CAN PRESIDENT, SUPO AYOKUNLE ON HOT SEAT

CAN PRESIDENT, SUPO AYOKUNLE ON HOT SEAT

… Christians in governments are difficult and unreliable for Christian causes
… CAN does not recognise the National Christian Elders Forum
… the idea of a Christian political party is unsustainable, unreasonable, divisive
… it is unimaginable for the negotiators to leave Leah Sharibu behind

The President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), His Eminence, Rev (Dr.) Olasupo Samson Ayokunle, has said that Christians in governments are difficult and unreliable for Christian causes. Among other things, he also said the Christian Association of Nigeria does not recognise the National Christian Elders Forum and the suggestion of a Christian political party is not feasible in Nigeria.

The CAN president was speaking as a special guest at the May edition of the monthly Breakfast Meeting organised by the Christian Press Association of Nigeria’s (CPAN’s) held at the Raddison Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, May 29, 2019. The theme of the Breakfast meeting was Christian Response to Global Persecution.

In his entourage were Rev (Dr.) John Ayo Oladapo, CAN Chairman Ondo; Pastor Benjamin Akanmu, CAN Chairman, Oyo; Rev. Rotimi Joshua Orikogbe, CAN Chairman Ekiti; Prof. Apostle Alexander Bamgbola, CAN Chairman, Lagos; Rev. (Dr.) O.O. Testimony Onifade, Director Ecumenism and Bishop S.T.D Adegbite, a Methodist cleric and CAN Director for National Issues.

CPAN COMMENDS, CHARGES CAN
In his opening speech, the CPAN president, Deacon Bola Adewara traced the history of persecution to the time of Jesus Christ, noting that Christ was the very first victim of the faith He came to launch, followed by Deacon Stephen and so many others, leading to the dispersal of the 12 disciples to the uttermost parts of the earth.

Deacon Adewara said persecution has since then till now, become the order of the day, with Christians witnessing genocides in so many ancient countries of the world to present countries like Kenya, Mali, North Korea, Russia and even Nigeria. “There is the need for Christians to find a way to cope before Isaac is  exterminated by Ishmael, the son of the bondwoman.”

CPAN President expressed worries that Nigerian Christians are directionless because of the activities of these splinter groups which he said have created multiple authorities in the leadership of the faith. “There is no synergy between Church leaders and the people. We call on CAN to build a strong rapport with the Church.

Adewara, who is the editor of e-life, commended CAN for its ability to confront issues headlong with the country’s leaders even as he registered CPAN support for the re-election of the present leadership of CAN.

CPAN President appealed to the leadership of CAN to do more as in the days of Anthony Olubunmi Okogie, adding that in the season of anomie like we are now, Nigerian Christians seek for a more virile CAN that is in constant rapport with the Church not only in the political field, but also in ecumenism.

CHRISTIANS IN POLITICS ARE UNRELIABLE
In his response, the CAN president said the pains of Christians in Nigeria is caused mostly by the difficult behaviour of Nigerians Christians in politics, many of whom are so unreliable and unwilling to help the Christian cause.

“The teachings in the Church to separate politics from the gospel have made us politically unsophisticated unlike the Muslims whose religion is entwined with political take-over wherever they are. Our Christians don’t know what to do when they get to power. Ask them to intermeddle in issues like Churches not getting their CofO in the north, you can never get answers or support from them. CAN is a spiritual organisation, having no political powers to do anything other than advise and canvass…”

NATIONAL CHRISTIAN ELDERS FORUM NOT RECONISED BY CAN
The leadership of the apex body of Christians at the meeting also disassociated CAN from the National Christian Elders Forum, saying the group “did not emanate from CAN.”

According to Bishop S.T.D Adegbite and Dr. Testimony Onifade, CAN directors for National Issue and Ecumenism respectively, “CAN does not recognise the so-called National Christian Elders Forum because it is not a registered organisation with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

Onifade said, “We are not on the same page with them because they didn’t emanate from us. People who are not elders in their local Churches, some of whom have been excommunicated in their Churches cannot come to the national body and declare themselves elders. Being an elder is not by age but by spiritual maturity.”

In his contribution, Bishop Adegbite said, “There was never a time CAN sat down to be picking elders.  For example, if somebody that came from Catholic Church is in CAN, how can you go ahead and appoint that person an elder when Catholic Church practice does not recognise elders? In the Baptist Church, we don’t ordain elders because we have no such positions. The Baptist Convention only recognises pastors and deacons. So CAN will never go into such confusion.”

A CHRISTIAN POLITICAL PARTY IS UNSUSTAINABLE, UNREASONABLE, DIVISIVE
While responding to questions on CAN’s position on the formation of a Christian political party in Nigeria as suggested by some quarters, the CAN president said, “such move is unsustainable, unreasonable and divisive.”

“Our constitution does not give room for the formation of a mono-religion political party because that will be divisive and not based on equality. Secondly, the population of Christians and Muslims are equally at par. Therefore, if there is a Christian political party, it will be a minority party right from the beginning because all the Muslims will not support it and Christians who do not believe in the dreams will not support it so the party is already a loser from the beginning.

“This means we will always be at opposition and not in charge. If you form a Christian political party, you cannot force all Christians to belong. We do not think in such a myopic way. We think comprehensively. We are thinking and working towards being in charge, not for us to always be the number two. When you are not in charge, you are not in charge!

“Forming a Christian political party in Nigeria, he said, “is not the same thing as forming a Christian political party in Germany which is totally a mono-religious country like Australia and New Zealand. It’s a different ballgame here.

LEAH SHARIBU: CAN WARNS AGAINST NEPOTISM, FAVOURITISM
Responding to questions on the continued captivity of Leah Sharibu, the CAN president said they have also wondered how and why the negotiators who got the release of the other young girls would choose to leave Leah behind because of her faith. “It is unimaginable in a country where we preach freedom of choice of faith.”

On President Muhammadu Buhari, the cleric said the only way Buhari can make a difference in his second term is to ensure that every part of the country is fairly treated especially in his political appointment and also by eradicating the ills confronting the nation.

He said when CAN visited the President, they counselled him that in order to succeed in his new tenure, he must do 100 times better than what he did in his first tenure. He should engage the best brains in his cabinet irrespective of their political affiliations, backgrounds or geopolitical zones.

“We told him that for peace to reign in this country, not everything should be politicised. He should be objective in his leadership by appointing Nigerians with best brains in his cabinet. We also told the President to pay more attention to social welfare, the infrastructure must be improved upon to attract direct foreign investment. We further urged President Buhari to investigate the source of finance for ammunition used by insurgents, as it was capable of giving permanent solution to insurgency.”


Reports by Bola Adewara and Demilade Adewara