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Tag: CAN

  • BREAKING: CAN Chairman in Nasarawa regains freedom from kidnappers den, suspects arrested

    The Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Nasarawa State chapter, Bishop Joseph Masin, who was abducted by gunmen on Thursday in Lafia has regained his freedom.

    Mr Bola Longe, Commissioner of Police (CP) in the State confirmed the release of the CAN chairman to newsmen on Sunday in Lafia.

    Longe said that four suspects have been arrested in connection with the abduction and that investigation was ongoing to arrest all those involved.

    He, however, denied knowledge of any ransom being paid to secure the release of the CAN chairman.

    The CP added that all the suspects would be charged to court for prosecution as soon as investigation was concluded.

    Corroborating the release, Pastor Sam Joseph, son of the CAN Chairman told newsmen that his father regained his freedom at about 11:45 p.m. on Saturday, around Lizhi village in Nasarawa-Eggon Local Government Area of the state.

    He said the bishop, however, arrived his Bukan-sidi residence in Lafia at about 2:00 a.m on Sunday and had been taken for medical examination in an undisclosed hospital.

    Recall that the State CAN Chairman, who is also the Bishop and General-Overseer of World of God Worldwide Gospel City, was abducted by gunmen from his residence in Lafia on May 28, and taken away on a motorcycle according to family source.

    The abductors later contacted the family and demanded a N20 million ransom for his release.

  • JUST IN: Gunmen abduct CAN Chairman in Nasarawa

    JUST IN: Gunmen abduct CAN Chairman in Nasarawa

    The Police Command in Nasarawa State has confirmed the abduction of Bishop Joseph Masin, the state Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), by gunmen in Lafia.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Bola Longe, confirmed the development to newsmen on Thursday in Lafia.

    Longe said the bishop was abducted by the gunmen who stormed his residence in Bukan-sidi, Lafia metropolis, on Wednesday night.

    He said that a Police team had been deployed to trail the abductors to ensure the safe rescue of the victim and possible arrest of the perpetrators.

    Corroborating the incident, Elder Yohanna Samari, a former CAN Secretary in the State, said the bishop was abducted by the attackers at midnight at his Bukan-sidi residence.

    Samari said that the abductors took the CAN chairman away on a motorcycle.

    He said that although nobody was hurt during the incident, the family had been greatly traumatised.

    Meanwhile, Pastor Tayo Samuel, the CAN Vice Chairman in the state, said the abductors had contacted the family demanding for N20 million ransom.

  • FG meets CAN, NSCIA leaders; deliberate guidelines to re-open worship centres

    FG meets CAN, NSCIA leaders; deliberate guidelines to re-open worship centres

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Presidential Task Force (PTF) met in Abuja on Tuesday to deliberate extensively on guidelines to re-open places of worship, especially in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The parties agreed that it was time for places of worship to reopen, adding that precautionary measures should be followed.

    According to close insider the sources, the guidelines, which was deliberated and adopted by parties present include;

    “Worship centres must disinfectant their premises before the reopening for services. They should provide alcoholic sanitizers, temperature readers, soap and water in their premises to be supervised by medical professionals.

    “Every worshipper must either use soap to wash their hands or apply sanitizers. The temperature  of every worshipper must be screened before admission into the church and people with the high temperature should be advised to see doctors.

    “Every worshipper must wear face mask. Social distancing should be observed in the sitting arrangement with one meter gap between two worshippers. It should be one hour service for a start. All Sunday services are to end on at 5:30pm. There should be a gap of 10 minutes between one service or another where there are multiple services to avoid concentration of crowd. Churches can make use of classrooms and multipurpose halls for services where available especially in big churches in order to accommodate more worshippers at a time. TV circuit and speakers can be used for those who are not inside the main auditorium.

    “Handshaking and hugging should be avoided before, during and after the service. Children should worship with their parents. Prayers should be offered to God for a speedy end of COVID-19 and quick recovery of all that are afflicted by the pandemic. Prayers should also be offered for those frontline workers for divine protection”.

    A source at the meeting said the PTF/NCDC promised to prepare its own recommendations which will be presented to the President for approval and action next week.

    The source said in the guidelines the Muslims submitted included that they wanted their worship to be held the same hour according to the Qur’anic injunctions.

    They are of the opinion that children will not take part.

    Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, Special Assistant (Media and Communications) to the CAN president Rev. Samson Ayokunle confirmed the meeting, adding that part of the guidelines is that CAN would constitute a committee together with law enforcement agencies to enforce full compliance.

  • COVID-19: CAN distances self from Oyedepo, Oyakhilome, says churches must remain closed

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has explained why churches should remain closed despite mounting pressure in many quarters for their re-opening.

