This development is unfortunate and may send a very wrong signal that Osun State Government is clearly favoring one religion over the other
CAN ELECTS REV. SAMSON AYOKUNLE AS PRESIDENT
Abuja, Nigeria, June 15, 2016 – The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has elected Rev. Dr. Samson Ayokunle as President of the association. He was elected at the National Christian Centre in Abuja.Prof. Joseph Otubu was elected as Vice President.
Those who participated in the election are National Officers of the Association, all the five (5) Heads of blocs, the Zonal Chairmen, the States Chairmen and delegates representing the five blocs of the association; Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Christian Council of Nigeria(CCN) Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria/ Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria(CPFN/PFN), TEKAN/ECWA, and Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC).
In a communique signed after the election signed by Director Legal and Public Affairs, Albert Uko and Rev. Dr. Musa Asake, CAN commended the National President of the association, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor for providing the enabling environment for the entire church blocs to present candidates of their choice and participate in the just concluded election.
CAN also thanked government for allowing the church to conduct a free, peaceful and credible election into the office of the National President and Vice President as against the strong insinuation of their interference in the process leading to the election.
CAN also frowned at members of the association who without exhausting in- house mechanism of Christian settlement of disputes among brethren resorted to self help by going to court of law as against the teaching of the Holy Bible.
CAN resolved that a thorough reconciliation meetings be initiated to bring back to the fold aggrieved members of the Association.
CAN observed with serious concern the bill in the National Assembly seeking to create Grazing Reserve for a segment of herdsmen against the collective interest of farmers, adding that creating grazing reserve is nothing but an indirect way to Islamise Nigeria through violence.
The church calls on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to suspend consideration of this bill in its entirety and call for dialogue with stakeholders to give room for more input. CAN noted with concern the recent High Court judgment in Osun State on the use of hijab in all schools including missionary schools.
“This development is unfortunate and may send a very wrong signal that Osun State Government is clearly favoring one religion over the other”, it said and advised Osun State Government to be sensitive to religious matters of this nature for peaceful coexistence.
CAN also condemned ongoing persecution of the church in Nigeria, particularly those in the Northern Nigeria.
“The instance where a Christian elderly woman is murdered in cold blood for complaining against the blocking of her shop is worrisome. The situation where a Christian brother is beaten to a state of coma for eating in the afternoon during Ramadan fast is a clear evidence of the degree of intolerance of Christianity in some parts of the country especially where Sharia law is given prominence. The church demands that the perpetrators of these dastardly and barbaric acts be tried openly and punished to serve as a deterrent to others”, CAN said.
It also noted with concern the attempt to smuggle a bill for the amendment of the constitution to provide for the criminal aspect of the Sharia legal system in the Nigerian Constitution which it said will open doors for more persecution of Christians in Nigeria, especially those resident within the jurisdictions where Sharia law is being practiced.
