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Tag: CAN

  • CAN declares January 10 national day of prayers for success of 2019 polls

    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.”

  • 2019 shall be a better year, CAN assures Nigerians in New Year Message

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has made prophecies in its New Year Message to Nigerians that the dry bone of the nation shall rise again.

    The president of CAN, Rev Samson Ayokunle, said this in his New Year message to Nigerians, signed by his Special Assistant, Media & Communications Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, on Monday in Abuja.

    Ayokunle again prophesied that 2019 would be a year of peace, prosperity, rest of mind and a year when the Almighty God would miraculously intervene in the affairs of the nation.

    According to the cleric, the year 2019 is a crucial year to all Nigerians because it is a year of general elections.

    He urged all Nigerians to make sure that they abide in peace without being involved in violence throughout the year, especially before, during and after the election.

    “We should all distant ourselves from electoral manipulation in whatever form,” he said.

    Ayokunle urged politicians not to be too desperate to be voted into power and got involved in using thugs to cause chaos or commit electoral fraud.

    He described vote buying as `evil’ and urged all stakeholders to shun it.

    The cleric said all the law enforcement agencies, especially the Police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps deployed to maintain peace should not compromise their neutrality by working for desperate politicians.

    “The military should not be dragged into the electoral process but instead, they should be allowed to face their primary responsibilities.

    “Voters should not be intimidated and election observers should not be harassed like we witnessed in recent polls.

    “The Independent National Electoral Commission and its personnel should maintain neutrality in their conducts before and throughout the election.

    He reminded all Nigerians that without a free, fair and credible election which would bring credible leadership, the dry bones of Nigeria would not rise again.

    The cleric appealed to Nigerians to return to God in repentance with a view to healing the country and restoring all our losses in the past years.

    “As we enter into this New Year, it is natural to reflect over the previous year and consider gains and losses,” he appealed.

     

  • CAN dissolves Elders’ Forum, denies receiving ‘N40m transportation money’ from Buhari

    The National Executive Committee of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has dissolved the Nigerian Christian Elders Forum after a panel set up by the committee concluded an investigation into allegations of misconduct against the CAN President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle.

    The Elders’ Forum, in a memo titled ‘NCEF Protests: Is NEC of CAN Guilty of Negligence?’ in May, had alleged that when Ayokunle led a delegation to meet President Muhammadu Buhari on November 10, 2017, the leadership of CAN received N40m as “transportation money.”

    However, the CAN executive committee, in a document released to the media on Friday, said it had investigated the claims and upheld the leadership of the Christian body.

    The statement said, “CAN is fully aware of the numerous provocative publications through various media services which have been gaining rounds in recent weeks, making it appear as if the association has lost its direction and focus.

    “Most of these publications have been released by either of two broad categories of people.

    “One group is that of innocent but ignorant people who do not know the truth of happenings in CAN.

    “This group believes the news without finding out and makes publications which are completely false and unfounded.”

    According to it, the other category is made up of people who are “intentionally mischievous” because they don’t have their way in gaining control of the association.

    It added, “They have sought to make CAN “business as usual,’ but they have found stiff resistance in the current CAN leadership.

    “They got hold of the CAN Vice President to levy accusations against his principal in order to bring him to disrepute before the world and the association.

    “CAN leadership became very concerned and set up a committee to investigate all allegations against the CAN president.

    “And while the CAN president made himself available to the panel with documentary evidences, his accuser, the CAN vice president, refused to appear before the committee in spite of all attempts made to ensure his appearance.”

    CAN NEC noted that it met on October 12, 2018 and November 20, 2018 to consider and resolve the report of the Reconciliation Committee.

    It added that the NEC, at its November 20 meeting, unanimously applauded the CAN president for his achievements.

    “In addition, the following decisions were made by CAN NEC: That CAN immediately dissolves the Nigerian Christian Elders’ Forum, 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.

    “That CAN NEC dismisses in its entirety, the publication of the immediate past National Youth CAN Chairman, Mr. Daniel David Kadzai, who, in a national newspaper of Monday, November 12, 2018, alleged that the CAN president defrauded CAN of ‘over N2.8bn.’”

