By Desire Uzochukwu
The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, has called on Christian leaders to hold governments accountable, defend citizens facing hardship and maintain the Church’s independence from partisan politics.
Okoh made the call on Saturday at CAN’s 50th anniversary celebration in Abuja, where he urged the Church to speak against injustice while supporting government policies that serve the public interest.
Delivering a homily titled “CAN at 50: A Prophetic Voice of Hope,” the cleric said the Church must continue to represent Nigerians whose concerns are often overlooked.
“The Church must speak!” he declared.
He identified internally displaced persons, out-of-school children, unemployed youths, farmers affected by insecurity, women facing violence and victims of human trafficking as groups requiring greater attention.
Okoh, however, cautioned against turning the Church into an opposition platform, stressing that its interventions must be guided by facts rather than political differences.
“A responsible watchman must be accurate. He should not raise alarm simply because he dislikes a policy or disagrees with a political leader,” he said.
He urged Christian leaders to adopt what he described as critical collaboration with government, combining support for beneficial policies with constructive criticism where necessary.
“Collaborate where common good requires it, challenge where justice requires challenge, commend where government does well and warn where government fails, while maintaining the Church’s independence,” he said.
Looking ahead, the CAN president called for stronger research, advocacy and institutional development to address issues affecting Nigerians over the next 50 years.
He identified justice, human dignity, democratic institutions, religious freedom and the welfare of vulnerable citizens as priorities for the Association.
Okoh also stressed the need to protect the unity that led to CAN’s establishment in August 1976, warning that divisions among Christian denominations could weaken their collective influence.
He recalled that the Association had faced suspicion and exclusion among some Christian traditions in its early years but said subsequent leadership had worked towards greater inclusion.
“At 50, all the church traditions in Nigeria are represented in CAN through the following major blocs: CSN, CCN, CPFN/PFN, OAIC and TEKAN/ECWA. The last time I checked, no one is missing on the table,” he said.
He urged Christians not to take the progress for granted, cautioning that disagreements, including those expressed on social media, could undermine fellowship among believers.
The CAN president added that the Association belonged to all Christians, not only its elected and appointed officials, and called for efforts to address remaining divisions between denominations.
Using the biblical image of a watchman, Okoh said the Church must identify threats to justice and human dignity, alert those in authority and speak for people who lack the means to defend themselves.
He also called on Christians to complement prayers for Nigeria with practical efforts, integrity and responsible leadership.
“Nigeria can be better — Nigeria will be better! But hope requires responsibility: prayer must be accompanied by positive action, faith by integrity, leadership by accountability and freedom by responsibility,” he said.
Okoh said the anniversary should mark the beginning of renewed commitment to national development, accountability and the protection of human dignity.
First Lady urges Christian denominations to remain united
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, congratulated CAN on its 50th anniversary, commending its contributions to religious life and society while urging Christian denominations to preserve their unity.
She said the anniversary theme, “Walking Together in Faith,” reflected Christ’s prayer for unity among believers.
“I pray that, just as Christ prayed for the saints, all the Christian blocs and denominations will continue to remain united in Jesus’ name,” she said.
Gowon, Obasanjo, Jonathan, Osinbajo among award recipients
The golden jubilee celebration also featured the recognition of prominent Nigerians and public officials for their contributions to the Church and society.
Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon; former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan; and former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo were listed among recipients of the Pillar of Faith awards.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu, Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, several state governors and other public officials were listed in the Christian Icon category.
The event also featured prayers for Nigeria and its leaders, the presentation of CAN’s history book and the launch of a proposed airport chapel project.
