…As association marks 50th anniversary

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday warned political parties and their candidates against weaponising religion, ethnicity and regional sentiments ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying Nigerians have witnessed enough bloodshed and division during election periods.

CAN President, His Eminence, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, gave the warning in Abuja while unveiling activities to mark the association’s 50th anniversary.
Okoh urged political leaders to make the 2027 elections a contest of ideas rather than violence, and called on them to take responsibility for the conduct of their supporters.

He said, “Political parties and candidates must resist the temptation to weaponize religion, ethnicity and regional sentiments. As Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, CAN calls on all political actors to place Nigeria above political ambition. We expect political campaigns to be issue-based and focused on competing ideas about how to improve the lives of Nigerians.

“Political leaders must take responsibility for the conduct of their supporters. They must discourage incitement, hate speech, violence and intimidation. Every Nigerian must be free to vote according to his or her conscience, without coercion, intimidation or manipulation. CAN will continue to support credible democratic processes, civic education, peaceful elections and electoral integrity”.

Okoh stated that Nigerians must be allowed to vote according to their conscience without coercion, intimidation or manipulation adding that the forthcoming ections should be a contest of ideas, not a contest of violence or a licence for personal destruction.

The CAN President also expressed concern over the country’s persistent insecurity, saying terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence and other forms of criminality had inflicted enormous suffering on Nigerians.

Okoh said communities had been displaced, farmers driven from their farmlands and places of worship attacked, while families had been separated and children deprived of education.

He called for a security architecture that would prevent attacks rather than merely respond after they occur. “Early warning must lead to early response,” he said, urging greater involvement of communities and civil society organisations in identifying emerging security threats.

While acknowledging the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to reduce insecurity, the CAN president said more needed to be done to improve the performance of the nation’s security agencies.

Okoh also sought to clarify CAN’s position on the contentious issue of religious persecution, stressing that defending Christians did not amount to hostility towards Muslims or opposition to government.

“When a Christian is attacked because of his faith, we will speak. When a Muslim is attacked because of his faith, we should speak. When an innocent Nigerian is killed by terrorists, bandits or criminals, we must all speak,” he said.

Okoh cautioned against reducing every Nigerian conflict to a simplistic Christian-versus-Muslim narrative, noting that conflicts could also involve ethnicity, land, political power, criminality and competition over resources.

On CAN’s relationship with the Federal Government, Okoh said the association would neither serve as a government opposition party nor become a praise-singing organisation.

“Where government policies promote the welfare of Nigerians, we will support them. Where the government fails to protect citizens, we will say so,” he stated.
He added that CAN respected the office of the President and the institutions of government, but insisted that its “loyalty to truth cannot be compromised or subordinated to political proximity.”

The CAN president spoke as the association began activities marking its 50th anniversary, themed “Walking Together in Faith: Celebrating 50 Years of CAN’s Journey.”

He described the Golden Jubilee as not merely a celebration of the past but a “re-commissioning” of the association for the next 50 years. Okoh noted that since inception, CAN has continued to play a significant role in promoting Christian unity and addressing social, economic, political and humanitarian concerns affecting Nigeria.

He said, “Fifty years is not a small milestone. It is a testimony of divine faithfulness, human sacrifice, perseverance and the enduring relevance of Christian unity. As we celebrate the Golden Jubilee, therefore, we are celebrating a heritage that we inherited and a responsibility that we must now transmit to generations yet unborn.

“For fifty years, CAN has participated in national conversations concerning religious freedom, constitutional rights, democracy, good governance, corruption, national unity, insecurity, humanitarian crises, education, healthcare, poverty, gender justice, youth development, electoral integrity, peace-building and national development”

Okoh said CAN would focus its next phase on strengthening Christian unity, interfaith engagement, humanitarian intervention, youth and women’s participation, institutional governance, research, financial sustainability and digital relevance.

He also expressed concern over the economic hardship confronting Nigerians, saying rising living costs, unemployment and difficulties facing families were matters the Church encountered daily.

“The Church sees these realities every day,” he said, urging the government to pursue policies that create employment, stimulate productive economic activity, support small businesses and protect vulnerable Nigerians.

The CAN president further called for greater opportunities for young people and women in national leadership, warning that Nigeria could not afford to leave a significant portion of its population at the margins of decision-making.

He said CAN’s Golden Jubilee should therefore mark a transition “from celebration to responsibility” and “from the achievements of the past to the possibilities of the future.”

The anniversary programme includes a road walk in Abuja today, October 3; an anniversary crusade on October 4; a football competition involving CAN teams from the six geopolitical zones; an ecumenical workshop; Bible quiz; community responsibility project; women and youth assembly; colloquium; music cantata; awards and the launch of the history of CAN, CAN @ 50: Walking Together in Faith, on October 17.

The anniversary celebrations will conclude with a thanksgiving service on October 18.