16/12/2025
Where is the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)?
Cross River State has granted a 20-day break to government workers for Christmas celebrations — yes, 20 consecutive days for just a two-day Christmas holiday.
Some time ago, last year, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) strongly criticized the closure of schools in Kano, Bauchi, and a few Muslim-majority northern states during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.
Let us not forget that granting a 20-day holiday for Christmas celebrations in Cross River, a Christian-majority state, also contradicts Nigeria’s laws. Yet CAN has not said a single word. In fact, it has turned a blind eye to this issue, despite having issued press releases condemning Muslim-majority states like Bauchi and Kano for giving students, teachers, and lecturers 30 days of holiday for Ramadan and the Sallah celebrations.
Let us not forget that the purpose of granting the 30-day Ramadan break is to give Muslim students relief during a period when they fast from dawn to sunset without taking food or water. Can you imagine fasting from dawn to sunset in a hot, sunny environment like Sokoto or Kano without any attempt to quench your thirst? Since the affected states have a Muslim majority, the break naturally impacts Muslim children the most.
In the interest of humanity, one would expect support for this measure. Instead, CAN has chosen to criticize it and even threaten legal action. Haba!
The striking questions are as follows:
1. Was CAN established to represent the collective interests of Christians, or to act as an opposing voice against Muslims in Nigeria?
2. Why does CAN frequently criticize actions taken in Muslim-majority states but remain silent when similar — or even more extreme — actions are taken in Christian-majority states?
3. What is CAN afraid of from the Muslim community, when Muslims appear to have nothing to fear from CAN’s silence in Christian-majority regions?
4. Why does CAN issue immediate reactions to decisions made in northern states but avoid addressing controversial decisions in southern Christian-majority states?
5. Does CAN apply the same standards of justice and fairness to both Christians and Muslims, or does its advocacy depend on which group is involved?
6. How does CAN justify condemning 30-day Ramadan breaks while ignoring the Cross River 20-day Christmas holiday?
7. Is CAN aware that selective advocacy can deepen religious mistrust and threaten national cohesion?
8. What steps is CAN taking to ensure that its public engagements promote unity rather than worsening Christian–Muslim tensions?
9. Does CAN have internal mechanisms to prevent bias and ensure objective, balanced public statements?
10. Is CAN willing to engage Muslim leaders in honest dialogue aimed at strengthening interfaith respect and preventing misunderstandings?
11. Does CAN recognize that silence on issues involving Christian-majority states creates an impression of double standards?
12. What concrete measures will CAN take to rebuild trust and prove that it is a national religious body committed to fairness, peace, and equality?
My piece of advice: CAN, as a religious body, should serve as a promoter of peace, love, unity, and harmonious coexistence among Nigerians—not an agent of criticism, selective judgment, or a body that targets certain groups or individuals simply because they do not belong to the faith it represents. If the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA) or Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) were to engage in similar actions, it would not contribute to peace or harmonious coexistence, nor would it benefit our country, Nigeria.
Thank you.
I remain Mustapha Gembu,
an advocate for peace and harmonious coexistence among the Nigerian populace.
