Barely 24 hours after taking over the mantle of leadership, the new President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Most Rev Daniel Okoh, has unpacked few of the things he would do for the association and Christian faithful in the next five years of administration.
He also noted that the issues raised by Christians against same-faith tickets were genuine.
Okoh who spoke to journalists shortly after taking over the leadership of CAN in Abuja, on Friday, said he will start his administration with the expansion of opportunities for more people, pastors and professionals, to participate in the activities of CAN.
He said: “These people have knowledge, experience and contacts which they would use to help us galvanize and pool resources to enable us enhance and enrich the contributions of CAN towards nation building.
“Secondly, my administration will work assiduously to project the dignity of CAN, and make its voice strong, valid and recognized by all whenever we speak, and I can assure Christians in Nigeria that we would always speak with one voice in defence of Christian faith.
“Thirdly, we have a commitment to uphold the culture of dialogue. We constantly need religious dialogue with people of other faiths in Nigeria. I have been in the Nigeria Inter-religious Council (NIREC) for 15 years, and had worked in various committees of NIREC. So, I have vast experience and know the importance of dialogue.
“We would leverage on our friendship with members of Muslim community to continue to enrich our dialogue. In Nigeria today, we don’t have a choice but continue to talk and dialogue among ourselves. Even if we quarrel and fight, we would still come back to the dialogue table.”
On Thursday, 259 delegate-members from all the five blocs of CAN, at the General Assembly meeting in Abuja, ratified the choice of Most Rev. Okoh, of the Christ Holy Church also known as Nation’s Builders (Odozi-Obodo) as the new CAN President for a five year tenure.
The delegates also ratified the choice of candidates who would serve as Vice Presidents of the Association for the next five years in line with the amended constitution of CAN.
The new CAN President, in his acceptance speech, appreciated CAN leaders for the confidence reposed in him by entrusting him with the great mandate of leading CAN for the next five years.
He said: “I am particularly delighted that my emergence was through a process that further demonstrated our understanding of the aims and objectives of CAN. By divine providence, my involvement in the leadership of CAN started at state level many years ago when church leaders in Anambra State would gather to plan for the yearly prayer for Christian unity.
“We came in at the time that 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 have 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.
“This fear is genuine and was borne out of the recent happenings in our polity especially the issue of 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 continue to make positive impact on the political, economic and social systems of our dear nation,” he said.
