CAN RELEASES NAMES OF KIDNAPPED CHIBOK SCHOOLGIRLS

Three unknown gunmen on Saturday night stormed a hotel based in Port Harcourt and kidnapped the Chairman of Ahoada West Local Government Area, Mr. Awori Miller.
Miller, who was whisked away by the hoodlums at Acania Hotel in Ada George area of the Rivers State capital, was said to have been abducted without any challenge.
It was gathered that the gunmen, who were with AK-47 guns, had gone into the hotel and dragged him into a waiting vehicle that immediately sped off to an unknown destination.
It could not be immediately ascertained if the kidnapped council chairman was with his security detail when the incident occurred.

DON’T BOW TO PRESSURE, CAN TELLS JONATHAN

• Chides Sultan, Lamido Adamawa • No legal provision for referendum – Reps
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on President Goodluck Jonathan not to succumb to the intimidation by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III-led Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) over what they termed marginalisation of the North in the ongoing national conference, saying “Sultan and Oloyede cannot hold Nigerians to ransom.”
The Sultan of Sokoto under the aegis of NSCIA had, on Wednesday, led some prominent Muslims in the country to President Jonathan to protest the composition of the confab which they claimed was skewed against them.
Just as the House of Representatives has also come out to state that as far as it was concerned the issue of a referendum for decisions reached at the ongoing National Conference was not possible, as it will be unconstitutional.
While tacitly rejecting President Jonathan’s bid to subject the outcome of the conference to a referendum, the House disclosed that there was no proposal on referendum before it.
Reacting, the CAN Director on National Issues, Sunday Oibe, who warned NSCIA to desist from act that is inimical to the success of the conference, queried if the confab was convened on the basis of religion.

OUR CONCERNS OVER ISLAMISATION AGENDA, BY CAN

*Says South-west may be next battle ground
THE leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in the South-west has accepted a challenge of mobilizing the Church to put an end to Islamic intolerance in the nation.
Chairman of CAN South-west also declared a 31-day fasting and prayers programme for the persecuted Church in Nigeria with effect from January 14.
President of Christian Welfare Initiative (CWI), who doubles as the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), South-west Zone, Archbishop Magnus Atilade, urged Christians to join in the prayer programme, noting that denominations/ministries which had begun fasting and prayers programme in this season should add the prayers for the persecuted Church to their prayer schedules in addition to praying against any Islamic agenda.

CAN KICKS AS BORNO PLANS TO DEMOLISH CHURCHES

The Borno State Government has begun moves to demolish over 20 churches and schools built by them.
Our correspondent gathered on Sunday that the state government would embark on the demolition exercise any moment from now.
Sources hinted that the state government had already dispatched a notice to the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and owners of farmlands in the area intimating them of the plan to acquire the site for a 1000 housing units.
A leaflet from the office of the Borno State Ministry of Lands and Survey dated August 20 and signed by one Musa Ummate (O/C Land Administration) on behalf of the commissioner was obtained by journalists on Sunday in Abuja.

AMNESTY, AN INVITATION TO CONFUSION – CAN CALLS ON CARDINAL ONAIYEKAN TO STOP SPEAKING FOR CHRISTIANS

The Christian Association of Nigeria{CAN} has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to as a matter of urgency dismiss the whole idea of amnesty to the Boko Haram sect, as it would be an invitation to confusion in the country.

The General Secretary of CAN, Rev Musa Asake stated this when he addressed journalists on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said that instead, the Federal Government should begin the process of compensating and alleviating the sufferings of the victims of the sect.

CAN called on President Jonathan to ignore the Northern elders who were putting pressure on him and turning serious security matters into politics.

BOKO HARAM AMNESTY: YOU’RE ON SUICIDE MISSION, CHRISTIANS TELL FG

ABUJA — CHRISTIAN leaders, yesterday, opposed the Federal Government’s plan to offer unconditional amnesty to members of the Boko Haram sect, describing it as a misplaced priority and an unjust cause.

This came even as there is skepticism within the military circle that the amnesty will work out, adding that  it may turn out to be a colossal failure and the Federal Government may end up embarrassing itself over its non workability.

The Christian leaders asked the government to take urgent steps to compensate and resettle victims of Boko Haram attacks instead of wasting time and resources on a matter that would not yield any positive results at the end of the day.

BRAND BOKO HARAM FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANISATION —CAN

Christian Association of Nigeria on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to brand Boko Haram as a foreign terrorist organisation

CAN added that the attacks on Sabon-Gari, Kano, Gusau and the suspension of the only female Christian legislator in the Bauchi State House of Assembly for allegedly opposing  the relocation of the headquarters of a local government were suggestive of a “deliberate plan” to destroy Christianity in the northern part of the country.

The group therefore, urged the Federal Government to fish out and prosecute sponsors of Boko Haram and Ansaru Islamic sects.

CAN BLASTS EL-RUFAI FOR JESUS, MARY RETWEET

The Christian Association of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja reacted to the allusion to Jesus Christ by a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, on a social media.

The body condemned el-Rufai, saying he was only tring to whip up sentiments around religion for a selfish agenda.

CAN urged religious leaders and political associates to advise him on the need to be sober and circumspect, in his comments to avoid setting the country on fire.”

The organisation, which also asked President Goodluck Jonathan to check the former minister, added that from his unbridled assault on the Christian faith, el-Rufai was capable of “setting the country on fire.”

CAN CRISIS DEEPENS

The crisis rocking the Christian Association of Nigeria worsened on Wednesday as the association told the Catholic Church to go ahead with its decision to pull out of the association.

The Catholic Church recently decided to pull out of CAN, alleging that the Christian body no longer stood for the objectives for which it was set up.

The Administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta, Monsignor Christopher Ajala, on Tuesday, alleged that CAN had become an arm of government.

But CAN blamed the Catholic’s action on the loss of the Presidency of CAN to Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.