Ayo Fasoro

 

Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, the umbrella body for all Nigerians who profess the faith of Christ Jesus turned fifty in the month of August. An anniversary that is worth celebrating.

The origin of CAN is traced to 27 August 1976, when representatives of Christian groups met at the Catholic Secretariat in Lagos to discuss and fashion out a vehicle for a united voice. To date, CAN has been headed by eight individuals serving as president; one Pentecostal (Oritsejofor), one African Instituted Church, one Baptist, one Methodist, one Anglican, and three Catholics.

CAN on its website describes itself as “a stupendous “Ecumenical Umbrella” for all Nigeria Christians.”

CAN’s fiftieth anniversary is a time for counting the blessings of ecumenism. CAN should be congratulated on being there as a symbol of Christian unity all these years. But being a symbol is not all that is needed. CAN’s glory should not be in the past only.

 CAN has a unique opportunity to affect the conditions of today’s Nigeria. The challenges are myriad, but CAN should continue to remain a relevant force for good. CAN is needed to champion the resistance to Islamic fundamentalism, militarism, and political dominance.

 

Some ask, “Where was CAN when a Muslim Muhammadu Buhari was succeeded by a Muslim Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President of Nigeria?” And where was CAN when Tinubu picked a fellow Muslim as running mate? Will a Christian ever be president of Nigeria again? We need not ask such questions because CAN being not a political party cannot determine the candidate of any political party.

 A few Christians did speak out in 2023 against a Muslim-Muslim ticket, and some against a Muslim succeeding another Muslim. Yet the bigger blame should go not to CAN as a body, it should go to those Christians who were accessories to the midwifing of a Muslim-Muslim ticket and the enthronement of a government in which most top positions are filled with Muslims from North and South

 After eight years of the Buhari Muslim rule, Robert Ajayi Boroffice stepped down for a Muslim candidate; John Kayode Fayemi from the solidly Christian State of Ekiti stepped down for a Muslim; today’s self-proclaimed highest ranking Christian in government, Godswill Obot Akpabio stepped down for a Muslim candidate.

Muslim political hegemony is a challenge to be ignored at the cost of religious freedom. A political movement that can overrun the political space to the point where opposition office holders are falling over themselves to defect to its side should not be taken lightly. Who says that the same game plan cannot and will not be implemented by a Muslim-Muslim regime against Christians?

To be sure, Christians and Muslims have existed side by side for centuries in this country, practicing their faith in peace and in harmony. It is desirable for such to continue to be. CAN is well positioned for working together with its Muslim counterpart, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.

However, being friendly is different from being careless.

Muslims are known to defend their beliefs quite robustly. Christians may need to borrow a bit more of that. To do so effectively, CAN must remain united in the approach to national issues. The recent meeting between Catholic Bishops and the President clearly bear this out. While some leaders of other Churches spoke out in support of the message of Catholic leaders, others were heard very loudly in their silence. Failing to see an attack on one as an attack on all is not what ecumenism is supposed to be.

In this year’s federal budget, the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) is allocated a sum of N18.05 billion for personnel topping similar allocation to other education sector bodies. It tops that of NECO, tops that of NUC, tops that of NBTE, and tops that of NCCE. It defies any common sense. Who is asking why? Who is asking for such allocation to a National Board for Christian Education?

Today’s challenges are different from those of 1976. Fifty years ago, there were fewer Christian bodies and blocks. The material distance between some clerics and their flock was not as pronounced as it is today. Fifty years ago, Islamic fundamentalism was not at its present level. Fifty years ago, Churches were not being attacked; burned down, and worshippers gunned down.

There is a dire need for more faith based social programmes for the masses of Nigerians. Nothing stops Christians reaching out to Muslims for collaboration on programmes that assist the needy and the disadvantaged.

Congratulations to CAN, and may the Body of Christ continue the march towards the goal that all may be one.

 

Ayo Fasoro

Non Sum Dignus

 

25 August 2026