By Sunday Elijah
The Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN) in Billiri Local Government Area of Gombe State has called on Christian leaders and pastors across Nigeria to resist political patronage and uphold the Church’s moral responsibility to promote justice, fairness and accountability.
In a statement issued on June 28, 2026, YOWICAN expressed concern over what it described as a growing trend of some Christian leaders allegedly supporting political interests in exchange for money or material benefits, warning that such actions could undermine public confidence in the Church and weaken its moral authority.
The statement, signed by the Secretary of YOWICAN Billiri LGA, Sarki P. Napthali, said decisions driven by political patronage or personal gain risk eroding trust in the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and diminishing the Church’s role as a voice for truth and justice.
According to the youth organisation, compromising ethical values for short-term benefits could also discourage young people, who may begin to perceive the Church as complicit in injustice rather than a force for social transformation.
Quoting Proverbs 29:2, YOWICAN urged Christian leaders to place righteousness above personal interests, saying the consequences of sacrificing integrity for material rewards are often more damaging than the benefits received.
The organisation called on CAN leaders and pastors at all levels to uphold truth above political patronage, protect the institutional independence of the Church from political interests, and consider how their decisions today will shape the confidence of future generations in Christian leadership.
“The Church must remain the conscience of society, not its silent partner in injustice,” the statement said.
YOWICAN did not identify any pastor, church leader or political officeholder to support its concerns, and AFRICA PRIME NEWS could not independently verify the allegations contained in the statement.
The statement comes as political activities intensify across Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections, with religious organisations and civil society groups increasingly weighing in on issues of governance, leadership and democratic accountability.
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