015 General Elections, the Christian faith was ridiculed repeatedly because CAN was seen to be supporting the then ruling PDP.

    According to him, the then CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, allegedly reduced the association to the outsourced PR firm of the PDP.

    He said many Nigerians were burdened that Christendom was being politicised in the country again.

    “This is most unfortunate as CAN is rapidly being dragged back to the Oritsejafor era with all the damages likely to be done to the Christian Faith,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Lagos LG CAN inaugurates new excos

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area of Lagos State has inducted new elected executives’ officers to run the affairs of the body in the locality.

    In his welcome speech, Pastor Ajomu gave God all the glory for His sustaining Grace and indescribable love in making the day a reality.

    He however, charged his colleagues to always look in the direction of Christ as good example to follow. He also encouraged the new officers to use their God-given talents and blessings for others and to, at all times, promote religious harmony in the locality.

    At the event, Baba Aladura Akin Adewo prayed for successful completion of tenure the newly elected executives as well as peace to reign in the area.

    The induction also witnessed the acceptance of the immediate past chairman executive chairman, Odi Olowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area, Hon. Adeyemi Alli, who during his tenure was a pioneer CAN member.

    Read Also: Lagos State combats domestic violence in the riverine areas

    Alli, who is also a House of Representatives aspirant, in a chat with newsmen said that his presence at the programme was to show his support and commitment to peace and tranquility in the area.

    Alli also said being a Muslim; he had always sought for religious harmony among various religious groups in Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA.

    He also used the occasion to seek support of the CAN in the area to ensure the right peg is always put in the right hole in the political sphere in the area.

    Speaking on his ambition, Alli continued, “I am a welfarist, a social politician. I believe being together with everyone irrespective of religion. My job is to take care of the needy and being a socialite that would add to my responsibility.

    On his support from the Christian community, Alli said, “I did my best during my tenure, that’s what necessitated this support. I operated all-inclusive administration where no one was seen as irrelevant. I have been a supporter of the CAN especially in Odi Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA, since when I was executive chairman. “I can only urge our brothers in Christianity to continue to be guided by the teachings of Christ which preached oneness and harmony among citizens of communitie.”

    Pastor Peter Ajomu was sworn in as CAN coordinator, Rev. Babatunde Durowoju as his vice, while the Secretary position was occupied by Bro. John Omo Ajayi and Special Apostle Ogunmisi Bayode Elijah, would serve as Assistant Secretary and Elder M. K. Olorunmaiye elected as Treasurer of the council.

     

     

  • Lagos CAN prays against killings

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Lagos State chapter has declared a three-day prayer summit against incessant killings by herdsmen across the nation.

    The summit, it said, is in response to the directive by the National President of CAN, Rev (Dr.) Supo Ayokunle.

    It begins tomorrow, according to a statement by its secretary, Baba Aladura Israel Akinadewo with prayers at various churches and homes.

    On Wednesday, thousands of Christians would converge on Chapel of Christ The Light, Alausa, from 10am to round off the

     

  • Justice for all

    It is an act of gruesome murder, but it is an irony that the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) may have a point in its letter to President Muhammadu Buhari for a sort of intervention in a matter that automatically should attract extreme official indignation.

    Five young men of the Christian faith were sentenced to death in Adamawa State for conspiring and attacking three herdsmen in the course of their daily activities in Kadamun village in  Demsa Local Government Area of Adamawa State. The savage onslaught led to the death of one of the herdsmen.

    In sentencing the five persons, the high court judge, Abdul-Azeez Waziri, described the offence as culpable homicide. The five youths include Alex Amos, Alheri Phanuel, Holy Boniface, Jerry Gideon and Jari Sabagi. The judge said they committed the murder “willfully and intentionally.”

    CAN’s epistolary response to the president is hardly a plea but a rebuke. While asking the president to intervene, it notes with jarring evidence the many cases of ruthless murders meted out by “suspected herdsmen” “on a daily basis.”

    Yet, the Christian body wants to redress what it designates as “a miscarriage of justice,” in the hope that it could prevent a “a future re-occurrence.” In this context, it is even invoking the legal wisdom of its lawyers to study the text.

    What the august Christian body is seeking occurs outside the rule of law. It can only seek clemency, not justice for the five men who have committed murder. What we should want is for the president and the security agents in the country to see the acts of the five young men as a sign that blood is in the air, and some aggrieved Nigerians may want to seek self-help to seek justice because the Nigerian state has failed to deliver it to them.

    The CAN said, “we are shocked at the speed of light deployed by security and judicial officers in sentencing the alleged killers of the herdsmen in Adamawa State.” This swift verdict contradicts the official snail’s pace of adjudicating the matters of numerous Nigerians who have been slaughtered in cold blood for close to two years by the marauding herdsmen.

    Those that have been arrested have hardlybeen sentenced and most of the killers are not brought to book. This is in an atmosphere where the Minister of Defence has raised a perfidious voice in their defence and the Inspector-General of Police has dismissed the killings as mere communal crisis.

    It gives the impression that some lives are important and others are not, and some murders deserve justice and swiftly too, while others deserve official indifference and even quiet approval.

