Killings in the Country: CAN Asks Buhari to Reorganize the Security Agencies; Condemns underage voter’s registration

 The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has condemned in strong terms the menace of insecurity in the country occasioned by the incessant killings and has reiterated its earlier call on President Muhammadu Buhari to re-organize the security agencies.

The Christian umbrella body at its last NEC Meeting held in Abuja commiserated with the victims and the bereaved of all the killings going on in the country especially in Benue, Taraba, Adamawa and Zamfara States by the terrorists, the herdsmen and the bandits.

Among the resolutions made at the NEC meeting include the following;

That CAN identify with the victims of the on-going killings by the herdsmen terrorists in the North Central, the Boko haram terrorists in some states in the Northeast and the bandits in Zamfara State.

That CAN frowns at the failure of the security agencies to prevent those criminals before they strike as expected of them;

That CAN reiterate its opposition to the composition of the National Security Council which skewed in favour of one religion and a part of the country.

Ours is a multi-ethnic and multi- religious state and we call on President Muhammadu Buhari to respect the Federal Character Commission Act in all his appointments and policies;

That we call on President Buhari to reorganize the entire security agencies with a view to injecting new officers with new visions and ideas that can restore sanity to all the trouble spots in the country.

That every Christian that is of voting age should register for the fourth coming general election;

That the Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) should stop the underage registration that characterizes the ongoing registration of voters in some parts of the country;

That CAN frowns at the deliberate attempts being made to discourage people from participating in the registration exercise by the INEC officials in some states of the Federation;

That CAN appeals to its members not to be intimidated or discouraged by the frustration associated with the registration exercise but to ensure that they all secure their Permanent Voters Card (PVC).

We urge our members to participate in the political process in the country as the need arises with a view to having the right people at the right places of governance.

That NEC calls on all the blocs to put aside their differences and support the leadership of Rev. Dr. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle to move the Church forward.

Those in attendance included but not limited to the CAN President, his eminence, Rev Dr. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, the Vice President, Elder Prof Joseph Otubu, the General Secretary, Rev Dr Musa Asake, Assistant General Secretary, Barrister Joseph Daramola, Treasurer, Bishop Anthony Anyiador, the Legal Director, Barr Samuel Kwankur, the Youth Director, Elder Biodun Sayanolu, and the Director, National Issues, Bishop S.T.V. Adegbite.

Others are the bloc leaders; Rev Dr Fubara Fubara-Manuel (Christian Council of Nigeria, CCN), Pastor Dr A. O. Akinosun (Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria/Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN/CPFN); Elder Napo Emuchay, (the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), Rev Dr Caleb Ahima  Tarayar Ekklesiyoyin Kristi a Nigeria or The Fellowship of the Churches of Christ in Nigeria (TEKAN)/ Evangelical Church of Winning All (ECWA) and Rev Fr. Prof Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua (Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, CSN).

Also in attendance were the six zonal chairmen, the states’ chairmen and their secretaries, the President, Women Wing (WOWICAN), Pastor Dr Mabel Oyin Sowolu, the Chaplin, National Christian Centre, Bishop Dr Peter Ogunmuyiwa and the representatives of the five blocs that make up the Association.

Signed, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, 

Special Assistant, (Media & Communications) to his eminence, Rev Dr Samson Olasupo Ayokunle. 

21 February, 2018.