The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is the
umbrella body of Christians in Nigeria. Founded in 1976, the body, which
oversees the activities of Churches in the country, has produced
leaders such as the former Prelate, Methodist Church, Nigeria, Sunday
Mbang; former Primate, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Peter
Akinola; former Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Okogie;
and Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan and others to
direct its affairs. The 37-year-old organisation, which is made up of
five blocs — Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), Catholic Secretariat of
Nigeria (CSN), Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Organisation of
African Instituted Churches (OIC), and Evangelical Christian Fellowship
of West Africa (ECWA) — on Thursday, May 9, in Abuja elected Pastor Ayo
Oritsejafor for a second-term in office without one of its founding
blocs, the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN). With the return of
Oritsejafor to office, having scored 80 votes to beat his only opponent,
Rev. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, President of the Nigerian Baptist
Convention, who had just four votes, it means he would continue to
direct affairs of the Christian body for another three years. The
National Executive decided that Rev. Ayokunle should work with the
President as the vice. The questions now begging for answers are: why
did the Catholic Church boycott the election, and what is the fate of
CAN without the Catholic Church, assumed to have the largest number of
Christian faithful in the country. Some of the clerics from the five
blocs that make up the umbrella body spoke with CHRIS IREKAMBA and
OLUWAKEMI AJANI on what really transpired.
‘If Procedures Are Flawed CAN Cannot Fulfill Its Purpose’
(Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins, Catholic Archbishop of Lagos)
I READ it in the papers too that an election has been carried out. But I’m aware that the Catholic Church is supposed to engage with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on the issues we had raised earlier on. So, I believe the Catholic Bishops will have to review the situation, to know exactly what to do. As at now, I cannot say categorically what is the Catholic Bishops’ position on the matter until we review the situation.
On whether we received invitation for the election, well, I am here in Lagos, and the Catholic Secretariat is in Abuja. I don’t know exactly what was the communication between the Catholic Secretariat and CAN Secretariat. Personally, I am not aware of any communication in that direction and I cannot make any statement in that regard. We have the Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat, who runs the secretariat and receives official documents that are involved in the day-to-day activities of the secretariat.
What is CAN without the Catholic Church? I believe the Catholic Church is an important part of CAN, therefore, it is essential that we are carried along in all the matters. It is important we work together to achieve the purpose for which the association was established.
The Catholic Church is a prominent founding member, I do not know whether there was invitation and as such the issue of boycotting does not arise. However, the Bishops’ Conference has to sit to decide on the matter, and I will be part of them. So, I don’t think it is appropriate for me to pass a comment that may run contrary to what the Conference will eventually decide. We have five blocs that make up CAN, and, as it is now, I cannot commit the Catholic Bishops’ Conference to a position that we have not yet examined and decided upon.
The issues we raised with CAN are not personal to Oritsejafor or to any other person. They are issues based on principles of operating or running the association. If the procedures are flawed, then CAN cannot fulfill the purpose it was established. This is the crux of our position. So, it is not personal in any way, though you can say if the same person is going to run the same procedure, it gives you a cause of concern, that is, if it is the same processes that are going to be followed. However, the situation will clarify itself by the time the Bishops meet in September, this year. Our position is only with the National Executive Committee of CAN; that was when we said we are suspending our participation in the activities of the national executive. We are not aloof and have not separated from other levels of CAN.
On the allegation that Oritsejafor-led administration is very close to the government and the issues surrounding his acquisition of private jet, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference never mentioned any of those things. The Conference never quarreled with him and this is why I said this thing is not personal. The issues we placed in writing and sent across to the National Executive are not even to the man as an individual. I think these issues are just being mixed up. And this has not done justice to our principled position on the matter.
‘The Five Blocs Were Asked To Submit Nominations’
(His Grace, Most Rev. Emmanuel J. Udofia, Primate, The African Church and President of Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN)
THE two persons that participated in the election were Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev. (Dr.) Samson Olasupo Ayokunle. Ayo scored the highest votes while Ayokunle came second. It was decided that since he came second its natural for him to be the vice. We have five blocs — OIC, ECWA, CCN, Pentecostal and the Catholic Church Secretariat — but only four participated. The Catholic Church Secretariat did not participate. Before the election, the five blocs were asked to submit nominations, and before this time, the Catholic Church had expressed its annoyance in some areas and I think it’s because of that they did not participate in the election. We know that in the house, there is misunderstanding between CAN and the Catholic Secretariat. It is not a major problem and that is why we are calling for a dialogue; we are meeting with the Catholic Secretariat this week to know what and what we should do to come together as a body.
