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Tag: CAN

  • Dapchi: Pray for Leah Sharibu’s safe return on Good Friday, CAN tells Christians

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on all churches and indeed Christians to use the occasion of the forthcoming Good Friday celebrations to offer prayer to God for the freedom and safe return of Leah Sharibu who is still held Boko Haram captivity.

    Good Friday will be celebrated tomorrow, March 30.

    The organisation also reminded the Federal Government and the security agencies of the need to free Leah and other captives from the captivity of the Boko Haram terrorists.

    The President of CAN, Dr. Samson Ayokunle, in a statement by his Special Assistant, (Media & Communications), Deacon Adebayo Oladeji said the call for prayer for the release of Leah was in line with the Passion Week when Jesus Christ, with passion, willingly went to the cross in order to pay for the sins of the world.

    CAN also called on all Christians to use the Passion Week to pray for the country “to be free from all forces of darkness and for those who have lost their relations or property during the recent terror and herdsmen attacks.”

    He said, “Following the trials, Jesus Christ, though sinless, was scourged by the Roman soldiers, and then forced to carry His own instrument of execution (the Cross) through the streets of Jerusalem along what is known as the Way of Sorrow.

    “Jesus was then crucified at Golgotha on the day before the Sabbath, was buried and remained in the tomb until Sunday, the day after the Sabbath, and then gloriously resurrected. It is referred to as the Passion Week because in that time, Jesus Christ truly revealed His passion for us in the suffering He willingly went through on our behalf.

    “What should our attitude be during the Passion Week? We should be passionate in our worship of Jesus and in our proclamation of His Gospel! As He suffered for us, so should we be willing to suffer for the cause of following Him and proclaiming the message of His death and resurrection.

    “It is in the light of this, that the leadership of CAN is calling on every Christian nationwide to stand in the gap for that innocent girl, Leah Sharibu, at 12 noon on Good Friday, asking God to send His angels to deliver her from captivity as He did for Apostle Peter who was jailed unjustly.”

    Ayokunle said, “It is high time security operatives lived up to the expectations of the people.

    “They should stop all the terrorist abductions and the Fulani herdsmen killings or resign from their offices to give room for those who could guarantee our security and safety.”

    Recall that Sharibu was among the 105 female students of Government Science Technical School, Dapchi, Yobe State who were kidnapped on February 19.

    CAN also called on the Federal Government to put every measure in place to facilitate Leah’s release.

    The organisation also demanded that Nigerians should apologise to its former President and Founder of World of Life Bible Church in Warri, Delta State, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, over wrong accusation.

  • Taraba CAN chairman dies in auto-crash

    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 newsmen 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.

     

  • CAN advises FG on how to reduce religious violence in Nigeria

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has advised the federal government on how to curb religious violence in Nigeria.

    This was revealed in a statement issued by the president of the association, Bishop Samson Ayokunle in a paper ”Interreligious education and common citizenship values” delivered in Vienna, Austria at an Interfaith Seminar organised by KAICIID.

    Ayokunle who traced the incessant religious riots in Nigeria to the absence of History, Civics and Inter-religious Education in schools, called on all religious groups and the government to wake up to their responsibilities in this regard if ”religious violence will become history.”

    “In those days in Nigeria when we used to study history and civics in primary and secondary schools, basic knowledge of at least Christianity and Islam were taught, but today, when history is no longer taught, Inter-religious education has become more difficult,” he said.

    “This to an extent may be responsible for a surge in religious violence more rampart now in Nigeria. All religious groups in Nigeria in particular and the globe in general must make concerted effort towards government’s inclusion of Inter-religious Education in the schools curricula.”

    According to him, “All over the world, the current trend is that educational institutions – colleges, universities (many are not religiously affiliated!) and even certain seminaries – are actively looking for ways to respond to the issues of education in a religiously multi-faceted world.

    “They seek to entrench a transformational process through which students could be educated to become global citizens with an understanding of the diversity of religious traditions and with strategies of pluralism that engage diversity in creative and productive ways. Obviously, inter-religious education is increasingly essential for equipping people to be citizens of the world.

    “Therefore, from a societal as well as pedagogical points of view, all academic institutions irrespective of their theological affiliation or inclination should be obliged to foster a religious dimension to citizenship.”

    Mr. Ayokunle, who is also the president, Nigerian Baptist Convention, said Interreligious education contributes effectively in the formation of ”people’s and societies’ religious identities, as well as in shaping perceptions about the other.”