    CAN was right when it posed righteously, “why did the court discharge the alleged killers of Madam Bridget Aghahime on the orders of the Kano State government? Why have security officials not arrested those behind the killings of Christians in Southern Kaduna? Why did Nigeria Police set free those arrested for the murder of Mrs. Eunice Elisha Olawale in Kubwa, Abuja? In the light of this, CAN is calling on President Buhari to intervene in the death sentence passed on these Christian youths in Adamawa.”

    Justice cannot be said to prevail in a country where a group of people smile with their impunity and others face instant death on the streets, in their homes, on their farms and are living in perpetual trepidation of their neighbours.

    The instances the Christian body has cited are still all-too-familiar. We recall with extreme rage the mob murder of Madam Aghahime. The five who killed her were Dauda Ahmed, Abdulmumeen Mustapha, Zubairu Abubakar, Abdullahi Abubakar and Musa Abdullahi. And the Kano Magistrate’s Court set them free. The state attorney- general gave a nolle prosequi and the judge obliged. The woman was beheaded in the presence of her husband, who escaped because the police intervened. This is nothing but mob justice.

    For over two years, herdsmen have run rampant with murders of innocent Nigerians. We have not had justice for the blood of the citizens who have gone the way of all flesh in several villages razed to the ground. The story of a proselytising Mrs. Olawale is also fresh because she hurt no one by proclaiming her religious belief in a democracy.

    It is a shame that we run a country with such a gap of justice. What the five young men did is ominous. They are saying by their acts that evil begets evil. If we are to run a civilised society, such tit for tat will only lead to a breakdown of law and order. That does not bode well for the country. Anarchy would loom and jungle justice will complicate the challenge of security that seems already to have overpowered our security forces. That is not a country we crave.

    What we want is justice for all. The Federal Government must flush out the miscreants who kill people, especially in the middle-belt region and parts of the north. It is such air of transparency that will prevent the clear omen of reprisal killings.

     

  • Buhari condoles Christians on CAN official’s death

    President Muhammadu Buhari has joined the national leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Christian community in Nigeria in mourning the passing of the General Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev (Dr) Musa Asake.

    This was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina.

    The President, while commiserating with the family of the late Reverend, prayed that God Almighty will comfort all those who mourn the departed, and grant his soul eternal rest.

  • CAN President to grace Evangelism and Fire Conference

    The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev.  Samson Ayokunle will attend the Evangelism and Fire Conference 2018 organized by the Global Outreach Day Nigeria It holds on 12th May 2018, at the National Christian Centre, Abuja.

    Other Pastors billed to attend the programme are Pastor Paul Eneche, Senior Pastor, Dunamis International Gospel Centre, National Coordinator, Global Outreach Day, Nigeria, Evangelist, Oguazi Onyemobi, and Prof Durojaiye Adegboye, Senior Pastor, President Gospel Unlimited.

    The programme tagged “Changing The Nation through the Gospel” is poised to attract Christian faithfuls from across the country which will feature song rendition, drama, prayer and ministration of the gospel.

    Pastor Onyemobi announcing it recently in Lagos, said that the global outreach is an end-time response to the great commission and a catalyst to mobilized the whole church for great harvest of soul.

    “The Global Outreach Day is a worldwide initiative that has taken root in over 150 countries of the world. The vision of God is to raise the entire believers to share the gospel of Jesus on the last Saturday of May each year and adopt soul wining as a lifestyle” he said.

    “recent statistics shows that 93% of church members rarely share the Gospel with others. After His victorious resurrection from the grave and before his glorious ascension to Heaven, Jesus declared to His disciples, ‘All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth”.

    “Jesus, then commissioned them, ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit’ (Matthew 28:18-19). That Great Commission is what Global Outreach Day is all about, and that is why we are gathered here today.”

    He also said that millions of Christians in over 140 nations are already sharing the Gospel on the Global Outreach Day.

    “The goal is for every Christian to reach at least one person with the Gospel message on this day. In our world where many are spreading messages of hate, killings, destruction and deception in the name of God is enough reason for raising unto God the greatest army of believers that will stand as one to preach the good news of God’s love”.

    He further said Christians should share the gospel and adopt the diverse soul winning strategies that suit them best in their different community as the world celebrate the world Global Outreach Day.

    “one-on-one evangelism,  reaching out in small groups, meetings in the church, visiting the needy, hospitals, prisons, nursing homes, children’s homes, use of concert, open air mob, banners, sharing of tracts, posting on face book can be done to commemorate the day”.

    It be recalled that the first edition of World Global Outreach Day for this year was held earlier this week in Lagos where believers across the federation converged to reach everyone via the gospel of Christ.

  • Dapchi girls: CAN praises Leah for standing for her faith

    … Boko Haram trying to set us against each other, Ahmadiyya

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has praised the lone Dapchi girl Leah Sharibu, being held captive by Boko Haram for standing for her faith.

    CAN says that people saying that Leah should have denounced Christ and repented later do not understand the tenets of Christianity.
    Federal Capital Territory (FCT) CAN President, Rev. Dr. Jonah Samson explained that Christianity is all about conviction and not denial.

