The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has kicked against the newly signed Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020, which was recently assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“To say the least, it is unacceptable, ungodly, reprehensible and an ill-wind that blows no one any good. It is a time bomb waiting to explode,” CAN stated in a statement signed by its media adviser, Pastor Bayo Oladeji, pointing out that it is a declaration of war on Christians.
According to CAN, the bill sought to bring religious organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) under the control and influence of the government. The body said the bill was outrightly rejected during the public hearing because it would snuff life out of the church and rank it as an institution under secular control.
CAN stated that Section 839 (1)&(2) empowers the Commission to suspend trustees of an association (in this case, the church) and appoint an interim managers to manage the affairs of the association for some given reasons. “We thought it was all over until we heard of the CAMA that was assented to by the President, making the rejected bill a law,” said CAN.
CAN made its position against the law on the basis that the Church cannot be controlled by the government, because of its spiritual responsibilities and obligations.
“While we are not against the government fighting corruption wherever it may be found, we completely reject the idea of bringing the Church, which is technically grouped among the NGOs, under control of the government,” it said.
The group has therefore, called on the Federal Government to stop the implementation of the obnoxious and ungodly law until the religious institutions are exempted from it.
“We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently return the law to the National Assembly for immediate amendment,” CAN said.
According to CAN, people’s religions are tied to their humanity and life. Hence, Nigeria should not be compared with any other nation when it comes to the relationship between religious institutions and the government.
“How can a secular and political minister be the final authority on the affairs and management of another institution which is not political?
“Let the government face the business of providing infrastructure for the people. Let them focus on better health provision, food, education, adequate security, employment and others. The government should not be a busy body in a matter that does not belong to it,” stating that government does not have the technical expertise to run the church of God because of its spiritual nature.
The leadership of the church is of the opinion that the newly signed CAMA 2020 justifies its earlier position on moves by government to destroy the church in Nigeria.
“If government is bent on imposing a law on us which the entire Church in Nigeria is against, then, they have declared war on Christianity and the agenda to destroy the Church which we have spoken against before now is coming to the open more clearly,” CAN said, noting that a government that cannot provide basic amenities to its citizenry should not be allowed to take her liberty to worship.
