As the Muhammadu Buhari administration commences the second term on 29 May with its campaign promise to take the country and the people to the ‘Next Level’, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged the President to harness the potentials of Nigerians, especially its youth population towards achieving delivering on that promise.
Samson OlasupoAyokunle,the CAN president, stated this at a breakfast meeting with the Christian Press Association of Nigeria (CPAN) tagged ‘Christian Response to Global Persecution’ held recently in Lagos.
According to Ayokunle, the ability to develop and grow the country is available in Nigeria and with Nigerians; but asked, “Where is the political leadership to harness them?”
The CAN president further said that the government should respect the rule of law and appear fair to all Nigerians. “If government disrespect the judgments of law court, such government is a lawless government,” said Ayokunle as he called on all Nigerians to promote fairness, mutual respect and justice to the country together.
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Speaking on the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, the CAN president said Christians do not have the boldness like Esther to fight for their faith. “Most ‘Christians’ in politics place political advantage above the spiritual and this has contributed to the continued persecution of the church in Nigeria,” Ayokunle said, adding that Churches cannot get C-of-O in the north, which according to him is against the constitution of Nigeria.
Ayokunle opined that there is a lack of sincerity among Christians, particularly in CAN, to speak and pursue a common objective. “The Church is so rich but can’t put resources together for a single purpose,” he said.
For those calling on the Christian body to openly support a political party, Ayokunle said that CAN is not a political organisation, hence Churches cannot register political associations in Nigeria as such a move would pitch the Church against other Nigerians and put the Church at disadvantage from the very start.
In his address to the Christian Press, Ayokunle urged Christian journalists to shun money and work for their conscience.
“I want you to do journalism with the fear of God,” he said, lamenting that the church has failed in preparing people for leadership, wondering, “What is the essence of Christian love when it cannot be demonstrated practically?”
SEYI JOHN SALAU
