The President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), His Eminence, Rev. Dr. Samson Olasupo A. Ayokunle was hosted in Kano by the Baptist Church during which period he seized the opportunity to visit the Emir of Kano, His Highness, Muhammad Sanusi 11 and also Kano Government House. However, Kano journalists briefly engaged the man of God. The CAN President cleared the air on the trending picture suggesting that he prayed for the re-election of Governor Bello of Kogi state. He also denounced the insinuations from some quarters that those kidnappers who kidnapped Kano kids and sold them out in Onitsha Anambra state kidnapped for “Christ.” 247ureports.com was there.
Excerpts:
How would you describe those who said the kidnappers of Kano kids who were sold out in onitsha and forcefully converted to Christians kidnapped for Christ?
Anybody that says he is kidnapping for Christ is sick, he is totally sick and he is one of the agents of Satan in this country. Such person is a specialist in blackmail. Christians have never been found​ in the acts of​ kidnapping in the history of Nigeria. Christians in Nigeria do not have kidnapping as one of their belief, neither does the Bible encourages us to kidnap​​ anybody. I repeat that anybody that says that is sick. And I challenge​ him or her or anyone of them to produce evidence, where it was resolved and how it was concluded, that it was​​ the Christians in Nigeria, who decided to be kidnapping for Christ.​ I insist that the person is totally sick. Such a person is one of the enemies of this nation. Such people should be singled out for the law enforcement agents to take note,​ or for such person to be taken to the psychiatric Hospital or be made to face the wrath of the law. This is what we call​ ​hate speech.
With the way things are going in this country, don’t you entertain the fear that Nigeria may disintegrate, following agitations from various ethnic groups?
​​ God brought Nigeria into being and it is only God can decide the destiny of this country. If you want Nigeria to multiply, Nigeria can only multiply, Nigeria can never disintegrate. What are the basis of disintegration? The only thing is for Nigerians to plead with those people in power to recognize the fact that Nigeria, is a peculiar country, because, it is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious, nation. Those in power must know that they should carry everybody along. All ethnic groups must have sense of belonging, in terms of the reflection of appointments, I have said it again and again, that the Christian Association of Nigeria has said it often that appointments should not be lopsided, for whatever reasons, if you are talking of merit, there is no religion, there is no ethnic groups, where we don’t have people on merit, there are credible people all over Nigeria. So, to lop side it, along one particular religion​ ​​ or ethnic group is to be inviting trouble. And it would be unjust for anybody in leadership position not to take such corrective steps. So, we should respect one another, which in turn should be mutual respect, so as to build the nation together.
There is a trending picture in the social media where you were sighted praying for Governor Bello of Kogi state. Many believe that action was an endorsement for his re-election. What is your take on this?
You see, as a man of God,​ there is nobody I cannot pray for. I can pray for all Nigerians. However, the person that brought such issue out is very mischievous, unpatriotic,​ ​​ as well as very wicked because when you are bringing things to the public, you must be sure that you are speaking the truth from the bottom of your heart but to bring out a video or a picture in order to gain a political advantage or destroy another person is totally wickedness and if the person does not repent, he will go to hell by express way. I was in Kogi in July, not now, because I was invited by CAN to Kogi to lay the foundation stone for the chapel in the Government House​ which is my statutory duty, which no other person can do for me. And I am also not puck nosing into​ ​another person’s assignment. To lay the foundation of a chapel, for over 25 years, that Kogi State has been in existence, there was mosque at the Government House, but there was​ no chapel, and if, during my tenure as CAN President, the Government is thinking of constructing Christian chapel at the Government House, should I run away? Should I say I’m sick? And because I will not go in order to please a particular person or political party? I am not a politician, I do my work objectively and I will remain as neutral as possible in terms of partisanship in politics. I was in Kogi state in July this year to lay foundation for the Christian Chapel and not for any political meeting because I am not a politician. I am a man of God and the leader of Christians in Nigeria, by the grace of God.
What is your message to Nigerians?
My message to Nigerians is that we need a change of mindset. If we restructure and we don’t have a change of mind, we will still destroy that structure. Many Nigerians today, if I am not mistaken, cannot be trusted. Just go and start a business; to validate what I am doing, start a business, you will see how those people you employed will spoil it for you. Their desire is to see how they will aggrandize and put everything into their pocket and rundown the business. Such things must change, that is the mind, attitude cannot change, unless the mind changes.
