NEWS ANALYSIS: CAN: Time to be apolitical 

The leadership change on Thursday, 28 July in the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) could not have come at a better time. It’s an ample opportunity for the umbrella Christian organization to effect a change in its trajectory. The new CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, took over from Samson Supo Ayokunle, who himself, came on board the association in 2016.

Controversies have dogged the Christian body in recent years. Although, not a political organization, CAN has entrenched itself in the nation’s body politic, especially since 2011, when former President Goodluck Jonathan came to power.  

Established in 1976 by five Christian groups; the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria; Organisation of African Instituted Churches and the Evangelical Fellowship of West Africa, CAN was expected to be apolitical. It is also expected to be an intervention voice in Nigeria’s pluralist and secular state, settling religious, tribal and ethnic crises and ensuring that peace reigns supreme in the country.

CAN’s partisanship became more pronounced during the tenure of Ayo Oritsejafor as president. Oritsejafor’s open partisanship was brazen. He was often making comments in favour of the then ruling political party and was unabashedly an acolyte of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Uncomfortable with CAN’s unbridled partisanship, the Catholic church, in 2012, decided to severe its relationship with the body.

A letter, dated 24 September, 2012 and signed by the Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, then President of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, said its decision to leave was “over some recent attitudes, utterances and actions of the national leadership of CAN, which in our opinion negate the concept of the foundation of the association and the desire of Our Lord Jesus Christ.”

It continued: “CAN is being dragged into partisan politics, thereby compromising the ability to play its true role as conscience of the nation and the voice of the voiceless.”

Obviously, the CAN leadership, headed by Supo Ayokunle towed the lines of his predecessor. The association has not been able to make a distinction between politics and religion. This was made manifest by the virulent opposition, mounted by the body against the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The involvement of CAN in partisan politics is rubbing negatively on its divine calling. It is also dividing its rank and file. 

In addition, CAN’s vehement opposition to the APC ticket is being seen as a demarketing strategy against the APC in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Religion is an individual conviction. Party politics is a personal choice. CAN’s attempt to railroad Christians not to vote for a particular party is beyond its bound.

It is not stated anywhere that CAN is a regulatory body that can tell Christians who to vote for and who not to vote for. Christians should be allowed to have the freedom to associate with any candidate or political party. Election is about choices. The parties have chosen. Let the citizens now choose among the many candidates that would be on the ballot. This is the task before the new CAN leadership. 

Archbishop Okoh must avoid the pitfall of his predecessors.

Politics should be left with politicians while religious leaders should concern themselves with the salvation of their laity and where necessary offer advice and prayers to the country’s leaders.

CAN should also emulate the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), which has resisted the temptation to involve itself in partisan politics.