BEVERLY HILLS, January 29, (THEWILL) – The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has debunked insinuations that it is not pragmatic enough in responding to issues that concerned Christians in the country, stating that several attempts by its leadership to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari were “frustrated by some cabals in the Presidency”.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, President of the Youth Wing of CAN, YOWICAN, Daniel Kadzai, pointed out that while the association had been standing up for the defence of Christianity, “the government’s disposition to some of the issues affecting Christians are not encouraging”.
He stated that the CAN President, Dr. Supo Ayokunle, “has been denied audience with the President to brainstorm on how best to solve some challenges in the country”, stressing that the Presidency had restricted CAN to media alone by shutting the door of meaningful consultation against its leaders.
“The Ayokunle-led leadership is poised to ensure that all Christians worship without fear or intimidation throughout the country. The man (Ayokunle) just took over the mantle of leadership and he met crisis on the ground. He is up and doing to stabilise the system to be able to address the common problems we are facing as a body.
“He has made several attempts to see the President of this country to table some challenges that have been bedevilling the nation and the challenges facing the Christendom. Unfortunately, the Federal Government of Nigeria is not willing to see the CAN President because of one reason or the others,” Kadzai stated.
He wondered why the CAN President would struggle to see the President of Nigeria for the peaceful coexistence in the country even in a democratic setting.
According to him, “CAN is not in contention with anybody. CAN is focusing on ensuring the liberty and freedom for its members to worship across the country.
“If CAN is coming out in the media to take a position on an issue, we are not addressing the media to incite our members, but only addressing the media to voice out the challenges facing our members throughout the country.”
Kadzai explained that he had gone to all places where attacks were carried out on Christian communities to obtain first-hand information, lamenting that the government was lackadaisical in its approach.
The YOWICAN President pointed out that some of the attacks were complicated as Christians were being killed under the guise of ethnicity and politics.
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