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Tag: Samson Ayokunle

  • CAN kicks against RUGA settlement in Nigeria

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has told the Federal Government to jettison the planned RUGA scheme, saying the association was opposed to the implementation of the programme anywhere in Nigeria.

    On May 21, the Federal Government approved what it termed the RUGA settlement scheme, to curb open grazing of animals nationwide.

    RUGA entails the settlement of animals by farmers in an organised place with the provision of necessary amenities.

    The President of CAN, Pastor Samson Ayokunle, announced the position of the association at a church leaders’ summit in Lagos on Saturday.

    “We, the Christian body call on the Federal Government to immediately suspend and abrogate the RUGA settlement programme,’’Ayokunle stated.

    According to him, anything that smacks of mutual distrust should be avoided in the interest of national unity.

    He said also that the perception by many Christians that CAN had not been showing enough interest in national issues was wrong.

    “Let me state it here that our position, although it may differ from that of government is not opposition but a way of helping those in government.

    “Our position is a way of helping those in government by calling their attention to the dangers that may come from the proposed action if adequate caution is not considered.

    “We, the Christian body also kick against the Control of Waterways Bill now before the National Assembly. The Control of Waterways by the Federal Government Bill before the National Assembly should be rejected.

    “Waterways in each locality should be controlled by local authorities. God created the waterways there. At most they should be controlled by State Governments.”

    The CAN chief advised the Federal Government to intensify efforts on the establishment of modern ranching facilities, abattoirs and meat processing firms.

    Read Also: Only prayers can resolve Nigeria’s problems — Cleric

    Also speaking, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, said that he supported the position of CAN on the RUGA settlement issue.

    “CAN must do everything possible to let the world know that CAN is one. Whatever the CAN president says is the final,” he said.

    The Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, in a message, said that building of the nation is in the hands of God.

    He pleaded with Nigerians to pray to God for supernatural intervention in the affairs of Nigeria, saying: “we need to cry to God to help Nigeria.”

    Osinbajo was represented by the Chaplain of Aso Rock Chapel, Pastor Sheyi Malomo.

    Church leaders at the summit include Pastor Felix Omobude, President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria.

    Elder Napo Emuchey, President of the Organisation of African Instituted Churches, Rev. S.T.V. Adegbite, President of the Christian Council of Nigeria and Benebo Fubara-Manuel, among others.

    The theme of the summit is: “RUGA: The Church Response in the 21st Century.’’

    NAN

  • COZA: Rapists must face justice, says CAN

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Saturday condemned any case of rape in strong terms, saying it doesn’t matter who is involved.

    Rev Samson Ayokunle, President, CAN, who gave the condemnation via a text message to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), stressed that justice must prevail in all rape cases.

    Ayokunle described rape as ungodly, wicked and reprehensible.

    He,however, noted that CAN had no details on the trending allegations against the founder of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Pastor Abiodun Fatoyinbo.

    But he confirmed that the association had reached out to the christian wing which Fatoyinbo belongs to ascertain truth of the matter and take necesssary actions.

    ”We have no details about the matter other than what we are reading and hearing from the social media, and this is not reliable and credible evidence.

    ”The CAN leadership has reached out to the leadership of the block which the Pastor in question belongs with a view to getting to the root of the matter.

    ”This will help us to make the right decision on the issue,” he said.

    There will be a protest march to COZA church in Abuja, on 30 June, by #Church Too Movement.

    Busola Dakolo, a photographer and wife of musician, Timi Dakolo, has accused Fatoyinbo of rape.​

    Mrs. Dakolo is the second high profile person after Ese Walter to accuse Fatoyinbo of rape.​

    NAN

  • CAN to MACBAN: expose criminal herdsmen to save Buhari’s image

    THE President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Ayokunle, on Monday urged the leadership of the Miyetti-Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) to protect the image of President Muhammadu Buhari by exposing criminal herdsmen.

    Ayokunle gave the counsel while speaking with MACBAN representatives, led by its National Secretary, Baba Othman Ngadzarna and Alhaji Sidia Metankari.

    The cattle breeders’ leaders congratulated Dr. Ayokunle and sought for a date for dialogue with the leadership of CAN on the ongoing security challenges across the country.

    Ayokunle said: “Our major problem is lack of leadership. We don’t have leadership that builds life but such that destroys life. Nigeria needs a detribalised leader who will pick the best across all divides that will help him to govern the entire nation well.

    “The leadership of CAN is not attacking President Muhammadu Buhari on religious ground. All we are asking from the government is to be more responsible and responsive to the yearnings of the people of Nigeria irrespective of their faith, ethnic background and political leaning.

    “For example, the government should be able to provide basic amenities for the people as it is being done in other climes and security challenges must be addressed holistically.

    Read Also: OPC warns kidnappers, herdsmen

    “Good governance will surely change the current disturbing narrative. There is no reason why the criminals amidst us should not be brought to book. Now that you have said it is not all herdsmen that belong to MACBAN, then your association should stop justifying the atrocities being perpetrated by those criminals.

    “The criminal herdsmen are giving the President bad name and the only way this can be stopped is by exposing those criminals that are carrying gun around, maiming and killing the innocent people. President Buhari is Fulani like you people and the best thing you can do for him is by exposing those criminals. This will make Nigerians not to reject another Fulani man who may want to rule.”

