New Year: Why there’s nothing spectacular in Buhari’s message – CAN

Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s New Year message to Nigerians, saying it was neither eye-catching nor impressive.

The apex Christian body faulted the President’s position on security, economy and rule of law; stressing that his speech contradicted the realities experienced in the country in these areas last year.

CAN said it would treat the President’s declaration of his intention to stand down from politics in 2023 as mere political rhetoric, saying he had made similar promises in the past but recanted his words when time for action presented itself.

The Nigerian Church also lampooned the President Buhari on his silence over the issue religious persecution and other related crimes in the country which were of particular I terest to it.

Speaking in a chat with Vanguard, CAN’s Vice Chairman (Northern region), Rev. John Hayab, said: “It is unfortunate that New Year speeches by our political leaders have become objects of mockery and deceit.

“We look forward to the 2020s as new opportunities for the government to give some bite to its promises. Over the years, we have read and heard many new year messages that were never translated into actions.

“Our leaders have become so insincere with their speeches that the ordinary Nigerian finds nothing spectacular in them.

“The President said he will be standing down from politics in 2023; but we consider that announcement as a political statement. He once told Nigerians that he won’t be running for President after 2011 polls, but he ran in 2015. President Buhari had also said he would do only one term in office but he is on a second term today.

“So until he really shuns the ‘enemies’ of our nation, who are always urging him to recant his promises; and actually stands down from politics in 2023, we won’t take him seriously on this matter.”

On security

Hayab said: “If the Federal Government was sincere about the true state of insecurity in the country, it won’t be praising itself the way it has done in the President’s new year speech, because Nigerians are still feeling unsafe and living in fear of kidnapping, highway robbery, banditry, and herdsmen attacks.