    This is coming after General Overseer of The Living Faith Ministries Worldwide otherwise known as Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, said the continuous closure of churches when markets and other public institutions were reopened was suspicious.

    Founder of Christ Embassy, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, also backed him, saying there was a calculated attempt to weaken the growth of the church in Nigeria.

    However, in an official statement, he personally signed on Friday, CAN President, Rev Supo Ayokunle, said it was not yet time for churches to reopen.

    According to him, the relaxation of lockdown had seen the country witness more coronavirus infection.

    Ayokunle said: “The above relaxation has on the other hand increased the pressure mounted on us, church leaders, from our members for the churches and other places of worship to be opened.

    “Champions for the reopening of worship centres argue that if people had contracted the virus in the markets and other places, closing the church from worshipping becomes unreasonable!

    “It is like using medicine after death! Furthermore, the church is more organised and a place of healing.”

    Despite these, the CAN President urge “all churches to remain closed because the daily increasing infected people in Nigeria is dangerous for the survival of us all.”

    He called for caution among churches for reopening, saying “the church needs to exercise restrain at this time so that we might not naively and over zealously plunge our members into regrettable destruction and sorrow.”

  • Umahi heeds CAN’s ‘passionate’ appeal, lifts ban on religious gatherings in Ebonyi

    Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has lifted the ban on religious worship across the state with effect from May 15 as part of efforts to relax the COVID-19 lockdown.

    Mr Uchenna Orji, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, made the disclosure in a statement issued in Abakaliki on Friday.

    He said that the decision was in response to passionate appeals made by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state.

    “The re-opening of the worship centres must, however, be under strict observance of the state laws and must be once a week.

    “All churches are to observe their services only on Sundays from 9.am to 11.am.

    “Seventh Day Adventists and Muslim faithful are to observe their services on Saturdays and Fridays, respectively and also from 9.am to 11.am.

    “No religious centre shall permit more than 50 people and worshippers must observe a minimum of two metres social distancing from one another,” he said.

    Orji said that wearing of face masks, washing of hands with running water and use of sanitisers must be strictly observed in all religious centres.

    “No religious service is allowed to hold any other day than the days specified herein and which must be in strict observance of all COVID-19 laws and regulations.

    “The CAN has a duty to shut any religious gathering and arrest the principal of the worship centre, which violates this order.

    “The government requests all religious bodies in the state to use this window to create awareness among members on the protocols, policies, laws and regulations regarding COVID-19 as well as pray for the state and Nigeria,” he said.

    Orji also urged religious leaders to use the opportunity to advise members on the need for aggressive participation in agriculture and other lawful means of livelihood.

    “The CAN leadership and anti-COVID-19 committee on religious centres, are requested to mount strict monitoring of all religious centres in the state and ensure strict compliance and discipline,” he said.

  • Rights to worship: CAN tackles FG, demands reopening of churches amid Covid-19 crisis

    The Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN) has called for reopening of churches over the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Its General Secretary Barr. Joseph Daramola said it was wrong of government authorities to continue closing churches, mosques when other aspects of national life have started taking shape.

    Presiding Bishop of Living Faith Church Worldwide, aka Winners’ Chapel International, David Oyedepo, had questioned the continuous closure of churches over the coronavirus pandemic, alleging some ulterior motives.

    Oyedepo, who spoke during the Covenant Hour of Prayer Programme last Wednesday, said if markets could be opened for six hours, there was no reason churches should not be opened for two hours.

    The revered cleric said he believed there was a gang up against the growth of the church in the country.

    Reacting to the development, Daramola during a conversation with newsmenwho said churches can still maintain social distancing while conducting services.

    He said government cannot separate the religious environment from that of the economy, adding that churches are even more orderly than markets.

    Daramola said: “Because if you are looking at the economic aspect and because of that you have open a small window then it should extended to the religious aspect. Everybody, have turned to God on this COVID-19 issue. And the voice of the people is the voice of God. When people are shouting and calling God in their house is good but there is a central place of worship approved by government. So why do you have to lock it down.

    “For anybody who is reasonable, will not throw away what Bishop Oyedepo has said. At the same time we have to balance the situation. I mean it is very logical if they said markets should open there is warning even when you are going to the market. You have to wear nose mask, and maintain certain distance which is impossible at a market place.

    “Church can still maintain social distancing. If the church service is two hours before, there is no reason the church cannot make it one hour. They will now spread services to follow the social distancing order. This is my advice. You cannot divorce the religious environment from the economic environment.

    “There should be no total lockout of churches and Mosques. We can regulate it. All those government officials that are talking to us about it, they put on masks”.

