The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has expressed regret over the continuous shunning of the association by President Muhammad Buhari even after several requests.

The association also described as untrue, the insinuation that it was not pragmatic enough in responding to issues affecting Christians in the country.

The President of the Youth Wing of CAN (YOWICAN), Engr. Daniel Kadzai, said yesterday in Abuja that CAN had been standing up for the Christian cause, but that the government disposition to some of the issues affecting them are not encouraging.

“For reasons best known to them, the Presidency had denied the leadership of CAN an audience with the President to brainstorm on how best to solve some challenges in the country,” Kadzai said.

He said the Presidency had limited the association to media alone, by shortening the door of meaningful consultation against it, adding that Ayokunle led leadership is poised to ensure all Christians worship without fear of intimidation across the country.

“The man (Ayokunle) just took over the mantle of leadership and he met crisis on ground. He is up and doing to stabilise the system to be able to address the common problems we are facing as a body. He has talked on several issues that affect Christians since assumption of office since last year July.

“Secondly, he has made attempt to see the President of this country to table some challenges that had bedevilled the nation as a nation and the challenges facing the Christendom. Unfortunately, the Federal Government of Nigeria is not willing to see the CAN President,” he said.

Wondering why the President of CAN need to struggle to see the President to have peaceful coexistence in the country, that CAN is not a contention with anybody but is focusing on ensuring the liberty and freedom for its members to worship across the country.

He the denial was obvious and that any leader of Christian group that the President meet or grant audience to is not representing the generality of Christians in Nigeria, but his or her denomination.

The YOWICAN head said he had been to all places where attacks were carried out on Christian community to obtain first hand information but government tends to be lackadaisical in their dealing with the developments.

He said: “Our talking with the media sometimes was not to incite Christians as it is obvious. We have to assure them not to result to seek self-help but in the constituted authorities of Nigeria.”

•Sourced from Daily Trust.

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