    ”It douses the tension of stereotype or resentment against other peoples’ religion which causes distance in relationships. It increases beneficial inter-relationships and widens the student’s family network. Religiously bi-literate or educated people who know the history and theology of other religions are likely to have better grasp or understanding of world politics, history, culture and literature.

    ”Inter-religious Education gives students or people ample opportunities to make informed decision in adulthood of the religion they have the conviction to practice in life. Inter-religious education reduces religious conflicts and promotes mutual co-existence. Inter-religious education gives in the opportunity to see the world from more than one religious perspective and make better-informed decisions,” he said amongst other factors he listed in the paper.

  • Catholic bishops deny returning fully to CAN

    Catholic bishops deny returning fully to CAN

    The Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has denied media reports that it returned to the umbrella body of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

    Recall that CAN had earlier informed Nigerians in a statement on Sunday that the CBCN was now back to its fold after five years of withdrawal.

    The statement signed by Adebayo Oladeji, the media assistance to the CAN President, attributed the return to effort made by the CAN leadership to unite the various blocks of the association.

    “Their return was one of the best things that have been happening since I was given the mandate to become the President,” the statement said, quoting CAN’s President, Samson Ayokunle.

    However, speaking in an interview with Premium Times on Wednesday, the CBCN president, Ignatius Kaigama, said negotiations for the final return of CBCN to the CAN fold was on but the body was yet to return.

    In his words: “We want to dialogue and conclude some issues of the constitution. We are still talking, we are still negotiating. We are still re-examining how things have been, so that when we return, our return will be total and complete. So the statement you saw did not emanate from the Catholic Church. Although we are working with CAN at the state levels.

    “When we are through with our dialogue and negotiations with the Christian Association of Nigeria and we are mutually satisfied, we as the Catholic Bishops Conference will issue a statement to that effect,” said Mr. Kaigama, who is also the Catholic archbishop of Jos.

    The CBCN pulled out of the Christian Association five years ago, citing politicisation of CAN’s leadership as reason for its decision.

    The catholic bishops accused the Ayo Oritsejafor-led former leadership of the Christian association of involvement in partisan politics.

    In a statement signed by Mr. Kaigama, the CBCN said it would only return to CAN’s national body when it believes that the leadership of the association had returned to its original vision.

    “CAN is being dragged into partisan politics thereby compromising the ability to play its true role as conscience of the nation and the voice of the voiceless,” the bishops said.

    The statement further said the CBCN would, however, continue its participation with CAN at state levels.

    Explaining why it earlier informed Nigerians of the Catholic bishops’ return to its fold, CAN President, Samson Ayokunle, explained that his media aide interpreted the decision of the CBCN to attend the constitution review and the Executive Council meetings organised by CAN, to mean that the Catholic Bishops had returned to the association.

    “Well, it’s not a full return. We have been having meetings. They attended our Constitution review meeting and the following day they had a full representation at our Executive Council meeting. That was what my media man interpreted to mean that they had returned.

    “But we have been having improvements in our negotiation. They even invited me last Sunday for a program. Such things were not done before.

    “But I have just received a mail from them saying that they would like the constitution review completed before they return. So their full return depends on when we complete our Constitution review,” Mr. Ayokunle said.

     

  • CAN denies urging Christians to vote out muslims

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has denied instigating Christians to vote for only Christians in the 2019 general election.

    The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned CAN for allegedly dragging religion into the political arena.

    In a statement sent to Concise News on Tuesday, MURIC accused CAN of instructing Christians to shun Muslim candidates (especially President Muhammadu Buhari) and to vote massively for Christian candidates instead.

    The group also called on Nigerians to reject CAN’s attempt to drag Nigeria into the abyss of another religious crisis over the 2019 general elections.

    But speaking to Premium Times on Wednesday, CAN’s National Secretary, Musa Asake, said the association could not have asked Christians to vote only Christians because “it was not the right way to go.”

    Asake said: “Where did they get that one? I don’t know which CAN they are referring to; but for us at the national body, we have not said anything like that because it is not the right way to go.”

  • Killings: Don’t play politics with lives of Nigerians, CAN warns govt

    President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Dr Supo Ayokunle, yesterday said the killings and bloodshed across the country is without comparison in Nigeria’s history.

    The CAN leader, who is also the President of Nigerian Baptist Convention, spoke in Sagamu, Ogun State, in his sermon at the 13th annual New Year Thanksgiving and Memorial service organised by former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel.

