Governance: CAN Tasks Buhari on Fairness, Mutual Respect, Justice

*Warns Against Nepotism, Favoritism

President Muhamadu Buhari has been urged to embrace fairness, mutual respect and justice in his style of leadership in order to make a difference in his second term.

He was equally advised to take urgent steps to tackle unemployment rate in the country as this will curb insecurity in the country even as they warned him against nepotism and favoritism, stressing that every segment of the country should be given equal opportunity in the nation’s scheme of things.

These advices were given by the President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. (Dr.) Olasupo Samson Ayokunle, while speaking at the May edition of the Christian Press Association of Nigeria (CPAN) monthly Breakfast meeting at Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos yesterday.

The Cleric said the only way Buhari can make a difference in his second term is to ensure that every part of the country is fairly treated especially in his political appointment and also by eradicating the ills confronting the nation.

“The president must ensure he eradicates the ills confronting the country and make the country glorious to the extent that no one thinks of leaving the country again,” he said.

He said during CAN’s visit to the Presidency, they appealed to Buhari that for him to succeed in this tenure, he must do 100 times better than what he did during his first tenure by engaging the best brains in his cabinet irrespective of their political affiliation, background or geopolitical zone.

“We told him that for peace to reign in this country, that not everything should be politicised. We told him to be objective in his leadership, so that he can move the country forward.

“We appealed to Buhari to do 100 times better than he did in his first term and he can only achieve this only by putting Nigerians with best brains in his cabinet.

“We believe that Buhari is an honest man and he will make deliberate attempt to reduce unemployment as well as end kidnapping and other vices.

“If citizens especially the youths are gainfully engaged, there will be no chance for violence.

“We have already told the President to pay more attention to social welfare, the infrastructure must be improved upon to attract direct foreign investment,” the CAN President said.

He further urged Buhari to investigate the source of finance for ammunition used by insurgents, as it was capable of giving permanent solution to insurgency.

Speaking earlier, the President of CPAN, Deacon Bola Adewara, in his welcome address condemned the emergence of splinter groups claiming to represent Christians in different locations in the country and the persecution of Nigerian Christians in the country.

CPAN President expressed worries that Nigerian Christians are directionless because of the activities of these splinter groups which he said have created multiple authorities in the religion.

“There is no synergy between our leaders and the people, we call on CAN to build a strong rapport with the church,’’ he said.

Adewara, who is the publisher of E-LIFE Magazine, commended CAN for its ability to confront some issues headlong with the country’s leaders even as he registered CPAN support for the re-election of the present leadership of CAN.

CPAN President had appealed to the leadership of CAN to do more as in the days of Anthony Olubunmi Okogie, adding that in the season of anomie like we are now, Nigerian Christians seek for a more virile CAN, a constant rapport with the Church not only in the political field, but also in ecumenism.