The crisis rocking the Christian Association of Nigeria
worsened on Wednesday as the association told the Catholic Church to go ahead
with its decision to pull out of the association.
worsened on Wednesday as the association told the Catholic Church to go ahead
with its decision to pull out of the association.
The Catholic Church recently decided
to pull out of CAN, alleging that the Christian body no longer stood for the
objectives for which it was set up.
to pull out of CAN, alleging that the Christian body no longer stood for the
objectives for which it was set up.
The Administrator of the Catholic
Diocese of Abeokuta, Monsignor Christopher Ajala, on Tuesday, alleged that CAN
had become an arm of government.
Diocese of Abeokuta, Monsignor Christopher Ajala, on Tuesday, alleged that CAN
had become an arm of government.
But CAN blamed the Catholic’s action
on the loss of the Presidency of CAN to Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.
on the loss of the Presidency of CAN to Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.
The Public Relations Officer of the
19 Northern States of CAN and Abuja, Mr. Sunny Oibe, in an interview with
journalists on Wednesday in Abuja also accused Catholics of arrogance.
19 Northern States of CAN and Abuja, Mr. Sunny Oibe, in an interview with
journalists on Wednesday in Abuja also accused Catholics of arrogance.
He said, “There are some certain
elements in the leadership of CAN led by Cardinal John Onaiyekan because he
lost CAN Presidency to Oritsejafor who has a lot of achievements.
elements in the leadership of CAN led by Cardinal John Onaiyekan because he
lost CAN Presidency to Oritsejafor who has a lot of achievements.
“There is no need for anybody to lose
sleep over the threat by Catholics to pull out of CAN because without them CAN
will still continue. The constitution of CAN makes provision that membership
can be terminated by any group that is misbehaving or any group can also
terminate their membership.
sleep over the threat by Catholics to pull out of CAN because without them CAN
will still continue. The constitution of CAN makes provision that membership
can be terminated by any group that is misbehaving or any group can also
terminate their membership.
“Why is it that when Catholics were
in the leadership of CAN, every bloc supported them, but now because power has
changed hands, they are threatening to pull out and causing confusion?
in the leadership of CAN, every bloc supported them, but now because power has
changed hands, they are threatening to pull out and causing confusion?
“They have been agitating that the
Presidency of CAN must come from the South. They at appendage of PDP and PDP
themselves. They are known for double standards. A man of God should not be
double speaking.”
Presidency of CAN must come from the South. They at appendage of PDP and PDP
themselves. They are known for double standards. A man of God should not be
double speaking.”
Accordding to Oibe who is also the
spokesperson for the President of Tarayar
Ekklisiyar Kristi A Nijeriya, a
conglomeration of 13 church groups in CAN, Catholics should not mislead the
public even if they want to pull out.
spokesperson for the President of Tarayar
Ekklisiyar Kristi A Nijeriya, a
conglomeration of 13 church groups in CAN, Catholics should not mislead the
public even if they want to pull out.
He said, “The Catholics are claiming
that the current CAN leadership has deviated from the vision of the
founding fathers when they don’t even know how CAN came about.”
that the current CAN leadership has deviated from the vision of the
founding fathers when they don’t even know how CAN came about.”
Source: Punch
