…Urges church to speak out against injustice, insecurity, poor governance 

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has honoured former heads of state Generals Yakubu Gowon and Olusegun Obasanjo, former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu and other prominent individuals for their contributions to the Christian community and the country.

At the award ceremony and thanksgiving service held Saturday, as part of activities to Mark it’s 50th anniversary celebraion, Tinubu received the Christian Icon Award, while Gowon, Obasanjo, Jonathan and Osinbajo were honoured with the Pillar of Faith Award.

Other awardees included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio; the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Benjamin Kalu; the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori; the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo; and the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, among others.

Speaking at the event, the First Lady said that CAN’s 50 years of existence is a significant milestone worthy of celebration, and urged the association to sustain the spirit of unity and cooperation among Christian denominations.

Tinubu noted that the anniversary theme, “Walking Together in Faith”, reflects the biblical call for Christians to remain united in their faith and common purpose.

She cited John 17:21-22 and Ephesians 4:4-6, which emphasise unity among believers, and prayed that the various Christian blocs within CAN would continue to work together in the interest of the church and the country.

“I want you to know that this award is a call to greater work in service to God and humanity,” she said.

The First Lady expressed appreciation to the President of CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, for the recognition, describing the award as a call to greater service to God and humanity.

Speaking at the event, CAN President , Archbishop Daniel Okoh urged the Church to intensify its advocacy against injustice, insecurity, corruption and poor governance, declaring that the Christian body must remain a courageous, independent and credible voice in Nigeria’s quest for national development.

Okoh emphasized that the Church must not abandon its responsibility to defend human dignity, hold political leaders accountable and speak for vulnerable Nigerians whose voices are often ignored adding that the next 50 years must be defined by stronger Christian unity, responsible public engagement and practical action to address the country’s social, economic and security challenges.

He stated that faith must find practical expression in compassion, public service and advocacy for citizens confronted by insecurity, poverty, exclusion and other forms of injustice.

Okoh identified internally displaced persons, children denied access to education, unemployed young people, rural farmers unable to access their farmlands because of insecurity, women facing violence, communities affected by environmental degradation, victims of human trafficking and people without access to legal representation as among those requiring sustained attention from the Church.

According to him, the Gospel makes it impossible for Christians to remain indifferent to the living conditions of vulnerable citizens, adding that CAN must strengthen its capacity to research, engage policymakers, advocate reforms and provide practical support to communities in need.

He however, cautioned that the Church’s prophetic responsibility must not be reduced to indiscriminate criticism of government or political leaders, insisting that its interventions must be informed by facts, credible evidence and careful analysis.

Okoh maintained that prophetic authority would be strengthened when the Church distinguished facts from rumours, legitimate policy disagreements from injustice, and genuine warnings from partisan opposition.

The CAN president also advocated what he described as “critical collaboration” between the Church and the State, arguing that their relationship should neither be hostile nor submissive.

Okoh explained that the Church should cooperate with government where the common good demands it, commend policies that benefit citizens and challenge authorities whenever their actions undermine justice, accountability and public welfare.

“Political withdrawal, political capture and permanent antagonism are unhealthy for any nation,” he said, adding that the Church must preserve its independence while engaging government constructively.

Reflecting on the association’s history, he said CAN was established in August 1976 when Christian leaders recognised the need for a united platform through which the Christian community could speak with one voice on matters of common interest.

He described Nigeria’s experience as distinctive within Africa, noting that the country had brought diverse Christian traditions together under a single ecumenical platform.

Okoh acknowledged that the journey towards Christian unity had not been without difficulties, recalling periods of mutual suspicion, prejudice, marginalisation and divisions among church traditions.

According to him, some established denominations initially regarded themselves as the “mainline churches”, while others were treated as less acceptable participants in the emerging ecumenical movement.

Such attitudes, he said, weakened fellowship and threatened the association’s founding vision.

Okoh credited successive CAN leaders with gradually widening the space for inclusion, enabling different Christian traditions to participate with equal rights and privileges.

He said the association currently brings together the five major Christian blocs: the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria/Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (CPFN/PFN), Organization of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), TEKAN/ECWA and the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN).

“The last time I checked, no one is missing on the table,” he said, describing the association as an important voice of hope for Christians across the country.

The CAN president nevertheless warned that the achievement of broader representation should not be mistaken for the completion of the unity project, urging church leaders and members to dismantle remaining barriers and resist divisive tendencies, including hostile exchanges on social media.

He emphasised that CAN was not the exclusive preserve of its elected or appointed officials, but a collective platform in which every Christian had a stake.

He called on Christians to preserve the lessons of the association’s history and pass them on to younger generations, warning that forgetting the struggles and sacrifices that produced the movement could encourage a return to old prejudices.

“The Golden Jubilee should be remembered not simply as a celebration of the past but as the beginning of a renewed national mission,” he said.

Okoh used the anniversary to outline what he considered the priorities for CAN’s next 50 years, including institutional maturity, evidence-based advocacy, humanitarian intervention, environmental stewardship, climate resilience and ethical technological development.

He argued that the association must become more informed, courageous and constructive in its engagement with national issues, particularly those affecting religious freedom, justice, constitutionalism, democratic institutions, peace and accountability.

The Church, he said, must also remain attentive to the welfare of vulnerable citizens and contribute meaningfully to national development rather than confining its mission to religious activities.

While acknowledging the challenges confronting Nigeria, the CAN president expressed optimism about the country’s future, pointing to its gifted young people, resilient communities, skilled professionals, entrepreneurs, committed public servants, civil society organisations and churches as sources of national strength.

Okoh also used the occasion to recognise individuals whose contributions had strengthened the Church and the association over the years. He said awards, including posthumous honours, were being presented to acknowledge their service and celebrate the gifts they had brought to the Christian community.

He explained that the honours were intended to encourage greater participation in CAN’s activities at all levels, while acknowledging that not everyone deserving recognition could be honoured at a single event because of time constraints.

Looking ahead, the cleric urged political leaders to govern responsibly, protect citizens, respect the Constitution, account for public resources, listen to the people and strengthen institutions.

He equally challenged the Church to lead by example through integrity, compassion, diligence and a firm commitment to human dignity.