Daniel Okoh Officially Emerges As CAN President, Sends First Message To Buhari

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has confirmed Most Reverend Daniel Okoh as the new president of the Christian umbrella body.

Okoh’s emergence as the new CAN president was confirmed on Thursday by the General Assembly of the body.

It will be recalled that Reverend Okoh had earlier emerged as the candidate from the Electoral College but had to be ratified by the National Executive Council and the General Assembly of CAN.

With Okoh’s ratification on Thursday, he now takes over from Revd Dr. Samson Supo Ayokunle as the CAN president, Naija News reports.

The new CAN president was ratified by all 259 delegates present at the 12th General Assembly and is expected to serve a single five-year term.

Insecurity In Nigeria

Speaking after his emergence, Okoh appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for his efforts toward tackling insecurity in Nigeria so far but said more needs to be done.

The CAN president said there is too much bloodletting going on in the country by bandits and terrorists.

He said, “While thanking the President and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), for his efforts to combat terrorism and banditry, I would like to appeal to His Excellency to end the bloodletting, kidnapping and general insecurity in all the geo-political zones of the country.

“I believe that government can do more to secure the lives and property given all the modern technology within its reach.”

Muslim/Muslim Ticket vs CAN

Okoh went ahead to assure that CAN will continue to actively participate in nation-building pointing out the controversy surrounding the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He accused those flying such a ticket of religious insensitivity.

The CAN president added however that despite the development, Christians will continue to make positive impact in every sector of the nation.

According to him, “We are coming in at the time that all of us in the Christian faith, believe that some section of political leaders are not sensitive to the diverse nature of our population when certain decisions are being made.

“Many Christians feel and have the genuine fear that there is a deliberate plan to remove the Christian faith from the scheme of things and make us second-class citizens in our own country – genuine fear borne out of the recent happenings in our polity i.e. the same-faith ticket in one of the major political parties in Nigeria despite the caution raised by CAN since two years ago.

“Whatever happens, no matter how many times our sensibilities are insulted, we must resolve to make a positive impact on the political, economic and social systems of our dear nation.”