Hold government accountable – CAN urges Church
Archbishop Urges Church to Advocate for Justice and Accountability
ABUJA – The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, called on the Church to actively hold the government accountable and advocate for vulnerable populations during CAN’s 50th anniversary celebration on Saturday.
Okoh emphasized the Church’s duty to represent the voiceless and push back against injustice, insisting that political interests should not diminish its responsibilities. “The Church must maintain its independence, support policies that benefit the people and speak out when the government falters,” he stated.
He urged Christian leaders to adopt a courageous, evidence-based approach to address national issues. Okoh specifically highlighted the need to support various marginalized groups, including internally displaced persons, out-of-school children, unemployed youths, farmers facing insecurity, women subject to violence, and victims of human trafficking.
While advocating for social justice, Okoh warned against misinterpreting the Church’s role in political discourse. He clarified that opposing injustice does not equate to opposing every governmental policy or becoming a platform for partisan politics. “A responsible watchman must be accurate. He should not raise alarm simply because he dislikes a policy or disagrees with a political leader,” he remarked.
