Yemi Adedeji, Abuja
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has thrown his weight behind those calling for the restructuring of the country, saying it is long overdue.
The Christians’ umbrella body said President Muhammadu Buhari’s rejection of restructuring in his New Year message has further polarised the polity.
Samson Ayokunle, CAN President disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja by Adebayo Oladeji, his Special Assistant on Media and Communications said the restructuring of the country must be done without fear of favour to all the divides.
He noted that “there is the need to update how we govern ourselves, thus, Re-structuring the nation after 57 years is a welcome development. It must be done without bias or prejudice to religion, ethnicity, class or group affiliation.
“We must develop our home-grown democracy. The present system is a hybrid of the American and British system. It is not working well for us,” he said.
CAN President disabused the minds of Christians who are avoiding politics as a plague because it is dirty to have a rethink and embrace it if they wanted to make impact on the political scene.
According to him, “the practice of separation of State and Church must be redefined. While the State must not be allowed to control the Church, the Church must influence the State through Christians who are in position of power.
“To get to a position of power, there is need for election especially in a democratic setting like ours. We must be involved in all facets of politics. Politics is not a dirty game as many have come to believe, but those who play politics are the ones who are dirty,” Ayokunle added.
He lamented: “When we gained independence from Britain in 1960, it was a turning point in our history and a breakthrough for the nation’s glory to burst forth. Our glory shone brighter and brighter after independence as we became the foremost nation in Africa and indeed among the black race.
“However, at a point, the glory began to fade and we are yet to recover that glory. If we must bring back the glory of Nigeria and rise to more glory as a nation, then effective participation is compulsory for all Christians”.
“Sidon look approach will not help us as Christians. Mike Murdock said, ‘Never complain about what you permit’. If we do not participate actively in politics, then we do not have the right to complain about the type of leaders that are presented by political parties to be voted for and voted into various offices”.
“This year, God is interested in our nation and us. Throughout the Bible, we see God intervening, leading and instructing men on how to lead their nations. He is urging us as Christians to be involved in the governing process of our nation. Nigeria is at the center of God’s plan for the human race.”