CAN is a family and we cannot afford to divide. We want all the blocs to come under the association of which Catholic Church Secretariat is part of it. We don’t want to miss any bloc, because everyone is important. You cannot say you are a Christian when you cannot work together. Christ came and reconciled us with God and that is why we can talk about salvation today.
The way forward is that in July, the General Assembly will meet to deliberate on how the five blocs can be intact. The decision of the election will also be ratified. The meetings will enable CAN deliberate on those areas the Catholic Church is not happy about.
There are so many things in the news that are not true. As I said, CAN is a family and just like I have my own children, who may decide to be funny because of my stand in the family, but I cannot say they are not my children. Actually, the Catholic Church expressed their annoyance in certain areas, which resulted in a General Assembly being fixed for July, this year, to look into those gray areas. We are also having a reconciliation meeting in Abuja, to look at the areas where CAN offended the Catholic Church Secretariat.
‘I Sent A Representative’
(His Eminence Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde, Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria; his church is under CCN)
I WAS out of the country when the election held; but I sent a representative. He has not briefed me on the outcome of the election. I know we are going to Abuja for a meeting. So, I wouldn’t say anything until I attend the meeting. We are under CCN, and it participated in that election. Asking me to comment on what becomes of CAN without the Catholic Church, I wouldn’t say anything until after our meeting. This is the time when silence is golden and we must be one. The challenges before us necessitate our being one. I believe in the unity of the body of Christ, so, if we are not united, if we’re divided, then we are done for! The menace of Boko Haram is there and their main purpose is to Islamise Nigeria and introduce Sharia. We have much to chew in our mouths than to fight. So, I prefer we attend the meeting and after that we can talk. I just came back and have not known the details, so, I cannot say anything for now until I know the details. It’s very dangerous to pass comments on what you don’t know. For what is happening in CAN, I, however, call on the people to bear with us and after our meeting in Abuja, we will know where we are heading.
‘There’s No Implication Of Running CAN Without The Catholic’
(Prophet Gbenga Ajadi, Outreach Director, PFN, Kosofe and Chairman Planning Committee, CAN, Kosofe, Lagos)
ACTUALLY, the Catholic Church agitation is different. We have the Catholic Church and OIC that is the white garment church; we have CCN that is Baptist and Methodist; we have ECWA/TEKAN; PFN and CPFN that is those people that normally speak in tongues. So, if the Catholic says they are not participating out of 50 and two-third of the majority agree the election should go on, of course, the election will have to hold.
One of the reasons the Catholic Church did not participate in the last election is that they felt Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor is too close to the government because of his Niger Delta link. The first agitation was on the jet gift presented to Oritsejafor. The Catholic Church felt unhappy about it. Though, we had a meeting before the commencement of the election, I really don’t know why they boycotted the election.
For CAN without the Catholic Church, I don’t see any danger, there is no implication because we are all Christians and by tomorrow you may see them come back. We had 10 representatives from each bloc. CAN should not introduce politics into the association. We should be open-minded, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor is a very proactive person and whenever he says anything he backs it up by God’s word. The association should not be politicised, that is the point I’m making.
‘If Procedures Are Flawed CAN Cannot Fulfill Its Purpose’
(Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins, Catholic Archbishop of Lagos)
I READ it in the papers too that an election has been carried out. But I’m aware that the Catholic Church is supposed to engage with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on the issues we had raised earlier on. So, I believe the Catholic Bishops will have to review the situation, to know exactly what to do. As at now, I cannot say categorically what is the Catholic Bishops’ position on the matter until we review the situation.
On whether we received invitation for the election, well, I am here in Lagos, and the Catholic Secretariat is in Abuja. I don’t know exactly what was the communication between the Catholic Secretariat and CAN Secretariat. Personally, I am not aware of any communication in that direction and I cannot make any statement in that regard. We have the Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat, who runs the secretariat and receives official documents that are involved in the day-to-day activities of the secretariat.
What is CAN without the Catholic Church? I believe the Catholic Church is an important part of CAN, therefore, it is essential that we are carried along in all the matters. It is important we work together to achieve the purpose for which the association was established.
The Catholic Church is a prominent founding member, I do not know whether there was invitation and as such the issue of boycotting does not arise. However, the Bishops’ Conference has to sit to decide on the matter, and I will be part of them. So, I don’t think it is appropriate for me to pass a comment that may run contrary to what the Conference will eventually decide. We have five blocs that make up CAN, and, as it is now, I cannot commit the Catholic Bishops’ Conference to a position that we have not yet examined and decided upon.
