Archbishop Daniel Okoh, president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has urged the newly inaugurated executive members of the North East zone of the group to speak against injustice, unite the people, and be a beacon of hope.
Okoh gave the challenge yesterday at the inauguration of the new executive members in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.
He implored them to remember the unity of the body of Christ, noting that there is strength in oneness, the ability to stand together in the face of adversity.
Okoh also charged them to put aside their agenda and work tirelessly for the common good of the Christian community in the region.
Represented by the national director of education, youths and women development of CAN, Rev Ozumba Emmanuel Nicodemus, Archbishop Okoh said, “Let your actions be guided by the constitutional provisions that govern CAN and let your leadership be a shining example of integrity, transparency, and servanthood. The North-East region has recently faced its fair share of challenges, from insurgency to economic hardships. This is a time when the Christian community needs strong, visionary, and compassionate leadership more than ever before.”
In his acceptance speech, Archbishop Mohammed Williams Naga, the new chairman of CAN North East zone, thanked his predecessor, Rev. Aware Yunusa Kallah, and his officials for their firm foundation for the new members.
Noting that the North East has witnessed setbacks because of the challenges of the Boko Haram insurgency, Bishop Naga appealed to the Governors of the North East region to continue cushioning the hardships faced by citizens by empowering them and making farming implements available so that life will be better for them.
In his remarks, the Borno state CAN Chairman, Most Rev Dr John Bogna Bakeni, expressed his pleasure at the new executive members’ arrival in the North East and urged them to work for justice and do their best to unite the body of Christ in the region.
Other members are Chaplain Jechona Gilbert (vice-chairman), Apostle Sunday Kelechukwu, Rev Fr Emmanuel Obida (assistant secretary), Rev Dauda Zambuk (treasurer), Evangelist Dedan Clifford JP (director ecumenism), Pastor Tunde Ajayi (director social welfare/zonal issues), Evangelist Musa Misal (director youths, women and education), Barr Haniel Samari, Evangelist Ephesian Jesse (chairman of youth wing), and Ambassador Rebecca Anthony (chairperson of women’s wing).
