- There is no parallel Northern CAN- Rev Akanji
The leadership of the Northern Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has cautioned those trying to polarise the body to cease doing so in the interest of the Church and the head, Jesus Christ.
Some clerics have been persistently calling for a parallel forum for selfish reasons and the leadership of the Northern CAN currently meeting in Jos, the Plateau State capital is addressing the issue among other challenges facing Christians in the North in the recent time.
Although another meeting was purportedly called for today in Maiduguri by the CAN Chairman for Borno State, Bishop Abubakar Naga, who also described himself as the spokesman of the body, but the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Northern CAN, Rev John Joseph Hayab and the CAN Chairman, North Central, Rev Dr Israel Akanji have dismissed the Maiduguri meeting with a wave of hands.
According to Rev Akanji who is also the CAN Chairman for FCT, “This is the only meeting I am aware of those who want to hold another meeting in the name of CAN are not part of us. The CAN President, Rev Dr Olasupo Ayokunle has asked me to deliver his goodwill message to the meeting. We are all present here in Jos.”
Speaking in the same vein, the spokesman of the forum, Rev Hayab said he remains the CAN PRO and cautioned those who wanted to divide the CAN to stop their action or risk the wrath of God.
“The Northern CAN is one and we are holding our Executive Committee meeting here in Jos and I am the PRO. Whoever is claiming to be the PRO for the forum is not saying the truth. All our leaders are here and we will not allow those who wanted to break the Northern CAN for selfish reasons to have their ways,” Rev Hayab said.
According to him, “The Chairman of the Northern CAN is Rev Yakubu Pam, his vice is Rev Dada from Minna, all our chairmen are here except one or two. The CAN Chairman for Borno is never our spokesman, I am the PRO. He was just elected into the office three months ago when his successor in the office rotated out. If he is calling for a meeting as reported in PUNCH on Wednesday may be it is the state chapter of the CAN and not the Northern CAN.”
On the perceived feud between the Northern CAN and the new leadership of the CAN, Hayab said one of the issues being addressed is the alleged break away from the CAN and the creation of a parallel body which he said cannot be a true reflection of what is happening.
“We may have disagreement among ourselves.We have engaged our Christian elders from the North to reach out to the new leadership of CAN with a view to finding a better way of resolving problems emanating from the election.
“We have also made these issues known to the new leadership and our prayer is that the body of Christ in the country is carried along so that the name of the Lord will be glorified in our lives.
“There is no time since the inception of the new leadership of CAN that the Northern body has withdrawn its membership. What we are saying is that if there is any problem, it should be handled with all sense of maturity with a view of solving our problem,” he added.
A communique is expected to be issued after today’s meeting which is based on two main issues; the Christian killings and the CAN unity.
