Economic recession: Buckle up, CAN tells FG

Economy

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), yesterday, called on the federal government to buckle up and take the country out of the current economic problems, adding that the church and Nigerians were solidly behind it.

This was coming as the umbrella body of Christians in Nigeria honoured past four Presidents and Heads of State/Government of the country with a call on Nigerians to emulate their virtues.

Those honoured are; a former Military Head of States Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), a former Head of States and President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, a former Head of Interim National Government Chief Earnest Shonekan and a former President Goodluck Jonathan. Also honoured were the six past Presidents of the association; Cardinal Dominic Ekandem, Anthony Cardinal Okojie, Dr. Sunday Mbang, Dr. Peter Jasper Akinola, John Cardinal Onaiyekan and Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. The awards were given at the thanksgiving service and formal inauguration of the new CAN Executives led by its President Dr. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, his Vice, Prof. Joseph Otubu and other members of the executives, in Abuja. Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Ayokunle said the church lacks political and economic power to get the country out of the current economic recession. According to him, what the church has is spiritual power through prayer, and that was what they had done in the past three days by calling for national prayer to help the country. He said it was the responsibility of the government to take the country out of recession, saying that “We will continue to speak to our national leaders to do what is right, and to let them know that, we are close to the grass root, we understand their pains. “Government should buckled up and know that it is not time to complain, government should know that it is the last resort for the people. Government is the one managing the national purse, so they should courageously address the economic challenges confronting the country and not chicken out.” On insurgency, he said; “Government should continue to fight insurgency in the country; they should not give up until battle is won. Insurgency is not boko haram alone but also the menace of Fulani herdsmen, menace of armed robbery and kidnappers. “Every form of violence must be subdued in this nation. Let the government diversify their focus, not only on boko haram but others that are hitting very deep into the fabric of our society.” While denying media report that there is crisis in the association over his emergency as CAN President, Ayokunle maintained that it was unfortunate that righteous is no longer has a value in the country as people tend to celebrate sycophancy. He said; “The political news you are carrying in the newspaper is quite different from what is happening in CAN, there is no amount of noise you can make, the service of today is an attestation to the fact that CAN is together. “The challenge in this nation today is the challenge of standing firm for what is good. People don’t want to listen to what is truth, they only want you to praise them, they don’t want you to challenge them. “In the society, the righteous does not have any value, we celebrate those that half naked and called them celebrities, but as Christians we hold it a duty to stand firm in season and out of season.” In his sermon, the Former President of CAN, The Most Rev. Jasper Akinola urged the new leadership of CAN to follow God’s direction, and not to neglect His words. Represented by the Archbishop of Lokoja Ecclesiastical Province and Bishop of Lokoja Anglican Diocese, the Most Rev. Emmanuel Egbunu, Akinola insisted that the leadership must ensure that they do not build the body of Christ on hearsay.