CAN will not fail to speak against government excesses – President, Ayokunle

The newly-inaugurated President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Dr. Samson Ayokunle, has stated that although the association will be a partner in progress with the government; it would not fail to speak against the excesses of political leadership even when the situation is not favourable for the truth to be said.

Speaking shortly after his inauguration in Abuja yesterday, Ayokunle assured that the association under his leadership would not be anti-government, but warned that the government should equally not be anti-CAN.

He called on the government to take decisive steps against religious fanatics who are attacking Christians, describing them as threat to the unity of Nigeria.

According to the CAN leader, “We are committed to supporting the governments of the day in Nigeria, both the federal and state in all ways to achieve noble goals that would lead to development in the nation.

“CAN is not anti-government and the government should not be anti-CAN. We are supposed to be partners-in-progress. Each should respect the boundaries that would lead to mutual respect.

“However, we are not going to patronize the government and thereby fail in our responsibilities to speak against the excesses of those in political leadership. The church is in the world to improve the world and shine as light of the world.

“The church essentially is not of the world. We should stand out courageously and stand clean. We are aware that we are called to serve the body of Christ at the most challenging time for the church,” he said.

While chronicling the recent attacks on Christians across the country, Ayokunle called on the government of the day to take decisive action over these occurrences because it is their constitutional duty to do so.

“We shall not stop crying out for the government to do justice until we see that justice is done. Silence or inaction by those in government would continue to make the Christians express no confidence in them until they are ready to defend the rights of Christians and all Nigerians in this nation,” he said.

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