CAN ratifies Rev. Okoh as new president

National Executive Council (NEC) and the General Assembly of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) have formally ratified the election of Most Rev. Daniel Okoh as the new president of the churches’ body in the country.

The Electoral College of CAN had earlier Tuesday declared the Kano-based cleric as the new president of the Christian organisation.

However, following the conclusion of the General Assembly, last Thursday, Okoh was announced as the new president of CAN and accordingly presented with the Certificate of Returns by his predecessor, Rev. Dr. Samson Ayokunle, in Abuja, Thursday.

Okoh’s emergence as the candidate of the Electoral College, last Tuesday, needed a formal consent or ratification by the NEC and General Assembly of the association during its just-concluded meeting in Abuja.

Okoh is the General Superintendent of the Kano-based Christ Holy Church, also known as Nation Builders (Odozi-Obodo).

In his acceptance speech, as the new CAN president, Thursday, Rev. Okoh called on Nigerians to contribute to the task of nation building, being one of the cardinal missions of CAN.

According to him, the masses need to contribute their quota in transforming the church, the society and the nation better than they meet them so that we can have better society where no man is oppressed.

He emphasised on the power of consistent prayers and urged Christians not to relent in praying for the restoration of the nation’s glory, adding that ‘God is aware of the several challenges confronting the nation and, if not for God, the situation in Nigeria would have gone worst.’

“The Bible says we should continue praying for God hears our prayer and there will be a total turn around one day. We need to stand in the gap always.

“We thank God for the Christians that have been interceding so that our joy will be full as a nation. If not for God Nigeria would have been in a shambles.”

“We are believing God that they are going to take the department to the next level and do more than their predecessors,” he said.

Okoh while maintaining that CAN would remain apolitical and concentrate on evangelism for God’s interference in the affairs of the country, rendering physical and spiritual assistance where needed in the country, however, appealed to churches and well meaning individuals to partner with the association in moving the nation forward.

Okoh, remarking further, however, responded to the burning issue of same faith presidential ticket of political parties in the country ahead of the 2023 General Elections, stating that ‘several Christians have the genuine fear that there is a deliberate plan to remove the Christian faith from the scheme of things and make them second-class citizens in Nigeria.’

“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.

“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 noted that the fear was borne out of the recent happenings in the polity, as, according to him, ‘that is, the same-faith ticket in one of the major political parties in Nigeria despite the caution raised by CAN since two years ago.’

In his remarks, the past CAN President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, urged his successor to love the people irrespective of their weaknesses.

“The people will annoy him, make him angry, and may not even appreciate him, but he must continue to seek the good of the people,” he advised.

Ayokunle promised to work together for a stronger religious force to be build which would attract unity and peace in the nation, just as he acknowledged the importance of the roles of both a successor and a predecessor for an organisation to move forward.

CAN is made up of five blocs: Christian Council of Nigeria, CCN; Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, CSN; Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, CPFN,/Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN; Organisation of African Instituted Churches, OAIC; (TEKAN and ECWA Fellowship).