The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, has urged leaders at all levels to put aside their personal interests and work together to address the issues of insecurity and hunger currently afflicting the country.
Speaking at an event organised to inaugurate the newly elected North-East CAN executive members held in Maiduguri yesterday, Okoh, represented by the National Director of Education, Youths, and Women CAN, Rev. Ozumba Emmanuel, lamented the crises caused by Boko Haram terrorists, banditry, and economic hardship that have plagued the northeast region and the entire nation.
“Today, Nigeria has been bedeviled by so many challenges of insecurity that have brought many setbacks, and the northeast has been the worst hit by the crisis. Today, insecurity is now a general issue everywhere, and we, as Christians, must ensure we preach peaceful coexistence regardless of our religions, beliefs, and ethnicity.
“I urge leaders to put aside personal interests and work together to restore peace. Peace is not a one-man affair; it is an affair that everybody must be involved in. There is no good leadership without good followership; when people are hungry, they can’t understand the government. So, we leaders should work in the interest of the common man.
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“I urge the new zonal executives to be united and fight for justice. Justice doesn’t require you to fight for your religion; it means fighting for the interest of the common man. Today, we need voices, we need men courageous enough to speak about the injustice going on in our nation, and we need people who will speak to power, to point out the areas where the government needs to improve on welfare and develop the society,” he said.
In his acceptance speech, the new North-East CAN Chairman, Most Rev. Mohammed Naga, said the northeast zone has faced several challenges of insurgency and economic hardship suffered by already overstretched people.
“We are appealing to our governors to continue alleviating this unwarranted hardship. Our people have been dependent on the strength God has given them. We urge our security operatives to continue doing their best in curbing this unrest so that people can have the freedom to go about their daily legitimate businesses,” Naga urged.
The state chairman (CAN), Most Rev. John Bakeni, urged the newly inaugurated executives to work tirelessly towards the common good of the Christian community and people of the region.
Other North East CAN members inaugurated include Chaplain Jechonia Gilbert, Vice Chairman; Apostle Sunday, Secretary; Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obidah, Assistant Secretary; and Rev. Dr. Dauda Zambuk, Treasurer.
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