    He advised Nigerians to desist from politicising the killings and urged them to close ranks and prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration to take decisive steps to arrest the situation. The service, which took place at Abraham’s Tabernacle, Sagamu,was attended by prominent traditional rulers, eminent personalities and political bigwigs.

    Ayokunle lamented the almost routine clashes between herdsmen and farmers in some parts of the country, saying without peace, the nation would not experience genuine progress and development.

    Ayokunle said: “Things are not working in the best way we have thought of. This is a very difficult time in the history of Nigeria, especially the continuous bloodshed. Communities decimated and human beings killed like chickens. “The way it is happening now, it has almost not happened before. It is so barbaric, so unbelievable that in a nation with government, things like that will continue to happen with reckless abandon.

    It is so unacceptable. “We have been speaking about it. It is not a matter of politics, you don’t play politics with the lives of human beings. We have no other life to live. So, all of you (Nigerians) have to be praying that our government is going to do the best and what is right so that this nation can experience peace because without peace, there won’t be progress.”

    He urged politicians to respect and heed the admonition of the clerics. He said: “We are the conscience of the nation. Politicians need to humble themselves when we speak to them. It is because we look for the good of this nation. Not everything we say to you, you will want to hear. Not everything will be palatable but we are responsible to God and to all these people, we are accountable.

    “The life of every individual is very important. And God has created each person to live his life to His glory. Nobody can give life and nobody has the right to take it. Therefore, beloved people of God, let us say no to the evil in our midst. It is not a matter of politics. It is happening to some people now, who knows the next person? I pray that evil will not swallow us up.” Ayokunle, who revealed that yesterday (Sunday) marked the end of the one-week national prayer declared by CAN, appealed to Christians to donate to the association’s relief fund for victims of ethno-religious crises.

    In his remarks, Daniel said his experience during the campaign for national chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had further opened his eyes to different perspectives of the challenges confronting the country. He, however, pointed out that Nigerians must have the spirit of thanksgiving irrespective of the prevailing challenges.

    In Abuja, the President of the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN), Apostle Nyeneime Andy urged the President to end killings by herdsmen in some states. Nyeneime gave the advice in his address after he was elected. Other elected officers are: Vice President, Pastor Adegbegi Ayodeji, General Secretary, Abel Ogwuche, Treasurer, Ekom Lydia and Peter Galdzana as Assistant secretary. He urged Buhari to involved Christian youths in all his plans to bring about peace in the country.

    The YOWICAN leader expressed sadness the way at which youths are engaged negatively to perpetrate violence during elections, adding that he will soon tour all the 37 states of the federation to admonish the youth on the need to shun violence and reject being used as political thugs during the forthcoming 2019 elections.

  • Stop defending a ‘bad product’ – CAN warns Buhari’s spokesperson, Garba Shehu

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has warned the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on media, Mallam Garba Shehu to stop defending a ‘bad product.’

    Reacting to comments made by CAN, through its Secretary General, Musa Asake, at a press conference on January 16, Mr. Shehu had denied claims that the current administration was enmeshed in acts tantamount to destroying Nigeria’s democracy.

    Mr. Shehu said Mr. Buhari’s 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 presidential spokesperson said.

    In a similar development, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam JNI also in a statement by its Secretary General, Khalid Aliyu, accused CAN of destroying the cordial relationship between Christians and Muslims by persisting in its purported allegations, aimed at “destabilising the polity ahead of the 2019 general elections”.

    Reacting to both statements, Mr. Asake listed sections of the constitution the association believes has been abused by the administration.

    “Frankly speaking, Garba Shehu should be pitied with his current position because he is trying to sell a bad product and as a result he cannot do without being sycophantic. Unfortunately for him, in his bid to defend President Muhammadu Buhari, whose government’s record for nepotism, favoritism and discrimination is second to none, Shehu goofed by claiming that he could not cite any valid cases of constitutional violations.

    “It is apparently clear that Shehu did not read the full text of my address at the Press Conference before kicking against it otherwise, he would have kept quiet. Because in my address, I said inter alia, “…By failing to curb the attacks of the Fulani herdsmen President Buhari has failed to uphold Section 14, Para. 2 (b) in the Constitution which reads, “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.

    “Through his partial, sectional and discriminatory appointments, particularly in Security and Education, President Buhari violated Section 14, Para. 3 which reads: “The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few State or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies,” the CAN secretary said in a statement on Friday.

