CAN Seeks More Access To Borno Govt, Mourns Zulu’s Aide

Borno State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has sought for more access to the Borno State Government towards addressing some of the challenges facing the Christian community in the state.

CAN however, said despite some of the challenges the body is facing, the relationship between it and the state government has been cordial, noting that the government under Prof.  Babagana Umara Zulum has done a lot, which he is still doing.

Its state chairman, Most Rev.  Dr. John Bogna Bakeni, who spoke in response to the alleged marginalisation of Christians in the state recently making the rounds on social media, at a press conference yesterday in Maiduguri marking the new year activities of the association, said CAN as religious association does not indulge in politics and is non-partisan.

He noted that Christians and Muslims in the state are not at war saying that anything that cannot be gotten by dialogue cannot be gotten by violence and confrontation, hence he said that the values that held the people together are love, peace, and justice for all.

He commended the state government for engaging Christian teachers in the recent recruitment exercise, which he said is a window for the re- introduction of the Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK) which has not been in the state’s public schools’ curriculum for decades.

“After so many years of advocacy, the current government has started the recruitment of Christian teachers to teach the Christian religion in public schools and many more,” Bakeni said.

On behalf of the Christian community in the state he condoled with Governor Zulum, the government and people of the state, as well as the working journalists over the demise of the governor’s media aide, Malam Isa Gusau.