Former CAN Leader Condemns Government's Election Focus Amid Security Crisis
Former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Samson Ayokunle, has launched a scathing criticism against Nigerian political leaders for prioritizing the 2027 general elections while the country grapples with escalating violence and targeted killings of Christians.
In a recent interview with Punch newspaper, the prominent cleric described the government's preoccupation with electoral politics as "shameless" and accused authorities of abandoning their fundamental responsibility to protect citizens' lives and property.
Systematic Killings Amount to Genocide, Says Ayokunle
Ayokunle presented a grim picture of the security situation, particularly highlighting attacks on Christian communities in Plateau, Benue, and Southern Kaduna regions. He revealed that entire villages have been destroyed and occupied by armed groups while government response remains inadequate.
The former CAN president recounted a particularly devastating incident in Miango, Plateau State, where 21 people were killed in a single night. He emphasized that twenty of these victims belonged to his own denomination, the Nigerian Baptist Convention.
"What makes the killing of Christians particularly worrisome is that those responsible are some Muslims," Ayokunle stated. "When some Muslims target Christians, it becomes persecution—and with the number involved, it is genocide."
He strongly rejected attempts to downplay the violence by pointing out that Muslims also suffer attacks, arguing that the targeting of Christians appears systematic and deliberate.
Government Complicity and Foreign Intervention
The cleric went further to accuse the government of both complacency and complicity in the ongoing violence. He noted that the failure to effectively address terrorism over the past 16 years demonstrates a lack of genuine commitment to solving the security crisis.
Ayokunle described former US President Donald Trump's recent warnings about Christian genocide in Nigeria as a "wake-up call" to what he characterized as a "clueless government" that has grown indifferent to human suffering.
"They are only focused on how to win the 2027 election when they have not done the needful for 2025 and 2026," he criticized. "I don't know why people can be so shameless about their non-performance, especially in the area of security."
The religious leader expressed support for foreign intervention if it could restore peace and security to Nigeria. "If the government knows it cannot nip this thing in the bud, it should seek help from outside the country," Ayokunle asserted, emphasizing that ordinary Nigerians primarily want safety and freedom to move without fear.
He concluded with a moral warning, stating that Nigeria's leaders would ultimately answer to God for allowing the continuous killing of innocent citizens while pursuing political ambitions.
The Nigerian Foreign Ministry has previously responded to international concerns about Christian killings, maintaining that such claims do not accurately reflect the country's reality. However, Ayokunle's statements highlight the growing frustration among religious leaders and communities affected by the persistent violence.
