CAN dares El-Rufai over threat to demolish Dunamis Church
The Kaduna State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called the bluff of the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai following his recent threat to demolish Dunamis church worship arena in the state.
Reacting to the governor’s threat, the state Secretary of CAN, Sunday Ibrahim, said that Christians will resist any attempt to persecute them.
Speaking in a statement issued following an alleged report that the Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Agency had released an official letter calling for the church to provide details of its operation in the state.
The Acting General Manager of KAPSUDA, Fatima Bambale, had in a letter No.PS/14/PP/ZIII/20, 624/ VOL.I/0 entitled ‘Update of Religious Institutions within the State’ stated: “I am directed to request you to furnish the agency with your details through the attached form. You are to reply within seven days of receiving this letter.”
Responding CAN claimed that the step taken by KAPSUDA was part of the agenda of the state government to persecute Christians in the state.
Its letter to the agency said: “We write to express our dissatisfaction with the content of your letter and to remind the agency that it is a government agency and not individual establishment.” “Where the government, through the agency, finds it necessary to update religious institutions within the state, we strongly believe that the agency knows well enough the proper channel to follow which is through CAN or Interfaith.
“We find it offensive, and suspect it as ill-conceived and inappropriate that the agency should write the individual church directly disregarding CAN.
“This provokes in us a sense of suspicion that it is an attempt at using KAPSUDA, which is a government agency, as a tool to persecute the Dunamis International Gospel Centre Churches in Kaduna State.
“CAN believes that its mission as the watch person of the welfare of the society is vital affair, it cannot help but be interested in politics.
Despite this, it is essential to note that CAN is not and can never be a political organisation and so CAN should never be seen as a political association, not simply because it was not so registered but more importantly, because it has in it fold people who hold diverse political opinions.
“CAN believe that it ought to respect those different shades of opinions, if it is to preserve its integrity as a united entity.
“The best that it can do is to educate its members on the political goings on in the country. Let us examine CAN’s mission in relation to its conception and interest in Nigerian politics.believes that it is duty bound to pray regularly for the nation ceaseless prayers are needed for those who wield power or authority in the Nation, realizing that power is a delicate instrument and that the art of governance is very difficult.
CAN often calls on Christians and other well-meaning people in the country to observe period of prayers and fasting during which supplications should be offered to God, who alone can endow our leaders with necessary wisdom. Without such divinely given wisdom, our Government cannot rule righteously.
“It is righteousness alone that can exalt a nation and bring genuine and lasting peace to the nation. These prayers for our nation and our rulers are necessary ingredient of the mission of CAN.”
Perhaps the most important political duty which can often performs and must never shirk, is its warning and prophetic function. Christianity preaches that the Church must assume a predicting and admonishing role.
Whenever the inspired servants of God are making prophetic Statements, then kings, potentials and rulers must listen, in the overall interest and welfare of the society.