    According to the statement, CAN regrets that a man who had served in the association in the past could not only be malicious, but impersonated himself as Chairman of the Congress of Northern Nigerian Christians.

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

    “The meeting ended with the entire house passing a vote of confidence in the CAN president, Rev. Dr. Samson Ayokunle, and urging him to forge ahead with his good work in CAN,” it added.

  • CAN denies endorsing Buhari, Osinbajo for second term

    CAN denies endorsing Buhari, Osinbajo for second term

    The Christian Association of Nigeria has denied endorsing President Muhammadu Buhari for second term in office, describing as “a fabrication” an online report on the issue.

    The Christian body stated that no candidate was endorsed by the CAN leadership during its meeting with 14 presidential aspirants on Monday.

    Media Aide to the CAN President, Pastor Bayo Oladeji, in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, stated that the CAN engaged with the presidential candidates on their plans for the nation, noting that the issue of endorsement never arose.

    He said, “We appeal to members of the public to beware of those who are fabricating this fake news for whatever reasons.

    “We challenge the online platform that published this fake news to provide relevant footage and audio clip to back up the report.”

  • CAN urged to sanction members fueling insecurity in Nigeria

    CAN urged to sanction members fueling insecurity in Nigeria

    A group, Christians Without Border, has called on the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to sanction members fueling insecurity in the country.

    The group said the idea of promoting hate speeches from the pulpit was fast becoming a normal trend among ordained Messengers of God these days, development it said is bothersome.

    CWB also chided the leadership of CAN for maintaining undignified silence; by failing to caution its members and Pastors who are in the habit promoting hate speeches and making provocative statements from sacred altars.

    “Not even an ordinary condemnatory statement has been issued by CAN to denounce such hate sermons,” Elder Simon Ainoko, President lamented at a press conference on Tuesday.

    Elder Ainoko said the group was also uncomfortable with the recent demand for the removal of service chiefs by the leadership of CAN led by its National President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle during a visit to President Muhammedu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He bemoaned that the current leadership of the Christian body was gradually deviating from the dream of the founding fathers of the association who were apolitical.

    It, therefore, charged the body to sanction any member of pastor caught making inflammatory comments that could unsettle the peace of the nation.

    His words, “The Concerned Christian Forum is uncomfortable with some of the issues raised with Mr. President at the visit by the CAN leadership. By our interpretation some of the views canvassed by CAN have partisan flavor, which we have reason to believe is unhealthy for the Body of Christ.

    “CAN is expected to be neutral and impartial on the affairs of Nigeria, especially sensitive issues. We suffered greatly in recent history, when the immediate past leadership of CAN dragged the Body of Christ into partisan politics. One of the repercussions was that the Roman Catholic Church, one of the major blocs, suspended its membership of CAN because of the apparent embarrassment the partisan indulgence caused Christians in Nigeria. We cannot afford a relapse into this era of disunity and lack of cohesion within the Body of Christ, hence the need for caution.

    “We do not think, it is appropriate for CAN to dabble into how Mr. President should appoint his security chiefs or how long they should serve in that capacity. It appreciated the efforts of the Security Chiefs in curtailing the menace of Boko Haram terrorism and other insurgencies.

    “For CAN to posture in a manner indicative of indicting the Presidency on such crisis especially in states like Adamawa, Plateau, Benue, Taraba, Kaduna and Zamfara states depreciates the dignity they ought to embody. CAN’s utterances and comments on such sensitive issues should be more of supporting government to enthrone peace and unity.

    “In the year 2017 alone some Pastors and CAN members stood on the sacred altars of their churches and spewed hate speeches’, directing their members to go out and kill Fulani herdsmen at sight. A few examples will illustrate us better and how CAN is failing us.

  • ‘Corrupt’ politicians turn to ‘saints’ once they join APC – CAN tells Buhari

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Friday told President Muhammadu Buhari that his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) automatically turns politicians otherwise perceived as corrupt to saints once they joined the ruling party. was becoming a safe haven for corrupt politicians.

