Kogi CAN at 50: Ododo Urges Unity and Peace »

Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has urged Christian leaders to promote unity, reconciliation and peaceful coexistence, warning against the use of religion to fuel ethnic, political or religious divisions.

Ododo made the call in Lokoja on Saturday during the 50th anniversary celebration of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kogi State Branch, where he charged religious leaders to use the pulpit to foster harmony and strengthen peaceful relations among residents.

The governor said the association’s Golden Jubilee was an opportunity to reflect on five decades of worship, unity and service to humanity, while recognising the contributions of successive Christian leaders to the spiritual and social development of the state.

Congratulating CAN’s leadership and members, Ododo said a society’s greatness should not be measured solely by its wealth and infrastructure but also by the values it upholds, the unity it sustains and the legacy it leaves for future generations.

Reflecting on the anniversary theme, “The Glory of Worshipping Together in Faith,” drawn from Acts 2:1, the governor said the strength of society depended on the ability of people to live peacefully despite their differences.

He added that faith should serve as a bridge between communities, promote compassion and inspire collective efforts towards the common good.

Ododo also urged Christian leaders to continue praying for Nigeria and Kogi State, noting that leadership required divine wisdom, courage and a commitment to the welfare of the people.

The governor further called on the Church to engage with the economic and social challenges facing Nigerians, stressing that government decisions had direct implications for the cost of living, security, employment, education and the future of young people.

He urged religious institutions to encourage responsible participation in elections and help citizens make informed choices based on the country’s long-term interests.

While expressing support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reform agenda, Ododo cautioned religious leaders against manipulating worshippers’ faith for partisan purposes, advocating political engagement centred on issues affecting the public.

Earlier, the CAN Kogi State Chairman, Special Apostle Pastor Dr Adebayo Emmanuel Olaniyan, described the Golden Jubilee as a celebration of 50 years of unity, togetherness and collective worship.

Olaniyan identified the ongoing construction of the Kogi State CAN Ecumenical Centre at Phase II, along Olu Royal Hotel, Lokoja, as one of the association’s major legacy projects marking the anniversary.

He thanked the state government for its financial support to CAN, its efforts to maintain peace and tackle crime, and its ongoing development initiatives across Kogi State.

The CAN chairman also acknowledged the contributions of former state chairmen, particularly Bishop Dr Dada Olorunmolu, Bishop Dr Emmanuel Egbunu and Bishop Dr John Ibenu, to the development of the association’s former secretariat.

The Golden Jubilee celebration renewed calls for stronger collaboration between government and religious institutions to sustain peace, unity, faith and service to humanity across Kogi State.