    Mr. Asake further said in his statement, that it was the duty of church leaders to help politicians lead the country well.

    Regarding the statement by the JNI, CAN accused the Islamic body of handling national issues with kid gloves, saying that the JNI secretary erred when he related the herdsmen perpetrating recent killings in the country to a branch of the Christian association.

    “The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) wishes to protest the lack of seriousness and kindergarten approach of JNI to serious national issues. We are amazed that the spokesman of Jama’atu Nasril Islam could ascribe the ownership and control of Fulani herdsmen to any Christian organisation. Such attempt to stand reason on its head does not portray JNI as a serious minded organisation.

    “We used to assume that JNI is a credible and responsible organization that can meaningfully engage in national discourse. Unfortunately, the response of Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu is a great disappointment.

    “May we suggest to his Eminence, the President of Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, to reach into the community of educated Muslims and find serious minded individuals that could engage in serious national issues to speak for JNI.

    “The Fulani herdsmen are Muslims. For the herdsmen, it would be considered demeaning if anyone should ascribe any other religion apart from Islam to them. Therefore, for anyone to suggest that the Fulani herdsmen are “franchise” of CAN is the most unimaginative and ridiculous statement of the century,” the statement said.

     

  • Sultan tongue-lashes those demanding Fulani herdsmen be labelled terrorist group

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, yesterday, condemned those calling for proscription of Fulani herdsmen group, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria [MACBAN], despite the series of attacks launched against communities in different parts of the country.

    He also absolved MACBAN, of any culpability in the recent killings of farmers in some parts of the country by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

    Speaking at the General Assembly of Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace, IDFP, in Abuja, Sultan Abubakar III, however, expressed shock that the federal government and security agencies had done nothing about herdsmen bearing arms in the country, despite the series of attacks they had launched against communities in different parts of the country.

    He asked: “How is it possible for Fulani to attack settlements or communities to carry out killings of innocent people, destroy property and disappear without trace? Sultan Abubakar said Miyetti Allah was formed over 32 years ago to cater for the welfare and advance the growth of Fulani business.

    He said that any Fulani man carrying arms and ammunition was not a member of the Miyetti Allah, explaining that the group which is now under his leadership as Grand Patron, was never a criminal group.

    Miyetti Allah not criminal group Sultan Abubakar, who berated those calling for proscription of the group, challenged them to as well call for proscription of other Socio-ethnic organisations such as Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Arewa Consultative Forum, among others.

    He said: “Miyetti Allah doesn’t control any Fulani man. Calling for proscription of Miyetti Allah is equivalent to calling for the proscription of other ethnic organisations like Afenifere, ACF, Ohanaeze and others. “It was formed 32 years ago and these crises were not there.

    I am the patron and we have never asked Fulani herdsman to kill anybody. “Any Fulani man caught killing is a criminal and should be treated as such. What are the security agencies doing? If they have failed, they should accept that they have failed. “What is going on is not an ethnic problem; it’s not a religious problem, it’s an economic problem.” On the way out, the Sultan, who advocated dialogue, said: “What we need is to sit down and dialogue.

    As religious leaders, we have to be very careful what we say, because it carries weight; our followers listen to us very seriously. “We must believe in one another, trust and love ourselves because that is what our two major religions advocate. We must continue to speak with one voice. We should not be labeling everybody a criminal because his brother is a criminal. “People are saying, label Miyetti Allah a terrorist group. No, we are not terrorists and can’t join terrorism.”

    On the situation in Benue State, he recalled: “This thing didn’t start today. In the past eight years, I have been to Benue many times to discuss this issue. “We had met for hours and reached agreements, yet nothing has been implemented. Why? The former governors of Benue are still alive and they know all these.

    “Even the present governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, had written to me to come again with my peace mission, but we had not had the opportunity before this round of crisis. “We must come to the bottom of this issue.

    Meanwhile, the President, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Dr. Samson Ayokunle, holds a contrary view to the Sultan.

    Ayokunle on his side accused some religious leaders of being insincere while commenting on the issue of killing of innocent people in the country.

    Ayokunle, who was represented by the Bishop of Yola, Bishop Stephen Manza, said: ‘’As religious leaders, we need to condemn evil in this country. We’re seated here today as religious leaders, but how sincere are we in what we say?

    “Christians at all levels believe in peace. This is time for us to speak with one voice. But my concern is whether we are sincere in what we are doing.

