CAN Sets Agenda For Tinubu, Urges Him To Seek Inclusiveness

Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, to seek genuine peace and inclusiveness, warning that a lot of ordinary people are losing hope in the country’s democracy.

It also noted that the President-elect, on assumption of office, must be tactful in handling ethnic and religious matters.

CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, disclosed this, yesterday, at a ‘Church and Mission Leaders’ Summit’, with the theme, ‘Peace Building and Christian Mission’, organised by the Gideon and Funmi Para-Mallam Peace Foundation, in Abuja.

He said: “Blessed with a cohort of religious and community leaders, who are peace advocates, the incoming administration must utilise the goodwill of faith leaders to seek genuine peace that will be all inclusive.

“It must be assertive in addressing issues of ethnic and religious identity. Nigerians should be able to lay claim and gain access to economic and socio-political benefits in any part of the country where they choose to reside.”

He said: “Addressing the ‘indigeneity’ clause and according full residency rights to Nigerians will be a right step in the right direction.

“The Federal Character principle should be respected, and total right to freedom of belief or worship should be granted, unhindered, to citizens to freely subscribe to any religion of their choice.”

Okoh said abduction, illegal marriage and forceful conversion of persons to a faith against their wish is “archaic, reprehensible and condemnable all over the modern world and should not be allowed to thrive here.”

“This anti-social practice, which has gained traction, especially in Northern Nigeria, should be discouraged and condemned by well-meaning citizens and constituted authorities alike.

“This kind of behaviour, where it is condoned, is a recipe for anarchy, and will ultimately, render all peace building efforts null and void.

“It is not a secret that Nigeria lacks quality leadership that is yet to transform abundant economic wealth available in the land towards sustainable development,” he said.

Okoh, who noted that the February and March 2023 polls were characterised by irregularities, said a lot of ordinary people are fast losing hope in the democratic system of government in Nigeria.

He added: “This, in itself, is a major conflict that will require peace building efforts, to persuade different political parties that participated in that election to embrace peace for the good of the nation. If this is not done, it may take a long time to restore confidence of the majority of Nigerians towards keeping faith in government institutions, particularly, the electoral body.”

President of the Foundation, Gideon Para-Mallam, explained that the summit was organised to address hostility towards Christians, on account of atrocities by Boko Haram and other evil groups.