The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has debunked insinuations
that it is not pragmatic enough in responding to issues that concerned
Christians in the country, stating that several attempts by its
leadership to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari were “frustrated by
some cabals in the Presidency”.
Speaking in an interview with
newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, President of the Youth Wing of CAN, YOWICAN,
Daniel Kadzai, pointed out that while the association had been standing
up for the defence of Christianity, “the government’s disposition to
some of the issues affecting Christians are not encouraging”.
He
stated that the CAN President, Dr. Supo Ayokunle, “has been denied
audience with the President to brainstorm on how best to solve some
challenges in the country”, stressing that the Presidency had restricted
CAN to media alone by shutting the door of meaningful consultation
against its leaders.
“The Ayokunle-led leadership is poised to
ensure that all Christians worship without fear or intimidation
throughout the country. The man (Ayokunle) just took over the mantle of
leadership and he met crisis on the ground. He is up and doing to
stabilise the system to be able to address the common problems we are
facing as a body.
“He
has made several attempts to see the President of this country to table
some challenges that have been bedevilling the nation and the
challenges facing the Christendom. Unfortunately, the Federal Government
of Nigeria is not willing to see the CAN President because of one
reason or the others,” Kadzai stated.
He wondered why the CAN
President would struggle to see the President of Nigeria for the
peaceful coexistence in the country even in a democratic setting.
According
to him, “CAN is not in contention with anybody. CAN is focusing on
ensuring the liberty and freedom for its members to worship across the
country.
“If CAN is coming out in the media to take a position on
an issue, we are not addressing the media to incite our members, but
only addressing the media to voice out the challenges facing our members
throughout the country.”
Kadzai explained that he had gone to all
places where attacks were carried out on Christian communities to
obtain first-hand information, lamenting that the government was
lackadaisical in its approach.
The YOWICAN President pointed out
that some of the attacks were complicated as Christians were being
killed under the guise of ethnicity and politics.
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