By Ikenna Orioha
The Youth Wing Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN), has called for a youthful Christian President of Nigeria come 2023, asserting that rotation of the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will promote unity and concord, reflecting a true expression of equity, fairness and justice for all citizens, decrying increasing rate of insecurity in the country where lives and properties of innocent citizens are being destroyed on daily basis despite efforts being made by government and security agents to combating crime and criminality.
Indeed, YOWICAN had pledged to continue to collaborate and work in concert with Muslim youths to pursue and promote peace, unity and progress of Nigeria especially via Nigeria Inter- Religious Council.
YOWICAN, in a communique signed and made available to the media on Friday by its National Chairman and Secretary, Belusochukwu Michael Enwere and Bako Adashu Elijah, during its National Executive Council Meeting, held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, saw in attendance delegates and officials of
National Executive Members, Zonal Leaders,
State Leaders (drawn from the 36 States of the federation plus FCT),
representatives from the blocs/denominations under Christian Association of Nigeria.
According to the association, “the current leadership of YOWICAN pledges her unalloyed loyalty and solidarity to the worthy leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria under the watch of His Eminence, Rev. Dr. Samson Supo Ayokunle.
YOWICAN shall continue to collaborate and work in concert with its brothers from the Muslim faith to pursue the desired peace, unity and progress of the nation and more particularly under the auspices of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council”.
The association maintained that “YOWICAN remains the only umbrella organization of Christian youths and church based youth organizations in Nigeria, as such YOWICAN should be accorded the requisite recognition and support by the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports and all other MDA’s, NGO’s and Corporate Organizations. YOWICAN decries increasing rate of insecurity in Nigeria, and yet commends the efforts of government and security agencies in combating the nefarious activities of bandits, killer herdsmen, insurgents among others”.
The association while pointing out that despite efforts so far made in combating crime and terrorism, said it has observed the urgent need to curb the rising wave of attacks, killings, destruction of lives, properties, farmlands and livelihood of innocent citizens in the Northern, specifically within Christian communities of Southern Kaduna, saying “YOWICAN in the performance of Christian tenets and faith believes strongly in peaceful coexistence, but this piety should not be construed as cowardice, therefore, kidnappers, bandits, killer herdsmen, terrorists and unknown gunmen should not push Christian youths to the extreme, making them consider deploying self- defense strategies as the last option of security”.
YOWICAN had asserted that “rotation of the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will promote unity and concord and as such the emergence of a Christian and youthful President come 2023 will be a true expression of equity, fairness and justice for Nigeria and Nigerians”.
Therefore, “YOWICAN demands immediate release of all abductees particularly the students of the Bethel Baptist High School, Kaduna State, who have been in captivity. We urge the Federal and Kaduna State Governments to expedite action towards their immediate release”, Belusochukwu maintained.