The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has warned political parties and their candidates against turning Nigerian youths into casualties of the struggle for political power, saying the country cannot afford to sacrifice another generation to election violence.
CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh gave the warning as he called on political actors to place Nigeria above personal ambition and ensure that the 2027 general elections are driven by issues and competing ideas rather than religion, ethnicity, intimidation and violence.
In a Golden Jubilee address titled “CAN at 50: Walking Together in Faith” ahead of the association’s 50th year anniversary, Okoh said Nigerians had witnessed enough bloodshed and division during election periods and should not allow political ambition to once again put the lives and future of young people at risk.
He said: “Political parties and candidates must resist the temptation to weaponize religion, ethnicity and regional sentiments. Nigerians have witnessed enough bloodshed and division during election periods. We do not want another generation of Nigerian youths sacrificed on the altar of political ambition.”
Omoh urged political leaders to take responsibility for the conduct of their supporters, particularly by discouraging incitement, hate speech, violence and intimidation during campaigns and on election day.
“Every Nigerian must be free to vote according to his or her conscience, without coercion, intimidation or manipulation.
“Elections should be a contest of ideas, not a contest of violence; a competition for public service, not a licence for personal destruction.”
According to him, CAN would continue to support credible democratic processes, civic education, peaceful elections and electoral integrity ahead of the 2027 polls.
Okoh also warned against allowing political differences to permanently divide Nigerians, stressing that the country would remain one nation after the elections.
“Those who win must govern for all. Those who lose must respect the democratic process. And citizens must never be treated as enemies because of the choices they make at the ballot box.”
The CAN president who further warned that the future of Nigerian youths should not be viewed merely as an electoral constituency, a source of political crowds or a demographic statistic, said young Nigerians needed education, skills, employment and meaningful opportunities to participate in leadership rather than being mobilised for political violence.
“They need education that prepares them for the future, skills that make them competitive, employment opportunities that give them dignity and leadership opportunities that allow them to contribute meaningfully to society.”
Okoh said Nigeria must stop creating conditions in which young people see migration as the only pathway to a meaningful future.
“We must create a Nigeria in which a young person can dream, work hard, innovate and succeed without having to leave the country to fulfil that dream.”
Okoh also cautioned political actors against exploiting Nigeria’s religious and ethnic diversity for electoral advantage, saying the country could not afford another cycle of division.
He urged political leaders to resist the temptation to weaponise religion, ethnicity and regional sentiments, while calling on the media and other stakeholders to avoid reducing every conflict to a simplistic Christian-versus-Muslim narrative.
The CAN president said the association would continue to defend Christians when they were attacked or discriminated against because of their faith but stressed that such advocacy should not be interpreted as hostility towards Muslims or government.
“Defending Christians does not mean fighting government. It does not mean hating Muslims or any other religious community.”
Omoh maintained that every Nigerian had a right to life, dignity, security and freedom of religion or belief, even as he said Nigeria’s conflicts could have religious dimensions but could also involve ethnicity, land, political power, criminality and competition for resources.
“When a Christian is attacked because of his faith, we will speak. When a Muslim is attacked because of his faith, we should speak. When an innocent Nigerian is killed by terrorists, bandits or criminals, we must all speak.
“Understanding this complexity does not diminish the reality of persecution where it exists. Rather, it helps us to confront every dimension of insecurity more effectively,” he said.’
On the association’s relationship with government, Okoh said CAN would continue to engage the administration of President Bola Tinubu based on principle rather than political convenience.
“Our relationship with government has always been based on principle rather than political convenience. CAN is neither a government opposition party nor a government praise-singing organization. We are a Christian institution with a national responsibility.”
He urged Tinubu to continue to lead the country with courage, wisdom and a clear sense of purpose, particularly in the areas of security, justice, economic opportunity, unity and the wellbeing of Nigerians.
Okoh said CAN would support policies that promote citizens’ welfare and cooperate with government where its structures could contribute to national development.
“Where government makes progress, we will acknowledge it. Where government fails to protect citizens, we will say so. Where injustice occurs, we will speak. Where constitutional rights are threatened, we will raise our voice. Where citizens are suffering, we cannot remain silent.”
The CAN president also linked the political conversation to the wider insecurity crisis, saying Nigerians had endured terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence and other forms of criminality for more than a decade.
He said attacks had destroyed places of worship, displaced communities, separated families, deprived children of education and driven farmers away from their farmlands.
“CAN therefore repeats its call to government that the primary responsibility of government is to protect life and property. Citizens should never have to negotiate with terrorists, bandits or kidnappers simply to remain alive.”
He acknowledged efforts by the Tinubu administration to reduce violence but said more needed to be done to improve the effectiveness of security agencies.
Okoh also expressed concern over the economic hardship facing Nigerian families, saying rising living costs, unemployment and pressure on small businesses were placing enormous burdens on citizens.
“The Church sees these realities every day. People come into our churches not only with spiritual needs but with hunger, unemployment, medical bills, school fees, housing challenges and uncertainty about the future,” he said.
He urged government to pursue policies that stimulate productive economic activity, create meaningful employment, support small and medium-sized enterprises and protect vulnerable Nigerians.
As CAN marks its 50th anniversary, Okoh reaffirmed the association’s commitment to working with Muslims and other faith communities to promote peace and national cohesion.
He specifically called for the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) to be sustained and strengthened, saying CAN remained committed to working with Muslim leaders through the platform, noting that Nigeria’s diversity should become an asset rather than a source of permanent division.
Okoh described the Golden Jubilee as a moment of reflection and renewal, saying the anniversary should not merely celebrate the association’s achievements but also force it to examine its weaknesses and prepare for the next generation.
He acknowledged that CAN had experienced internal disagreements and leadership tensions, saying the association must strengthen its governance, research, communication, leadership development and financial sustainability.
“We cannot celebrate fifty years merely by congratulating ourselves. We must have the courage to ask difficult questions about ourselves and about the kind of CAN we want to become,” Okoh said.