The issues we raised with CAN are not personal to Oritsejafor or to any other person. They are issues based on principles of operating or running the association. If the procedures are flawed, then CAN cannot fulfill the purpose it was established. This is the crux of our position. So, it is not personal in any way, though you can say if the same person is going to run the same procedure, it gives you a cause of concern, that is, if it is the same processes that are going to be followed. However, the situation will clarify itself by the time the Bishops meet in September, this year. Our position is only with the National Executive Committee of CAN; that was when we said we are suspending our participation in the activities of the national executive. We are not aloof and have not separated from other levels of CAN.
On the allegation that Oritsejafor-led administration is very close to the government and the issues surrounding his acquisition of private jet, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference never mentioned any of those things. The Conference never quarreled with him and this is why I said this thing is not personal. The issues we placed in writing and sent across to the National Executive are not even to the man as an individual. I think these issues are just being mixed up. And this has not done justice to our principled position on the matter.
‘The Five Blocs Were Asked To Submit Nominations’
(His Grace, Most Rev. Emmanuel J. Udofia, Primate, The African Church and President of Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN)
THE two persons that participated in the election were Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev. (Dr.) Samson Olasupo Ayokunle. Ayo scored the highest votes while Ayokunle came second. It was decided that since he came second its natural for him to be the vice. We have five blocs — OIC, ECWA, CCN, Pentecostal and the Catholic Church Secretariat — but only four participated. The Catholic Church Secretariat did not participate. Before the election, the five blocs were asked to submit nominations, and before this time, the Catholic Church had expressed its annoyance in some areas and I think it’s because of that they did not participate in the election. We know that in the house, there is misunderstanding between CAN and the Catholic Secretariat. It is not a major problem and that is why we are calling for a dialogue; we are meeting with the Catholic Secretariat this week to know what and what we should do to come together as a body.
CAN is a family and we cannot afford to divide. We want all the blocs to come under the association of which Catholic Church Secretariat is part of it. We don’t want to miss any bloc, because everyone is important. You cannot say you are a Christian when you cannot work together. Christ came and reconciled us with God and that is why we can talk about salvation today.
The way forward is that in July, the General Assembly will meet to deliberate on how the five blocs can be intact. The decision of the election will also be ratified. The meetings will enable CAN deliberate on those areas the Catholic Church is not happy about.
There are so many things in the news that are not true. As I said, CAN is a family and just like I have my own children, who may decide to be funny because of my stand in the family, but I cannot say they are not my children. Actually, the Catholic Church expressed their annoyance in certain areas, which resulted in a General Assembly being fixed for July, this year, to look into those gray areas. We are also having a reconciliation meeting in Abuja, to look at the areas where CAN offended the Catholic Church Secretariat.
‘I Sent A Representative’
(His Eminence Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde, Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria; his church is under CCN)
I WAS out of the country when the election held; but I sent a representative. He has not briefed me on the outcome of the election. I know we are going to Abuja for a meeting. So, I wouldn’t say anything until I attend the meeting. We are under CCN, and it participated in that election. Asking me to comment on what becomes of CAN without the Catholic Church, I wouldn’t say anything until after our meeting. This is the time when silence is golden and we must be one. The challenges before us necessitate our being one. I believe in the unity of the body of Christ, so, if we are not united, if we’re divided, then we are done for! The menace of Boko Haram is there and their main purpose is to Islamise Nigeria and introduce Sharia. We have much to chew in our mouths than to fight. So, I prefer we attend the meeting and after that we can talk. I just came back and have not known the details, so, I cannot say anything for now until I know the details. It’s very dangerous to pass comments on what you don’t know. For what is happening in CAN, I, however, call on the people to bear with us and after our meeting in Abuja, we will know where we are heading.
‘There’s No Implication Of Running CAN Without The Catholic’
(Prophet Gbenga Ajadi, Outreach Director, PFN, Kosofe and Chairman Planning Committee, CAN, Kosofe, Lagos)
ACTUALLY, the Catholic Church agitation is different. We have the Catholic Church and OIC that is the white garment church; we have CCN that is Baptist and Methodist; we have ECWA/TEKAN; PFN and CPFN that is those people that normally speak in tongues. So, if the Catholic says they are not participating out of 50 and two-third of the majority agree the election should go on, of course, the election will have to hold.
One of the reasons the Catholic Church did not participate in the last election is that they felt Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor is too close to the government because of his Niger Delta link. The first agitation was on the jet gift presented to Oritsejafor. The Catholic Church felt unhappy about it. Though, we had a meeting before the commencement of the election, I really don’t know why they boycotted the election.
For CAN without the Catholic Church, I don’t see any danger, there is no implication because we are all Christians and by tomorrow you may see them come back. We had 10 representatives from each bloc. CAN should not introduce politics into the association. We should be open-minded, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor is a very proactive person and whenever he says anything he backs it up by God’s word. The association should not be politicised, that is the point I’m making.
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