CANAN Commends President Obama's Message On Nigeria's Elections

SAN FRANCISCO, March 24, (THEWILL)  –  The Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans, CANAN, has commended President Barrack Obama, on his message on Nigeria's elections.

The association gave the commendation in a statement issued Monday from its Secretariat and signed by Pastor Laolu Akande.

The statement reads: “Earlier today, President Barack Obama asked all the candidates and political leaders in Nigeria's forthcoming elections to ensure that Nigerian voters are able to cast their votes without fear or intimidation.

“In a video message released this morning, President Obama took the initiative to speak directly to all Nigerians, asking them to exercise their rights to vote and calling for a peaceful, free and fair election starting with the presidential elections on Saturday March 28.

“Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans, CANAN, expresses the gratitude of Nigerian-Americans to the US President for the important and timely admonishment from the White House, and we add our voices once again to the call for the peaceful conduct of a free and fair election.

“CANAN also notes that the use of military troops during elections in Nigeria as witnessed in Ekiti and Osun States in the last several months has been deemed unconstitutional by a federal high court and already a settled issue even before that in higher courts of law in the country.

“We appeal to President Goodluck Jonathan to restrain from the use of armed military troops in the Nigerian elections as that could heighten tensions, instill fear and intimidate the average voter. Using the troops would also amount to breaking the extant laws of the land.

“CANAN will continue its prayers for the Nigerian elections this forthcoming Saturday, which will be the fourth and the final session of the prayers started on March 7 and that has been holding every Saturday since then.

“In that effort, the African Strategic Leadership Prayer Network, ASLPN, The Praying Army, Nigeria Prays and Wailing Women Worldwide are joining CANAN to mobilise Nigerians in the US to pray for the elections which commence on Saturday, March 28 and end April 11.”