The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government to intensify efforts to protect Nigerians from terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of insecurity.
This was just as it stated that citizens should not be forced to negotiate with criminals to stay alive.
CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, made the call on Friday in Abuja while speaking at a press conference to mark the association’s 50th anniversary.
Okoh said CAN would continue to engage the government constructively but would also criticise it whenever it failed in its responsibility to protect citizens or violated their rights.
He stressed that the association was neither a political opposition party nor an organisation established to praise the government, saying its relationship with the authorities would be guided by principles rather than political convenience.
“CAN is neither a government opposition party nor a government praise-singing organisation. We are a Christian institution with a national responsibility,” he said.
According to him, CAN would support government policies that promote the welfare of Nigerians and cooperate with the authorities where such partnership could help deliver good governance to communities.
However, Okoh said the association would not remain silent when citizens suffer or their constitutional rights are threatened.
“Where government makes progress, we will acknowledge it. Where government fails to protect citizens, we will say so.
“Where injustice occurs, we will speak. Where constitutional rights are threatened, we will raise our voice. Where citizens are suffering, we cannot remain silent,” he said.
The CAN president maintained that the organisation’s commitment to truth would not be compromised by its relationship with political leaders.
He said while CAN respected the office of the president and government institutions, it would not subordinate its responsibility to political proximity.
“We respect the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We respect the institutions of government.
“But our loyalty to truth cannot be compromised or subordinated to political proximity. To do so is to abdicate from our moral responsibility, and it will be a disservice to God and the people we serve,” Okoh said.
On insecurity, the cleric said Nigerians continued to face terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence and other forms of criminality.
He said attacks on places of worship, killings and abductions of worshippers, displacement of communities and the forced removal of farmers from their farmlands were worsening insecurity and food insecurity.
Okoh said the government had a primary responsibility to protect lives and property, stressing that Nigerians should not have to negotiate with terrorists, bandits or kidnappers to remain alive.
“CAN therefore repeats its call to government that the primary responsibility of government is to protect life and property. Citizens should never have to negotiate with terrorists, bandits or kidnappers simply to remain alive,” he said.
He called for a security system that would prevent attacks rather than respond only after lives had been lost, stressing that “early warning must lead to early response.”
The CAN president also urged security agencies to strengthen collaboration with communities and civil society organisations to identify emerging threats.
While acknowledging the efforts of President Bola Tinubu and his administration to reduce insecurity, Okoh said more needed to be done to improve the performance of security agencies.
“We acknowledge the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his team to reduce the level of violence and insecurity in the nation, but we believe that more could be done to improve the services of security agencies in Nigeria.
“Every Nigerian is looking forward to seeing the end of killings in this nation,” he said.
On alleged persecution of Christians, Okoh said CAN would continue to speak against attacks, discrimination, marginalisation and other violations affecting Christian communities.
He, however, said defending Christians should not be interpreted as hostility towards the government or other religious groups.
“Defending Christians does not mean fighting the government. It does not mean hating Muslims or any other religious community,” he said.
Okoh said CAN opposed religious hatred and supported the protection of all Nigerians regardless of their religious affiliation.
“When a Christian is attacked because of his faith, we will speak. When a Muslim is attacked because of his faith, we should speak.
“When an innocent Nigerian is killed by terrorists, bandits or criminals, we must all speak,” he said.
He further cautioned against reducing every conflict in Nigeria to religious differences, noting that some incidents also involve ethnicity, land disputes, political power, criminality and competition for resources.
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the CAN president urged political parties and candidates to prioritise the national interest and avoid exploiting religion, ethnicity and regional sentiments for political mobilisation.
He called on politicians to focus their campaigns on policies and ideas capable of improving the lives of Nigerians while avoiding hate speech, intimidation and electoral violence.
“Elections should be a contest of ideas, not a contest of violence; a competition for public service, not a licence for personal destruction,” Okoh said.
The CAN president also expressed concern over the economic hardship facing Nigerians, citing the rising cost of living, unemployment and the difficulties families encounter in meeting basic needs, including food, healthcare, education and housing.
He urged the Federal Government to implement policies that would stimulate productive economic activities, create jobs, support small and medium-sized enterprises and protect vulnerable citizens.
“Every economic policy must ultimately be judged by its impact on the people,” Okoh said.