The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has used its Easter message to deliver a pointed charge to the country’s leadership, insisting that Nigeria’s many challenges are surmountable — but only if those in power move beyond rhetoric and demonstrate tangible commitment to the welfare of ordinary citizens.
The apex Christian body, speaking through its president Archbishop Daniel Okoh, struck a tone that balanced spiritual encouragement with a frank assessment of the nation’s condition and a firm expectation of accountability from those at the helm.
Drawing on the symbolism of the resurrection, CAN acknowledged the weight of hardship many Nigerians are currently bearing.
“Across the country, people are weary. Families are anxious. Many do not feel safe; others are struggling just to get by. For some, hope has grown faint,” the association stated, even as it affirmed that renewal remains possible.
The body directed its sharpest words at Nigeria’s leaders, framing the current moment as a defining test of purpose and character. Nigerians, CAN stressed, are not simply waiting to be addressed — they are waiting to be served.
“People must feel leadership, not just hear it. They are looking for action, for empathy, for visible efforts to improve their lives,” the statement read.
CAN also called on the Church itself to step up, describing it as a pillar that must remain steady when everything else feels uncertain. The association urged the Church to stand in solidarity with the struggling, offer clear moral direction, and resist any forces seeking to entrench fear or deepen divisions.
“There may be those intent on keeping the rest of us in fear, but we must resist — not with panic or division, but with courage, solidarity, and a shared belief in one another,” it said.
Ultimately, CAN reframed Easter not merely as a religious observance but as a national moment of reckoning — a collective opportunity for Nigerians to choose unity over division and confrontation over complacency.
“Easter is more than a celebration; it is a decision. A decision to rise above our differences, to stand together, and to confront what holds us back,” the body declared, expressing confidence that if that choice is made collectively, the country can and will rise again.
