2023: Full List Of CAN’s Demands To PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku

The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Tuesday met with the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, in Abuja.

The President of CAN, Archbishop Daniel Ukoh during the interactive session with Atiku presented him with the Christian body’s charter of demands.

Okoh in a statement titled, ‘CAN Proposal for Nigeria Post-2023,’ listed the key demands in the charter.

He acknowledged that the restructuring of the country required a constitutional amendment, adding that the next President of Nigeria could use Executive Order to effect some structural changes in the country.

The CAN leader called for a fully decentralized police authority, unambiguous religious neutrality of the Nigerian state, enforcement of fundamental rights of all Nigerians, including economic and social rights as well as equitable and enforceable sharing of executive positions.

The CAN leader also demanded ethnic and religious representation in the military and other security agencies, self-determination for all Nigerian people, ranching, education, and free healthcare for all Nigerians, a ban on open grazing, and local control of the economy, including waters, rivers, and forests.

According to Okoh, the Nigerian constitution failed to provide an order for a society with multiple religious beliefs and practices, adding that this failure had thrown Nigeria into perennial religious conflicts.

Okoh called on whoever takes over from President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure a balance between Christians and Muslims, stressing that the past practice of reckless violation of the rights of one religion or the other will not reoccur.

He lamented that Nigeria which is founded on justice and equity has not been realized, adding that the country is a poor and conflict-ridden country with neither justice nor equity.