  • COVID-19: CAN demands re-opening of churches, says only God can end pandemic

    COVID-19: CAN demands re-opening of churches, says only God can end pandemic

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called for the re-opening of worship centres in the face of the coronavirus disease.

    The Christian body expressed concerns over the shutdown of churches as part of measures to checkmate the spread of the virus.

    The CAN in the South-East argued churches should not remain closed forever because they are centres of hope for the people as every other solution to the pandemic seemed elusive.

    In a statement on Monday by the CAN Chairman, South-East, Bishop Dr. Goddy Okafor, the body said: “From the feelers around the globe, it is quite glaring that the solution to this global problem lies in God’s hands.
    “While we appreciate the efforts being in place by various governments of the world to solve this problem, we must say that God must be resorted to at this point in time.

    “We have seen that even the so-called world powers have melted in the face of this epidemics. This leaves us with one option- to seek the face of God as a people. Prayer is the answer, the key to this problem.

    “To this end, we call on the government to re-open worship centres and allow the people the opportunity of gathering together to cry unto God.
    “During such a period, Churches would take adequate measures to maintain social distancing by limiting the number of worshipers at a time, as well as providing items for social hygiene. This is the only way out of this global confusion.”
    Okafor equally condemned the recent fire incident at the Accountant General of the Federation’s office, calling for discreet investigation.

    “This is one incident too many and we ask that a proper investigation be carried out to ensure that there are no under-current dealings.

    “It should not just be dismissed as an ordinary fire-outbreak considering allegations of sleeze currently trending in the face of the government’s social parliatives,” he further stated.

  • Nigeria will overcome COVID-19 pandemic – CAN President

    President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Ayokunle, has assured Nigeria will overcome the coronavirus pandemic.

    He cautioned against fear, saying the nation will emerge stronger from the outbreak.

    Ayokunle, who doubles as the President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), also narrated how he escaped plane crash recently while in the United States on his way back home to buttress his homily.

    The cleric made these disclosures in his online Sunday sermon titled “Conquer your fear” with text from Matthew 14: 22- 33

    His words: “Our Lord Jesus Christ walked on the raging water to show that the raging water is under His control. God rides on storms as His horses.

    “At times whenever I was travelling by air and there was a storm, I would say, ‘Father, thank You for demonstrating your power here again! You are riding on this wind. I know You are there. I worship You. I worship your majesty”.

    He added: “That was what happened in February when I was flying from Washington DC to Atlanta to catch my flight coming to Nigeria.

    “After boarding, the flight was delayed on the runway for about half an hour and later the 30 minutes became one hour.

    “And eventually when we took off we were welcomed by a very strong storm. I was hearing gba, gbu, gba,gbu and I said ‘the Almighty God, I can see You at work. I know you are in the storm manifesting your power and glory. I worship your majesty. We your children are here, continue watching over us’.

    “The storm was raging for a long time and it prolonged the journey from one hour, twenty minutes to almost three hours.

    “Even when we got to Atlanta, our plane couldn’t find a place to land but I kept on praising and glorifying the Almighty.

    “Our God is always at work on our behalf and we should not be afraid.

    “The more we worship him, the more of Him we see and the more of hope is built in us.

    “Though it is good to listen to news and obey the rules of hygiene for your own good, they are not the only things you can do.

    “The way for you to conquer your fear is in His worship. It is then you can see Him highly lifted up.

    “It is then you will see Him take over your present and your future.

    “It is then that you see your future in His hands and not in the hands of Coronavirus,” Ayokunle admonished.

    Speaking further, he said: “When a storm like coronavirus comes and many unpleasant things are happening around us, it is more likely to hear the negative reports from the news media and the records which people send to us than to hear the Lord say ‘fear not’.

    “Exercising faith at a time like this appears naive and unreasonable. However, faith is the reality that would get us to where we are going safely”.

    The cleric, in a statement in Abuja by his Special Assistant (Media and Communications, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, asked people to have an assurance of divine presence whenever they are experiencing storm in any facet of life.

    “When the storm comes raging, remember that the Lord knows and He is near.

    “Many times we think we are alone or abandoned at a difficult time like this when Coronavirus is raging with its fury. Businesses are down and our currency is losing its value more and more.

    “Nothing hopeful humanly speaking is around. In the midst of all these, I need to remind somebody listening that the Lord knows what we are passing through and he is near,” he pointed out.

    On the possible lockdown of the country, the CAN President asked the Federal and state governments to provide palliatives to cushion the effects of the directive as it is being done all over the world.

    “I call on our governments to provide palliatives for the people who cannot provide their daily needs as a result of the lockdown order.