    “We religious leaders, we deceive people a lot. We say one thing when we have another thing in mind. Our tribal and religious affiliations have overshadowed our Nigerianness.

    “The problem is that we keep mute once a person is killed if he is not a member of our faith. Another thing is that we identify with people of our faith, even when the person is doing the wrong thing. We all know that President Muhammadu Buhari is not handling the security situation in the country well but certain persons are not talking, may be because he is a Muslim. And when Jonathan was there, some Christian leaders kept quiet because he’s a Christian.”

    On his part, the Archbishop of Abuja Catholic Dioceses, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, however, assured Nigerians that the problem of insecurity threatening the soul of the nation was surmountable if Nigerians build trust among themselves.

    He said: “Nothing happening in this country now that is beyond us, it is within our hands. But just like the Bishop of Yola has said, we need sincerity.

    “We shouldn’t be praying for peace, when in the real sense, we are the ones causing crises everywhere. Talking for peace will give peace if there is truth. So, we must learn to build trust, trusting one another. We must join hands to do what is right.”

  • Benue massacre: Buhari violated no law, acting within ambit of Nigerian constitution – Presidency replies CAN

    The Presidency on Tuesday insisted that President Muhammadu Buhari violated no law in handling the recent farmers/herdsmen clashes in Benue and other parts of the country which had led to loss of several lives and properties.

    Recall that the General Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Musa Asake, that President Muhammadu Buhari was complacent and biased in handling the clashes that has now degenerated to a national crisis.

    Mr. Asake had addressed journalists on Tuesday in reaction to attacks that led to the death of several persons in Benue State since the beginning of the year.

    The Christian leader reiterated CAN’s earlier accusation that the Buhari administration was slowly accomplishing a purportedly hidden agenda to Islamise Nigeria through the recent killings.

    “Under President Buhari, the murderous Fulani herdsmen enjoyed unprecedented protection and favouritism to the extent that the herdsmen treat Nigeria as a conquered territory. Rather than arrest and prosecute the Fulani herdsmen, security forces usually manned by Muslims from the North offer them protection as they unleash terror with impunity on the Nigerian people.

    “The bottom line is that President Buhari failed woefully to protect Nigerians. He wilfully permitted the Fulani herdsmen to operate killing people, destroying communities wholesale, destroying farmlands and turning the entire Middle Belt into “killing fields”, all the while enjoying government protection from counter attack, arrest or prosecution,” Mr. Asake said.

    However, in a swift response to the allegations, presidential spokesman Garba Shehu said it was unfortunate that Mr. Asake “could not cite any valid cases of constitutional violations” by Mr. Buhari.

    Mr. Shehu said Mr. Buhari’s 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,” the presidential spokesperson said.

  • Sanusi’s genocide claims against Fulani in Taraba false, misleading – CAN

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Taraba State on Tuesday described as baseless and misleading the recent claim by the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, that over 800 Fulani people were killed in Taraba in 2017.

    Recall that Sanusi had in an interview with journalists last week alleged that in one weekend, 800 Fulani people were killed on the Mambilla Plateau in Taraba State.

    “I personally handed over to the federal government a dossier with the name and pictures of 800 Fulani people slaughtered in Taraba as well name of persons known to have participated in the act of ethnic cleansing but nothing has been done,” Sanusi alleged.

    However, the Association in a press statement issued in Jalingo on Tuesday and signed by the CAN Chairman in the state, Rev. Dr. Ben Ubeh, the association debunked the claim by the emir and urged him to stop fueling false propaganda and wooing sentiments for his kinsmen who are in actual sense, killing people on a daily basis in some parts of the country.

    “The records are there in most of the national dailies that reported the communal clash on the Mambilla last year. NGOs, UNCHR and other international organizations visited the Mambilla in the wake of that crisis, but in all of these the highest number of death recorded from both side was 18.

    “How is it possible to manipulate the figures and force all the different agencies to report 18 death figure. Obviously, the 800 Fulani people that were slaughtered according to Sanusi only existed in his imagination,” the statement said.

    While calling on the federal government to drop the idea of Cattle colonies, but assist herdsmen to build private Ranches, CAN urged the federal government to look into the plight of the over 10,000 internally displaced persons currently in camps as a result of herdsmen attacks in the state.

    The association called on all Nigerians to rise up and condemn the killings currently going on in the country, even as it urged people to be vigilant and pray fervently for peace in the land.