    According to a statement issued by his Special Assistant, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, the CAN boss cited few instances to condemn the criminal herdsmen who have been attacking and killing innocent people, saying: “most of those who are angry with the …herdsmen do not just hate them but they have been victims of attacks by suspected criminal herders.”

    The CAN president, who commended MACBAN for the initiative, promised to work with the leadership of the association in the quest for peace and stability of Nigeria.

    Other CAN officials present at the occasion include Northcentral Chairman Rev. Israel Akanji; National Treasurer Bishop Anthony Anyiador and National Christian Centre Co-ordinating Chaplain Bishop Peter Ogunmuyiwa among others.

    The National Secretary of MACBAN, Baba Othman Ngadzarna, said the delegation came to congratulate Ayokunle on his victory for second term and to seek for a date when the leadership of MACBAN can come to hold dialogue with CAN leadership on their ongoing dialogue with stakeholders in the country.

    He told the CAN boss that all the criminals pretending to be herdsmen are not their members, emphasising that “those carrying AK-47 around are cattle rustlers who came from outside the country are capitalising on the porosity of our borders.”

    Ngadzarna also disclosed that there is another group of herdsmen who share same name with them adding that “they were also registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

    He further disclosed that the feud between the pastoralists and farmers were as a result of climate change, increase in population, illiteracy, cattle rustling and failure of government to address their needs.

    He, however, noted that until of recent, the government had not deemed it fit to look into the root cause of the feud, adding that, most of the negative stories making the rounds about MACBAN were fake.

  • 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.”

     

  • 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”.

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

    The President of Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN ), Rev. Samson Ayokunle, has advised politicians to avoid utterances and actions, which are capable of disturbing the nation’s peace.

    Ayokunle gave the advice at the 2nd General Assembly of the Inter-faith Dialogue Forum for Peace, with the theme, ‘‘General Elections and National Security: The Role of Inter-faith Communities’’ in Abuja on Wednesday.

    ‘‘I also want to appeal to politicians not to set the nation on fire because of their personal ambition at the expense of national interest.

    ‘‘People who don’t have any work outside politics should not be voted into power.

    ‘‘I want to urge those in government and all politicians to calm down, to avoid breakdown of law and order because of elections.

    ‘‘Enough is enough on the destruction of our country. Thuggery and any format of electoral violence should be discouraged by all politicians,’’ he said.

    He also enjoined politicians not to be desperate to acquire power because leadership was a burden.

    The CAN leader said that politicians must respect the rule of law, to enhance peace in the country.

    He, however, urged the electorate to vote for people who had something to offer for the advancement of the country.

    Ayokunle, therefore, charged the law enforcement agencies to help in building the nation’s democracy by ensuring free, fair and credible elections during the forthcoming general elections.

    “Don’t help in installing bad leaders during elections and don’t use your uniforms to do a dirty job by intimidating or preventing voters to discharge their civic responsibilities.

    “We don’t want to see or hear such incidences again if we don’t want to mortgage the future of our children.

    “We should not play politics with the security of Nigerians,’’ he said.

    Read Also: Buhari names Tarfa NEDC chairman

    He also admonished religious leaders to continue to pray for the country, preach peace and avoid making divisive comments that could disrupt the nation’s peaceful co-existence.

    ‘‘I want to urge faith communities to continue to pray for Nigeria because the relative peace we are enjoying in this country is because of our constant prayers.’’

    The co-Chairman, Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace, Rev. Sunday Onuoha, advised the Federal and state governments to redirect their efforts towards building stronger institutions that would be beneficial to all citizens.

    ‘‘All institutions, both government and non-government, should be open to dialogue and not close their minds to other opinions or see other opinions as threat, as no one has the monopoly of knowledge,’’ he said.

    He urged those who presented themselves for elective positions to be willing to accept the outcome of the elections.

  • 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.”

  • CAN declares 72 hours prayer for free, fair, credible poll

    The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Saturday declared 18-20 November, 2018 as days of non-stop praise to God for his Divine intervention over the next year general election and other problems facing the country.

    The “72 hours Praise and Worship” is to be organized in all churches nationwide between 18th November, 2018 – 20th November, 2018 as from 7:00 am on the 18th – 6:00 pm 20th November, 2018.

    The Programme is to celebrate the envisaged victory Nigeria is going to experience over economic, security challenges, social, religious and political problems Nigerians are facing as a Nation.

    CAN, through the Acting General Secretary, Barrister Joseph Daramola, has asked all bloc leaders and their Secretaries, all Zonal chairmen, all State Chairmen and all denominational leaders to organize their church members in non-stop praise of God’s majesty over the victory he has given us in Nigeria on all our challenges, especially His intervention over the coming general election.

    Read Also: ‘We can’t understand why Leah still held’

    A statement issued by Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, Special Assistant (Media & Communications) to the CAN President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, the Christian body said: “Having noted various challenges the country is going through, the CAN Leadership considered the need for us to organize a strategic three days of non-stop praise over them in the country (as was done in the Bible in 2 Chronicles Chapter 20), especially the forthcoming 2019 elections with a view to stopping a crisis-ridden election that will not be free, fair and credible.

    “The praise is also about the victory we believe God has given the Church in Nigeria over all powers of darkness that want to engulf the Church in whatever guise. We should praise God that bloodshed will be no more in Nigeria. A bad leader will not be elected as our President in 2019. All human efforts to manipulate elections will fail and Leah Sharibu and all those in captivity will be released.

    “All churches in the country are urged to participate in the programme to usher the country into a new era of peace, unity, safety and all round prosperity.”