    Speaking at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, Northern Region, 6th Northern Region Jalsa Tarbiya, 3rd national peace symposium that was held in Abuja. Samson who was represented by Rev. Dr. Samuel Kajeyale said,

    “In the aspect of people saying that Leah should have denounced her faith, it is not possible. If you know what Christian beliefs is all about, it is all about conviction and denial is not part of the tenets of Christianity, if you have given your life to Jesus and made him the lord of your life, people might want to say Peter denied Christ but look at the context of Peter’s denial, immediately he denied Christ he asked for forgiveness, we should ve very careful of looking at a portion of the bible and not looking at it holistically, if you are not given the opportunity of repentance and after the denying Christ you are killed, what becomes of you? That is the issue.

    “So that girl as far as we are concerned, we are praying for her because of her conviction. When you look at the nation holistically, we have the freedom to practice our religion, religion should be by persuasion not imposition, if we allow religion to graduate to imposition, what we are going to reap in the society is total chaos.”
    Amir sahib (National Head), Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Nigeria. Dr. Mashhud Fashola at the occasion called on Nigerians to beware of Boko Harams attempts to set Christians against Muslims.

    Fashola said that the sect is exploiting religion for the purpose of conflict.

    His words, “This is trying to make us as a nation set ourselves against eachother, we may not know thise causing problems, we may call them a particular name and they may not be the ones causing the problems, so what we need is dialogue

    “In religion their is bad leadership, when religious leaders are not preaching discipline, morality and selflessness, they are alao looking for money, they are materialistic it will cause problems. Some of our leaders too are looking for their own pockets rather than fighting for the development of the nation and eradication of poverty. Leave religion apart, poverty knows no religion, if you dont address poverty, you cause problems in the nation, extremists will play on those deprived and preach wrong ideologies.

    “As for Boko Haram, the government is not Boko Haram if Boko Haram sizes someone and refuse to return the person, it is not the fault of the government, let us put the blame on Boko Haram, Boko Haram is trying to create conflict, wants to set us against eachother and exploiting religion for that purpose, their take is not on religion, they know that when they create religious crisis, their will be crisis in the country, we should be very careful not to make them cause us to fight eachother. For me, what Boko Haram is doing is to cause disunity and instability in the country.”

  • Taraba CAN chairman dies in auto-accident

    Rev. Ben Ubeh, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Taraba, died on Sunday in an auto accident on the  Zing-Yola Road.

    The Vice Chairman of CAN in the state, John Aina, confirmed the incident  in Jalingo.

    Ubeh , who died in the early hours of Sunday,  was on his way to Yola for an official engagement.

    Rev. Peter Gambo, who was travelling with the late chairman, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the incident happened when they parked to buy some drugs  in Zing town on their way to Yola.

    Gambo,  who is the state Chairman of  the NLC, explained that the  deceased also  stepped out of the vehicle at Zing.

    “We parked to buy drugs, the  CAN Chairman too came out and stood at the back of our Toyota Hilux van when suddenly a truck came from behind and crushed him.

    “I am still in shock over the incident, but I have come to terms with the fact that God knows best,” he said.

    Gambo said Gov. Darius Ishaku  immediately sent a  delegation to Zing which  helped him to evacuate the corpse to Jalingo.

    The corpse had since been deposited in the morgue of the State Specialist Hospital, Jalingo.

    Ubeh, who was elected CAN Chairman in  Taraba in 2016,  is also the General Overseer of Army of God Glorious Ministries.

    Gambo added that burial arrangements would be announced  later. (NAN)

  • I’ll keep crying until we get justice – Ortom

    I’ll keep crying until we get justice – Ortom

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has said he will keep speaking out on the invasion and ongoing killings in the state until the people of the state get justice.

    He spoke when a delegation of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, South South Zone, led by Archbishop God-Dowell Oyibo Avwomakpa, visited him at the Peoples House in Makurdi.

    He said if those saddled with the responsibility of protecting lives and property had acted promptly on reports which he made about threats to invade the state, subsequent massacre could have been averted.

    Governor Ortom reiterated his call for the resignation or sack of the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, for his unprofessional conduct of taking sides with the invaders and lack of capacity to stop the killings.

    According to the Governor, the sacking of communities and killings had continued after the burial of the 73 victims adding that several security operatives had been killed and their rifles taken by the Fulani herdsmen.

    He said herdsmen attacks had become an enormous national problem which patriots across the country must rise up to tackle decisively.

    The Governor commended the people of the South-South for rallying support for the state in its time of need more than any part of the country and prayed that God would reward them.

    Earlier, Archbishop Avwomakpa called on President Muhammadu Buhari to defend the people of the state as Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the country.

    He said the delegation visited to get first-hand information so as to know how to cry to fellow Christians in other parts of the world to come to the aid of fellow Christians in Benue State.

    The delegation had also visited and donated relief items to some of those displaced by the crisis in one of the seven camps.

    Read Also: http://staging.thenationonlineng.net/ortom-senate-igp-taken-side-benue-killings/