The General Assembly of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Thursday officially validated the election of Archbishop Daniel Okoh as the eight President of CAN.
Okoh, the General Superintendent of Christ Holy Church International, Onitsha, emerged as the new president of CAN, after he garnered a total of 100 per cent vote of all 259 delegates who participated in its 12th General Assembly.
With the confirmation, Okoh will serve as the CAN’s President for the next five years.
Okoh’s official confirmation ended the tenure of Rev. Dr. Samson Supo Ayokunle.
Okoh in his acceptance speech said his tenure would ensure that Christians actively participate in key aspects of nation building.
According to him, the Christian community has been largely sidelined in some aspects of the country’s decision making under this incumbent Buhari’s administration, adding that he is keen to ensure that Christians are rightly positioned to reflect Nigeria’s diversity.
In his words, “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.”
Okoh also charged President Muhammadu Buhari to quell the rising insecurity in Nigeria.
He continued, “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 the government can do more to secure the lives and property given all the modern technology within its reach.”