    CAN, therefore, asked the President to make the war against corruption total and non-discriminatory in order to rid the nation of the corruption cancer which has eaten deep into her fabric.

    The CAN leadership, led by its President, Dr. Samson Ayokunle, spoke in Abuja during a meeting with Buhari at the Presidential Villa.

    “Like we categorically noted here during our last visit, the wish of the people is for the war against corruption to be total and without discrimination. Not a few believe that the ruling party is becoming a safe haven to some corrupt politicians in their bid to escape the trap of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,” Ayokunle told the President.

    The leadership of the Christian body said Buhari must clear the negative impression that the anti-corruption was targeted at non-APC members.

    It, however, commended, the government’s anti-corruption war, saying it had led to the recovery of some looted funds.

    “CAN commends your boldness and courage in implementing the BVN and the Treasury Single Account system. There is no doubt that the two policies have greatly helped in sanitising the system,” it added.

    Meanwhile the christian body also demanded that President Buhari improve on the credibility of the 2015 polls that brought him into power by ensuring that next year’s general elections are freely and fairly conducted.

    Specifically, the Christian body called for a Presidential Order directing the police and other security agencies to be non-partisan during the elections, adding that it was in Buhari’s interest to ensure that the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission surpassed that of 2015.

    CAN stated, “A Presidential Order to the Police and other security agencies to be non-partisan, neutral and apolitical in the coming general elections, with a view to securing international respect and honour for our country in the comity of nations.

    “The degree of desperation we saw in the politicians during the intra-party elections that took place recently do not give many people hope concerning 2019 unless serious steps are taken to let decency prevail. We appeal to you to make sure that the law enforcement agents and the election umpire do their work professionally without intimidation of voters, manipulation and any trace of violence throughout the period of elections.

    “We believe that the survival and peace of Nigeria are greater than the ambition of any politician.

    “We again request that your administration conducts free and fair election that will add to the accolades the country received from the conduct of the 2015 elections that brought you to power.”

  • 2019: Credible poll will boost respect for Nigeria – Okowa

    2019: Credible poll will boost respect for Nigeria – Okowa

    Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta says a free, fair and credible 2019 general election would boost respect for Nigeria and attract foreign direct investment to the country.

    The governor stated this on Tuesday when the recently inaugurated executive committee of the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), led by Apostle Sylvanus Okorote visited him in Asaba.

    He called on the church to pray for the country and the state, adding that the church should make its position known to ensure free and fair elections in the country.

    “You know, if we have credible elections, the comity of nations will have respect for us in the country and there will be direct foreign investment and the resource base of the country will develop.

    “We need to do a lot more to ensure that our elections are free, fair and credible, I hope that INEC and security agencies will play their part,’’ he said.

    Okowa, however, said that his administration was committed to constructing the Warri/Sapele road, especially the Enerhen Junction, trans Warri/Ode-Itsekiri road and the Ughelli/Asaba road.

    He said that the continuous partnership between the church and government could only lead to positive results.

    “The partnership between the church, traditional institutions and government must be strengthened for the state to develop and grow and the church should pray for our country Nigeria and the state,” he said.

    He thanked members of CAN for their prayers and assured that security is being beefed up across the state while the Asaba Airport will soon be upgraded to international standard ahead of the Yuletide season.

    Earlier, Okorote thanked the governor for the developmental stride in all parts of the state.

    He said that the visit was to introduce the executives of CAN, Delta Chapter to him.

    “We appreciate you for the development projects going on in different parts of the state.

    “We appreciate the security apparatus you have put in place to reduce kidnapping and crime in the state, your peaceful disposition has also quelled communal violence in the state,” Okorete said.

     

  • CAN to Buhari, El-Rufai: Bring those behind fresh Kaduna killings to justice

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Monday challenged the Federal and Kaduna State governments to end impunity in Kaduna by bringing masterminds of the killings there to justice.