    “People cannot be lockdown in hunger for a long time. You are not the only government that gave such an order but governments all over the world are providing relief assistance to the people.

    According to reports: “The US government has approved a whooping 2 trillion dollars as the palliatives.

    “Both the Democrats and the Republicans in the Congress have buried their political differences and they are now working together.

    “This is what governance is all about. I appeal to our governments to do likewise. This will make us to trust them more as they are managing our commonwealth”.

    He also reiterated the directive given to the local churches by CAN nationwide to provide palliatives for the worshippers with a view to reducing the burden of the lockdown period.

  • CAN President attributes Coronavirus outbreak to sin, disobedience to God

    The President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Ayokunle, on Sunday, said arrogance of humans against God and the constituted authority were responsible for the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic across the world.

    The CAN president said this in a special sermon on a cable television, which was distributed by his Special Assistant, Media and Communications, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji.

    He also mentioned sin and all sorts of wickedness as parts of the things responsible for the outbreak of the virus.

    Although Ayokunle, who is also the General Secretary, Nigeria Baptist Convention, described Coronavirus as a disease that defied human solution, he, however, said that God has provisions for its cure.

    The cleric called for a change of heart among humans so as to see to the end of the pandemic.

    He also identified others factors as ungratefulness or ingratitude as well as the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ.

    “As in the case of the children of Israel in this passage, the arrogance of man against God and lawfully constituted authority led to God’s anger and judgment over the people.

    “People say anything today against God and against His word. The injunctions of the Scriptures, which are God’s commands, no longer matter to us.

    “We query the validity today of the word of God and equally deliberately act against it,” he said.

    He said that all practices that would make us worship God had been rejected or abandoned under the guise of fundamental human rights.

    “In some advanced nations, anything about God must not be mentioned in any public event and neither can people worship God nor share the gospel with their neighbours.

    “Doing so is an offence. This pride and arrogance against God came because of advancement in technology. We feel we can do many things without God and thus become ‘god’ unto ourselves.

    “Technological advancement should make us to reverence God the more, because He is the revealer of knowledge,” he said.

    Ayokunle described sinfulness as an extension of the first point of arrogance against God.

    “In Nigeria, violence has become a daily occurrence, beginning from the wickedness of armed robbers to religious terrorists, such as Al Qaida, Al Shabab, Boko Haram and ISIS, among others.

    “We equally have banditry and Fulani herdsmen’s attacks everywhere in the country. People are slaughtered, kidnapped to be slaughtered or for ransom,” he said.

    On what should be done to overcome the Coronavirus pandemic and other similar diseases, the cleric said that those who were godly should nurse no fear of any pandemic.

    He recalled how God used the blood of the lamb to protect His people in Goshen when the angels of destruction were killing the first born of the Egyptians.

    “When the plague was ravaging Egypt, it did not get to where the children of Israel were staying, though it happened within the same city.

    Ayokunle also identified faith in Jesus as another shield against any pandemic.

    “Believe today and escape from the pandemic ravaging the world. There is healing balm in Gilead and it is Jesus, the Christ,” he said.

  • Herdsmen more dangerous than coronavirus in Nigeria – CAN

    Herdsmen more dangerous than coronavirus in Nigeria – CAN

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Anambra chapter has berated the incessant killings of innocent citizens in country by suspected herdsmen.

    It said the menace was worse than the dreaded coronavirus ravaging the entire globe, regretting that the christians were the worst hit.

    The Chairman of the body, Rev. John Ndubisi, who disclosed this on Saturday in Onitsha in a chat with newsmen, noted that the herdsmen were bent on taking over the the entire country through violence with their cows.

    He however regretted the indifferent disposition of President Muhammadu Buhari to the ugly trend, insisting that condolence messages were not enough.

    He said: “These terrorists called herdsmen are perpetrating all sorts of attrocities against Christians by killing people, destroying farmlands, kidnapping and robbing people at gunpoint and even raping women and girls in front of their husbands and parents.

    “Look at how Christians are being massacred in virtually all parts of the North and President Mohammadu Buhari is not saying or doing anything in response to the killings of Christians.”

    The cleric pledged the commitment of the body to uphold the state in prayers, especially in the area of security of lives and property of the people of the state.

    He also assured that CAN in the state would join other Christians nationwide tomorrow (Sunday) to pray against the conoravirus pandemic in Nigeria.

    “Let me seize this opportunity to enjoin all Churches in the state to spend quality time to pray and ask God to intervene on our behalf and block coronavirus pandemic from entering into the state and from killing people in Nigeria and world over,” he stressed.