CAN President Okoh Calls for Church Accountability Role at 50th Anniversary

Archbishop Daniel Okoh, heading the Christian Association of Nigeria, has exhorted church leaders to reinforce their moral standing by confronting those wielding power and shielding economically disadvantaged Nigerians. At the National Christian Centre in Abuja on Saturday, during a service bringing together multiple denominations to observe CAN's 50th anniversary, Okoh shared these comments.

He characterized the Church as an institution charged with keeping watch over governance structures and insisting on accountability from holders of public office. The CAN president articulated a broader conception of the Church's calling that reaches into governance and wider social responsibility beyond purely doctrinal concerns.

Church leaders must exercise careful observation of national developments, Okoh instructed, noting that oversight obligations encompass worldly concerns touching on the welfare of citizens. Underpinning his address was the conviction that Christian unity across Nigeria's denominations provides the foundation for exercising this prophetic function.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu, serving as the distinguished guest, reinforced the necessity for ongoing unity among various Christian bodies. The First Lady also recognised the Church's contribution to national growth.

During the ceremony, George Akume, a Federal Government official, received CAN's Christian Icon Award. Former military leaders and prior national heads of state, including Olusegun Obasanjo and Yakubu Gowon, were also recognized for their work.

Okoh voiced optimism regarding Nigeria's ability to surmount present-day hardships amid existing difficulties. He pointed to abundant human resources: talented young people, resilient communities, technical specialists, and business-minded inhabitants as sources of transformation.

Maintaining belief in the nation's trajectory ahead remains vital, the CAN president stressed. These declarations accompanied CAN's commemoration of fifty years operating as a coordinating umbrella for Christian organisations throughout the nation.