CAN blasts Catholic Bishops for backing nationwide protest

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Ekiti chapter has chastised the Catholic Bishops for supporting the intended nationwide protest.

On Tuesday, the Catholic Bishops of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province voiced worry over the uneasiness caused by the planned protest in the country.

According to the statement, protests are organized to bring governments and authorities‘ attention to the opinions or demands of individuals or groups in society.

The bishops of the Catholic Church commented; “Protest is a normal phenomenon in a democratic setting because the right to protest is guaranteed in true democracies all over the world” .

However, at a news conference in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday, CAN’s State Chairman, Rev. Emmanuel Aribasoye, stated that the Bishops’ position does not reflect Nigerians’ best interests.

Aribasoye also advised Ekiti youths to engage in constructive dialogue with the government to address urgent concerns such as hunger and insecurity, among others.

He noted that protest is a legitimate way to convey issues to the government, but advised young people to reconsider this path and seek conversation as a means of achieving long-term peace.

The CAN chairman said in part; “The Bishops who supported the planned nationwide protest are not working for the interest of Nigerians. As the apex body of Christian organizations in Ekiti State, we are deeply concerned about the state of our nation and the proposed protest by some youths.”