The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has congratulated the Nigerian Baptist Convention on the election of the Pastor of First Baptist Church, Garki, Abuja, Rev (Dr) Israel Adelani Akanji, as the new President to succeed the out-going President who also doubles as the President of CAN, His Eminence, Rev (Dr) Samson Ayokunle.
His eminence, after successful ten years of two tenures, bowed out in honour of a rotational presidential policy of the Baptist Convention.
The Nigerian Baptist Convention just-concluded 108th Annual Session at the Baptist International Conference Centre located at Lufuwape, Ogun State along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, was an exemplary of a peaceful, rancour-free democratic leadership transition befitting of the body of Christ.
We rejoice with the Baptist Convention for the smooth transition from our President, His Eminence, Rev ‘Supo Ayokunle to the CAN Chairman, North Central; the immediate past Chairman, FCT CAN; the National Vice President, Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN ) and a Commissioner, the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC). We have been prayerfully following the process with interest and we are happy that the process that lasted about two years was a hitch free exercise.
It was also chaos-free and devoid of any litigation. We call on the political class to learn from the Church so that our electoral system would be free of manipulations, bloodletting and litigation. We are pleased that the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, noted this in his remarks at the Convention.
The position is all encompassing because the Nigerian Baptist Convention’s President is expected to operate at the local, state, national, regional, continental and global levels. Saddling Rev Akanji (Zaki) with this responsibility is an offer of a rare and unique opportunity to contribute positively to shaping our world for the glory of God through the ministry of the Nigerian Baptist Convention. We are happy to note that the new President himself is much aware of this task.
As a man of sound and high integrity, a great Servant of God who has held several offices successfully, it is our expectation that Rev Dr Israel Akanji will not let down the Baptist Convention, CAN and the Kingdom of God.
We welcome Dr Akanji to the office of the President, Nigerian Baptist Convention, such as times as these, when the country is going through unprecedented security challenges, economic predicaments, the menace of graduate unemployment and attendant consequences, the collapse of infrastructure, systematic persecution of the Church, and other failed governance structures. It is our prayers that God who gave him the mandate will not let him down and he too will not let the Lord down.
We also call on the leadership of the security agencies and our political leaders to wake up from their slumber before too late.
We also congratulate the CAN President for a successful tenure of office and wish him good health and sound mind as he continues serve both humanity and divinity in the remaining days of his life.
Rev Dr Ayokunle has shown to the world that the Church of God is a pace setter.
We pray for more wisdom and blessings to His Eminence as we are wishing him a successful tenure in office.