    CAN expressed shock over the killing of the paramount ruler of Kachia, the Agom Adara, Dr Maiwada Galadima, and his security aide and driver by suspected kidnappers.

    The Christian body in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, by its media aide to CAN President, Pastor Bayo Oladeji, asked the government to stop politicising the crises and sanction those behind them.

    It said, “We have it on a good authority the killings in Adamawa, Benue and Plateau states in the last two years have been going unchecked as if nothing unusual is happening? Many were even unreported.

    “This is a sad commentary on the part of the government. Has Nigeria become a lawless state? Are those hoodlums better equipped and more organised than our security agencies?

    “We ask the political class to stop politicising the orgy of killings and for both state and Federal Governments to stop rationalising the mass killing of innocent Nigerians and sanction those responsible for this horrifying bloodshed.”

    CAN demanded an overhaul of the security architecture and replacement of the security chiefs.

    It also asked for the implementation of all the White Papers on ethno-religious uprisings in the country and the prosecution of those apprehended for the killings in Southern Kaduna two years ago.

    The group further demanded compensation for the bereaved and victims of all ethno-religious conflicts in the last five years.

  • CAN acting like extension of PDP – APC

    CAN acting like extension of PDP – APC

    This allegation came on Wednesday in a statement signed by the party where it warned CAN to steer away from interfering in the country’s politics.
    According to the APC, it is “unimpressed by the patent hostility of CAN to the APC which had become open since the presidency of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
    “CAN has been so pro-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that it has been acting like an unofficial extension of that party in Osun State.
    “CAN cannot afford to be partisan in such a multi religious society as Nigeria. It is supposed to be a unifying factor not a divisive one.
    “But unfortunately, since the Ayo Orisejafor presidency of CAN, that organization has become unashamedly and openly supportive of the PDP.
    “In our opinion, CAN is not a court of law to demand the cancellation of Ekiti and Osun States elections which it did not even observed.
    “The lawyers are already in the tribunal and the decision to uphold or cancel the elections belongs to the judges at the tribunal.
    “It is therefore presumptuous and unbecoming of a body like CAN to intervene in politics and legal matters, not because of its interest in legality and justice but because of its emotional political disposition in favour of the PDP.
    “Osun State population is not only limited to Christians. But since Rauf Aregbesola became governor, he has been even-handed with all faith.
    “Still, CAN’s posture to some of the governor’s actions had been combative from a standpoint of faith.
    “It is, therefore, not in the interest of peace and harmony for CAN to fan division in a cultural setting like in Yoruba land where Muslims and Christians have for centuries lived together peacefully, sharing both faiths.”

  • 2019: CAN to deploy 300 electoral observers

    The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Samson Ayokunle, said the association had finalised plans to train 300 electoral observers to monitor the 2019 elections.
    Mr Ayokunle, spoke on Monday at the First Christian Leaders Roundtable Summit organised by Legacy Initiative International in Lagos.
    He said the observers who would be drawn from the six geopolitical zones would be trained at a cost of N12 million.
    “Fifty people will be trained from each region, who will in turn train others.
    “Our plan is to deploy three observers to each polling unit and we have already applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for observer status.
    “INEC on its part must strive to remain as an impartial umpire because what we have seen in the last two elections in Ekiti and Osun States left much to be desired due to complaints of intimidation of party agents, vote buying and violence,” Mr Ayokunle said.
    Earlier, the Grand Patron of Legacy Initiative International, Chief Kenny Martins, said the 58th Independence Anniversary of Nigeria was a sober day for reflections on how the country’s fortunes could be turned around.
    “The journey of Nigeria needs to begin today. At 58, we are still yearning for the most basic things like road, water, housing, transportation among other infrastructure,” Mr Martins said.
    He said the group was willing to work with CAN and the leadership of the Muslim faithful to draw a template together on the minimum expectations of the inter-faith community from those vying for elections into public offices in Nigeria.
    Mr Martins said the inter-faith community would also organise a National Peace Convention for all registered political parties and INEC.
    He said that this was with a view to getting them sign a peace pact to keep peace during elections and abide by the rules and regulations.