The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has said the Church and citizens must accept part of the responsibility for the country’s recurring crises, insecurity, corruption and economic hardship, warning against blaming political leaders alone.
CAN Vice-President, Rev. Stephen Panya-Baba, stated this during a special thanksgiving service in Abuja on Sunday.
Panya-Baba said the country’s challenges required everyone to reflect on their conduct and contribute to finding solutions.
“The truth, brethren, is that we all stand guilty before God as a Church. This therefore requires collective responsibility from all of us to do what is right and support our leaders in the difficult task of rehabilitating and restoring our beloved country,” he said.
He said Nigeria was the only country Nigerians could call their own, urging citizens to work together towards its restoration and development.
However, the cleric stressed that accepting collective responsibility should not prevent CAN from holding the government accountable for its actions and decisions.
He said the association had a duty to speak out on important national issues, whether privately or publicly, depending on the circumstances.
According to him, CAN has contributed to peacebuilding, the defence of religious freedom, national engagement and public discussions over the past five decades.
Citing Proverbs 14:34, he said national renewal required righteousness, repentance and a willingness to turn away from wrongdoing.
“CAN must mobilise Nigerians to pray for the country and seek God’s intervention while promoting justice, fairness and equity across religious, ethnic and regional divides. Nigerians must humble themselves, pray, seek God’s face and turn away from wickedness so that the nation can experience healing and restoration,” Panya-Baba said.
The CAN vice-president acknowledged that the association had faced several challenges, including leadership disputes, internal disagreements, religious persecution, insecurity, interreligious tensions, financial difficulties and public criticism.
Despite these challenges, he expressed confidence in the association’s future and urged members to remain united and committed to its mission.
He also expressed hope that Nigeria would achieve greater progress and that future generations would inherit a godly legacy.