President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Dr. Supo
Ayokunle, yesterday said the killings and bloodshed across the country
is without comparison in Nigeria’s history. He said things are not
working well in the country.
The CAN leader, who is also the President of
Nigerian Baptist Convention, spoke in Sagamu, Ogun State, in his sermon
at the 13th annual New Year Thanksgiving and Memorial service organised
by former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel.
He advised
Nigerians to desist from politicising the killings and urged them to
close ranks and prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari and his
administration to take decisive steps to arrest the situation.
The
service, which took place at Abraham’s Tabernacle, Sagamu,was attended
by prominent traditional rulers, eminent personalities and political
bigwigs.
Ayokunle lamented the almost routine clashes between
herdsmen and farmers in some parts of the country, saying without peace,
the nation would not experience genuine progress and development.
Ayokunle
said: “Things are not working in the best way we have thought of. This
is a very difficult time in the history of Nigeria, especially the
continuous bloodshed. Communities decimated and human beings killed like
chickens.
“The way it is happening now, it has almost not
happened before. It is so barbaric, so unbelievable that in a nation
with government, things like that will continue to happen with reckless
abandon. It is so unacceptable.
“We have been speaking about it.
It is not a matter of politics, you don’t play politics with the lives
of human beings. We have no other life to live. So, all of you
(Nigerians) have to be praying that our government is going to do the
best and what is right so that this nation can experience peace because
without peace, there won’t be progress.”
He urged politicians to respect and heed the admonition of the clerics.
He
said: “We are the conscience of the nation. Politicians need to humble
themselves when we speak to them. It is because we look for the good of
this nation. Not everything we say to you, you will want to hear. Not
everything will be palatable but we are responsible to God and to all
these people, we are accountable.
“The life of every individual
is very important. And God has created each person to live his life to
His glory. Nobody can give life and nobody has the right to take it.
Therefore, beloved people of God, let us say no to the evil in our
midst. It is not a matter of politics. It is happening to some people
now, who knows the next person? I pray that evil will not swallow us
up.”
Ayokunle, who revealed that yesterday (Sunday) marked the
end of the one-week national prayer declared by CAN, appealed to
Christians to donate to the association’s relief fund for victims of
ethno-religious crises.
In his remarks, Daniel said his
experience during the campaign for national chairmanship of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) had further opened his eyes to different
perspectives of the challenges confronting the country.
He, however, pointed out that Nigerians must have the spirit of thanksgiving irrespective of the prevailing challenges.
In
Abuja, the President of the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of
Nigeria (YOWICAN), Apostle Nyeneime Andy urged the President to end
killings by herdsmen in some states.
Nyeneime gave the advice in his address after he was elected.
Other
elected officers are: Vice President, Pastor Adegbegi Ayodeji, General
Secretary, Abel Ogwuche, Treasurer, Ekom Lydia and Peter Galdzana as
Assistant secretary.
He urged Buhari to involved Christian youths in all his plans to bring about peace in the country.
The
YOWICAN leader expressed sadness the way at which youths are engaged
negatively to perpetrate violence during elections, adding that he will
soon tour all the 37 states of the federation to admonish the youth on
the need to shun violence and reject being used as political thugs
during the forthcoming 2019 elections.
