We Wont Play Opposition Role to Tinubu’s Government, Says CAN

President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, on Tuesday restated the non-partisanship of the body in its approach to national issues.

Okoh said the religious body would not play an opposition role to the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

He, however, said that CAN would seriously engage the government from the point of clear knowledge about national issues and continue to raise prophetic voices to guide those in authority, and also pray for them to succeed.

These were contained in a message he delivered in Abuja at the 2023 Divine Commonwealth Conference (DIVCCON), an annual programme of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).

He said: “We have no other country other than Nigeria, hence, we must continue to work to achieve sustainable peace and development.

“Undoubtedly, we are in difficult and uncommon times, but there is nothing that the Power of Jesus cannot cure. “The passion and zeal with which members attend this event every year gives hope and indeed, there is hope for our nation, Nigeria. In the world of today, in which we wage war against poverty, disease, hunger, corruption, immorality and ignorance, Christians must not only pray but seek ways to pull our forces together and defeat all that challenge our very existence”.

Okoh appreciated Christians and church leaders in Nigeria for their sacrifices for the Body of Christ, as well as the wellbeing of the people and the nation, and solicited more from them.

“In Nigeria, God has given us a platform that has an elaborate structure through our fathers of faith, which makes work for Christian Unity easier. That platform is the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). Nigeria is the only country in Africa where all Christians agree to come under one single umbrella in fellowship.

“Hence, CAN must be seen as a gift to the Body of Christ in Nigeria. It is a place where we find rare opportunities to collaborate on issues of mutual concern at all levels down to the grassroots. Therefore, I urge all believers to get more involved in the activities of the Association especially now that the Ecumenical space has been widened to encourage a deeper engagement of professionals from all fields of human endeavour”, he said.

Okoh commended the Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Dr. Henry Ndukuba, and the other leaders of the church for sustaining the DIVCCON vision and for adopting the National Christian Centre as the venue every year.

“The choice of this venue makes this event more open and more inclusive”, he said.

The ICAN president prayed that this year’s edition of DIVCCON would be a huge success.