CAN Visits Buhari, Demands El-Zakzaky’s Release

CAN President, Reverend Samson Ayokunle, leads a delegation to visit President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on November 16, 2018.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called for the release of the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and others who have been granted bail by competent courts.

CAN President, Reverend Samson Ayokunle, made the request among others on Friday when he led a delegation of the Christian body to the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

He asked President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure, “Total adherence to the rule of law as it’s required by our Constitution and full-blown democracy by making sure that those whose bails have been granted by competent courts like Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), and Leader of the Shiites, Malam Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, are released from detention to enjoy the bail granted them by the courts of law.”

“This would ease tension in the land and give credit to your administration together with respect from the international community,” Reverend Ayokunle added.

He thereafter commended the anti-corruption fight of the Federal Government which he said deserved some accolades.

According to the CAN President, this has led to the recovery of huge sums of money from those who have looted the nation’s resources.

On the other hand, he asked the President to ensure that his government was unbiased in the fight against corruption, saying it should be extended to serving public holders within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“It is reprehensible that elected officials have seized opportunities of being in public office to loot the treasury,” the religious leader decried.

He added, ”Like we categorically noted here during our last visit, the wish of the people is for the war against corruption to be total and without discrimination.

“Not a few believe that the ruling party is becoming a safe haven to some corrupt politicians in their bid to escape the trap of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).”

Reverend Ayokunle commended the President’s courage in implementing the Bank Verification Number (BVN) and Treasury Single Account (TSA) policies.

He noted that the two policies have greatly helped in sanitising the system and thanked President Buhari for continuing with projects inherited from the previous government.