2023: Presidential candidates charge CAN, Nigerians on unity

Some candidates for the 2023 presidential election have urged Christians and Nigerians to unite and continue to pray for God's intervention in the affairs of the country.

The candidates made the call during the 12th General Assembly of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Leadership Transition Program held Thursday in Abuja.

Candidates include Prince Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Peter Obi of the Labor Party and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, vice-presidential candidate of the People's Democratic Party (PDP).

Adebayo, in his remarks, urged Christians to pray for the unity and peace of the church and the nation, emphasizing that the unity of the church would not be complete until he there would be no unity in the nation.

"It is because the Church of Christ is not a side of Nigeria. It is not an opposition. It is a blessing to all Nigerians.

“The Church of Christ is the reason Nigeria will be saved. Blessings go out to all Nigerians, Christians and non-Christians alike,” Adebayo said.

He also advised that as Nigeria enters the general elections of 2023, church leaders should continue to remain instruments in the hands of God and not in the hands of those doing politics .

He also advised clerics to pray for God's will and not focus on predictions regarding the 2023 elections.

He said God had an unexpected plan for Nigeria, just like He brought out an unexpected David to deliver the people of Israel from Goliath.

Adebayo advised CAN not to give a Christian message against others, but a message to unite the country and to give an ecumenical message, not only among Christians, but among other communities in Nigeria.

The SDP presidential candidate also advised Christians not to be afraid of what the church and nation were going through right now, as he expressed his optimism that a miracle would happen that would surprise everyone.

“The problems facing the church today are the ordained problem for our time. They are not problems that should distract us because God remains constant,” Adebayo said.

Obi, Labor Party presidential candidate, in his brief remarks urged CAN leaders and Christians to unite and pray for Nigeria and all candidates for elected office in 2023.< /p>

The former governor of Anambra, who praised CAN for the peaceful transition to its leadership, urged the association to be united, saying "the family of Christ is one, please let us be united ".

“Nigerians, please remember your country in your prayers. Remember those of us who go to public positions in prayers that we use public positions and public money for goods public,” he said.

For his part, Okowa said there was no doubt that Nigeria was going through a lot of challenges in terms of security and economy, hence the need for Christians and their leaders to defend the country through prayer.

The PDP vice-presidential candidate said there was a lot to do in the coming months, especially now that the voices of Nigerians, including the church, were no longer the same, saying that he believed that the prayers of the righteous would guide the nation is right.

"Different ethnic nationalities sing to discordant tunes and so there is a lot to do.

"What the church needs to do and I want our leaders to do is spend more time on our knees and I truly pray for God to guide us.

"For only the Lord does what is best for Nigeria. Only the Lord will decide what will happen in this country.

"We must stand up as a nation, we must speak with a united voice. We must not divide the Christian body, we must not divide our nation. We must make sure that everyone comes together" , said Okowa.

The Delta governor, who appreciated God for the smooth transition of CAN leadership, also praised Christian leaders for guiding the body of Christ well.

Gov. Seyi Makinde from Oyo State said Nigeria was at a crossroads and needed the citizens to pray for it to succeed.

"Makinde, represented by his chief of staff, Segun Ogunwuyi, said prayer is not enough and urged citizens to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and elect pious leaders.

"We are at a crossroads as a nation under Christ, the body of Christ has a lot of work to do, as to whether we will swim or sink as a nation.

"The message is that Nigeria stands today through our Christian and Muslim leaders, praying earnestly.

“As good as prayer is, we need to take our destiny into our own hands by getting our PVCs and coming out in droves to choose our leaders.

"Leaders who will steer the ship of Nigeria to where God wants us to be - which is to live abundantly, live healthily and be successful," Makinde said.

For his part, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue appreciated that the church was not intimidated by what was happening in...