Don’t preach hatred – CAN cautions religious leaders

Religious leaders in the country have been warned by the Christian Association of Nigeria, against preaching sermons that will further divide the country ahead of the 2023 general elections.

National President of CAN, Rev Dr Daniel Okoh made the appeal during a reception dinner organised in his honour by the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), the bloc on which platform he was elected as CAN president in July.

Okoh stated that engaging in such will build a culture of hate and violence while misleading the younger generation.

He said;

“We will find ways to engage people of other religions. We don’t have a choice than to find ways to live together. We have fought our battles in the past. We have an advantage to harness our diversities. As Church leaders, we must only say things that will bring us together.

“My responsibility is not to say things that will divide us. If that is why people think I am here, they are mistaken. When we speak hate, we build a culture of hate and violence while misleading the younger generation.

“We have hated ourselves in the past but this is the time of healing. I am not saying we must give up our faith. We will use the method and approach of Jesus, which is engagement and we will not compromise our faith in the process.”

Okoh also said that politicians who will remind us of our diversities are not needed in 2023, as all we need is the solution to unemployment, insecurity, banditry and inflation.

He added;

“Nigerians are divided enough. We don’t want politicians or candidates that will remind us of our diversities. We need solutions to unemployment, insecurity, banditry and inflation.

“We don’t want to be told of our religious and political differences. Our politicians should tell us what they plan to do and how they want to fix Nigeria. They should campaign based on issues not sentiments. We don’t want hate speeches that will further polarise Nigeria.”