CAN Vows to Criticize Govt

The Christian Association of Nigeria has said it will criticise the Federal Government whenever it fails to protect citizens, allows injustice or violates constitutional rights, while continuing to cooperate with authorities on issues that promote national development.

CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, stated this on Friday in Abuja at a press conference held to launch activities for the association’s 50th anniversary, which is being celebrated under the theme, “Walking Together in Faith: Celebrating 50 Years of CAN’s Journey.”

Okoh said CAN was neither a political opposition party nor a platform established to praise government officials, stressing that the association’s relationship with government would be guided by principles rather than political considerations.

He said CAN would support government policies that improve the welfare of Nigerians and would remain available to partner with authorities on initiatives that promote good governance, democracy and community development.

The CAN president, however, said such cooperation would not prevent the association from speaking out when citizens were exposed to danger or when their fundamental rights were threatened.

“Where government makes progress, we will acknowledge it, where government fails to protect citizens, we will say so,” Okoh said, adding that CAN would also speak whenever injustice occurred or constitutional rights were threatened.

He maintained that CAN’s commitment to truth could not be subordinated to its relationship with political leaders, as doing so would amount to abandoning its moral responsibility to Nigerians.

Okoh also called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts against insecurity, citing terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence and other forms of criminality that continue to threaten communities across the country.

He said attacks on places of worship, the killing and abduction of worshippers, displacement of communities and attacks on farmers had continued to create serious humanitarian and economic consequences for Nigerians.

According to him, government’s primary responsibility is to protect lives and property, while security agencies must develop stronger preventive measures rather than depend mainly on responses after attacks occur.

Okoh urged security agencies to strengthen cooperation with communities and civil society organisations, stressing that early warnings should lead to early security responses.

The CAN president acknowledged efforts by President Bola Tinubu and his administration to reduce insecurity, but said more needed to be done to improve the performance of Nigeria’s security agencies and bring an end to killings.

On allegations of persecution of Christians, Okoh said CAN would continue to defend Christians against attacks, discrimination and violations of religious freedom, but insisted that such advocacy should not be interpreted as hostility towards government or Muslims.

He said CAN would speak whenever Christians were attacked because of their faith and would also speak when Muslims or other Nigerians were targeted, regardless of their religious or ethnic identities.

Okoh further warned against reducing every conflict in Nigeria to a religious confrontation, noting that some disputes also involve ethnicity, land, political power, criminality and competition over resources.

With the 2027 general elections approaching, the CAN president urged political parties and candidates to avoid exploiting religion and ethnicity for electoral mobilisation and instead focus their campaigns on policies and ideas for improving Nigerians’ lives.

He also warned against hate speech, intimidation and electoral violence, saying elections should provide an opportunity for citizens to choose leaders based on competing ideas and their capacity for public service.

Okoh’s remarks came as CAN commenced activities to commemorate its 50th anniversary, with programmes scheduled to include a road walk, anniversary crusade, football competition, ecumenical workshop, Bible quiz, charity visit, women and youth assembly, colloquium, music cantata and an awards ceremony.

The anniversary programme will culminate in an awards presentation and unveiling of a historical publication on October 17, followed by an anniversary thanksgiving service on October 18.

CAN was founded in 1976 to provide a common platform for Christian denominations to engage on issues affecting the Church and the Nigerian society, and Okoh said the association’s next phase would focus on stronger Christian unity, institutional development, interfaith engagement and greater contributions to national development.

The association’s position places its engagement with government within what Okoh described as a balance between cooperation where policies benefit Nigerians and criticism where citizens’ welfare, security or constitutional rights are threatened.

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