The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Musa Asake

  • 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.

  • Buhari not violating 1999 Constitution, Presidency tells CAN

    Buhari not violating 1999 Constitution, Presidency tells CAN

    The Presidency on Tuesday denied allegation that President Muhammadu Buhari has been violating the 1999 Constitution.

    The Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, made the remark while reacting to press conference by the General Secretary of Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN ), Dr. Musa Asake.

    Shehu said “Our attention has been drawn to reports of a press conference by General Secretary of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Dr. Musa Asake in which he passed a judgement on the constitutionality of certain actions of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    “Unfortunately, he could not cite any valid cases of constitutional violations. President Muhammadu government poses no threat to the country’s democracy and Constitution.

    “There are no cases of any violation of our sacred constitution and there will be none under this President.

    The respected religious leader should stick to his religious duties and leave politics for politicians.” he stated.

    Read Also: Buhari wrecking economy with fuel scarcity – PDP

  • CAN suspends Christian Day of mourning

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said on Wednesday that it has suspended the Christian Day of Mourning based on credible reports of concern.

    This is contained in a statement signed by Rev. Musa Asake, General Secretary, CAN, and made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The CAN President, Rev Samson Ayokunle, according to the statement, said the day was formerly scheduled to take place globally on March 19, 2017.

    Ayokunle states that the suspension of the programme was due to misunderstanding, misinterpretation and subsequent security concerns.

    He took cognizance of the preparations that various Christian groups have made to participate in the programme.

    Ayokunle explained that the programme was designed in all honesty and sincerity, to mourn the death of thousands of Christians murdered by religious insurgents.

    “All Nigerian Christian assemblies are urged to have a normal Sunday Worship on March 19, 2017, but suspend any action on the Day of Mourning.

    “Christians should be careful and watchful. Further communication shall be issued by CAN in due course.

    “In the meantime, we are all urged to remain steadfast and resolute in the Grace of God that Nigeria shall overcome the present distress and peace shall prevail all over the nation, ‘’he said.

     

  • Buhari’s silence on Kaduna killings unacceptable – CAN

    Buhari’s silence on Kaduna killings unacceptable – CAN

    The National leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN) on Friday expressed sadness over the manner the federal and state governments are handling the Southern Kaduna killings.

    CAN described President Muhammadu Buhari’s silence on the matter as sad and unacceptable.

    Briefing journalists in Abuja on the crisis in Southern Kaduna, CAN National General Secretary, Rev. Musa Asake, said although the church in Nigeria has been subjected to a “systemic genocide and persecution through the instrumentality of Boko Haram, which has killed thousands of Christians and destroyed churches and over 50,000 houses since 2009, the current unprecedented onslaught against Christians in southern Kaduna by Islamic fundamentalists disguising as Fulani herdsmen had reached an alarming stage.”

    The continuous killings, Asake said had shown that the Kaduna State government “lacks the will power to arrest the situation and bring it under effective control.

    “We know that southern Kaduna has been under 24-hour curfew daily as directed by the governor, yet the enemies of the people are still prowling going from house to house killing defenseless people without government protection,” the body said.

    CAN, he said has declared January 8, 2017 as national day of mourning by Christians including those in diaspora, adding that all Christians must dress in mourning attire of black clothes or dresses in all church services.

    He said, “I have been directed by the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle to bring to your attention the ongoing ethnic/religious cleansing of Nigerian Christians in general and those of southern Kaduna in particular in the last few weeks.

    “While we commend President Muhammadu Buhari for waging war against Boko Haram fundamentalists since his assumption of office, his silence on the ongoing genocide in the last few weeks speaks volume of the perceived official endorsement of the dastardly and ungodly acts.

    “The recent defense of the President’s silence that the President has received briefing from the governor of Kaduna State on the matter is unacceptable, because the Presidency knows that the people of the affected area had already protested the governor’s unacceptable biased handling of the killings.”

  • Boko Haram video: FG cautions against religious crises

    Boko Haram video: FG cautions against religious crises

    Following the release of a Boko Haram video showing the abducted school girls and the revelation by the sect leader, Abubakar Shekau that all the girls have converted to Islam, the Federal Government on Tuesday urged religious leaders to caution their followers against involving in religious crises.

    Also, the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters has issued an international red alert for arrest of fleeing Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche.

    The Christian Association of Nigeria had said in a statement issued in Kaduna on Monday that forceful conversion of the girls to Islam was a clear indication that the sect was waging war against Christianity.

    The National secretary of CAN, Rev Musa Asake, said the conversion was unacceptable and called on the government and the international community to act fast to save the situation.

    He said the reported forceful conversion of the girls was a confirmation that the sect has a religious agenda, adding that it was now clear that they are waging war against Christians and Christianity in the country.

    But the Director General of the National Orientation Agency, Mike Omeri, who made the government’s position known on the issue at the National Briefing Centre, said the government will do everything possible to rescue the girls alive despite threats by the group.

    “The Federal Government strongly appeals to religious leaders especially the Christian Association of Nigerian and the Jamaatul Nasril Islam to restrain their members from being misled by unscrupulous persons into reducing the current situation into religious conflicts.

    “Government is still monitoring issues and will do everything possible to rescue the girls alive.

    “The Government wishes to commend all Nigerians for the support and understanding shown since the government began its operations to restore peace and normalcy in some parts of the country,” Omeri stated.

     

  • Boko Haram waging war against christians, says CAN

    Boko Haram waging war against christians, says CAN

    THE Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has said the Boko Haram is waging a war against Christianity.

    Boko Haram claimed in a new video released yesterday that the girls have been converted to Islam.

    The National secretary of the CAN, Rev Musa Asake,  said the conversion was unacceptable and called on the government and the international community to act fast to save the situation.

    He said the reported forceful conversion of the girls was a confirmation that the Boko Haram sect has a religious agenda, adding that it was now clear that they were waging a war against Christians and Christianity in the country.

    The Christian umbrella body rejected the demand by Boko Haram for the release of their detained members as a condition for freeing the girls, stressing that the Boko Haram members being detained were criminals who committed heinous crimes against humanity and they should face the wrath of the law.

    It accused the Cable Network News (CNN) of downplaying the fact the majority of the girls kidnapped are Christians, saying: “We condemned the forceful conversion of abducted Christian girls from Chibok into the Islamic fold by the Boko Haram terrorist group.

    “Our Muslim brothers told us that Islam is not by compulsion and we are surprised that our girls who were abducted in school by the terrorists have forcefully converted them to Islam.

    “This is a confirmation that the Boko Haram is waging a war is against Christianity.  We are calling on the federal government and the internationally community to know that there is no ambiguity in what the  Boko Haram actually wanted – they are waging a war against Christians and Christianity.

    “We also want to urge that the CNN reporter in Nigeria should be called to order because he is down playing the reality of what is going on. Majority of the girls kidnapped are Christians, but he is downplaying this fact and misleading the world. We don’t know whose agenda he is executing but we are calling on him let the world know the truth.

    “Those girls are not Muslims and we are urging the terrorists to return them to their parents”.