By Pastor Bayo Oladeji, S.A (Media & Communications) to the CAN President.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has noted the pains Nigerians are going through as a result of unprecedented insecurity of lives and property in the country.
The view was made known in a goodwill message delivered by the CAN National Secretary, Rev. Dr Musa Asake, at the ongoing 104th annual session of the Nigerian Baptist Convention holding in Abuja.
CAN also acknowledged that it believed that this year’s theme for the Baptist Convention, “Moving Forward: Overcoming the Challenges of Life through Jesus Christ”, was “the best suited for this troubled times.”
Said he, “You will all agree with me that our country Nigeria is today experiencing excruciating pains as we witness religious and ethnic cleansing through the criminal activities of the murderous Fulani herdsmen who are killing story on daily basis.
“Nigeria has become unsafe because our security agencies are not living up to the billings. In Nigeria today, nowhere is safe, both the rich and the poor are crying because of the evil in the land occasioned by the criminal activities of the terrorists, kidnappers, armed robbery, ritual killings, unemployment and corruption in high places.”
CAN also applauded the leadership qualities of its President, who is also the President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC).
“We in CAN are very grateful to the Nigerian Baptist Convention for giving u your very best who now serves as the National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria. Am talking of no other person than Rev. Dr. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle.
“In times like this, we need a vocal and courageous leader to speak and stand in the gap for the Nigerian church. Let me bodly tell you that the man you give us as the number one Christian is this country is a leader who speaks his mind on all issues irrespective of whose ox is gored,” Asake said.
He added that the leader that the Nigerian church really need is the one that shuns the cosmetic and the quick fix approaches; and also a leader who has the courage to face the problems honestly, the wisdom to understand them, the strength to do something about them and the faith to trust God to do the rest, among other attributes, noting that “Our current CAN President is such a man and we thank God for his life.”