Skip to main content

Catholics return to CAN After 5 years of Absence


Catholics return to CAN after five years absence.

The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, CSN, has returned to the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, after five years of walking out of the national Christian Umbrella body in the country over some irreconcilable differences with the leadership.

Vanguard recalls that Catholic Bishops had in a letter dated September 24, 2012 which was signed by their President, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, and addressed to the then CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, announced the withdrawal of the Catholic church from the organisation.

However, in 2017, Kaigama led a delegation from the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, to the CAN National secretariat where, in a meeting with the CAN President, Rev Dr Samson Ayokunle and his team, they addressed the identified grey areas and fashioned out wways of addressing them. Sequel to that, Kaigama disclosed the readiness of the Catholics to work with the new CAN leadership.

Last week Thursday and Friday with the appearance of the CSN delegation led by Rev Fr. Prof Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua, who represented Most Rev Kaigama, at the expanded National Executive Committee meeting for the amendment of the constitution of CAN and the quarterly meeting of the Association.

Rev Ayokunle could not hide his joy on the new development when he was reacting to their return.


He said: “Their return was one of the best things that have been happening since I was given the mandate to become the President of the Association. One of my visions for CAN is to bring our Catholic brothers and sisters back to the fold and I must acknowledge the support and understanding of my brother in Christ, Most Rev Ignatius Kaigama, President, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria and his team.

“I give kudos to all the Principal Officers, the Directors and some Christian leaders in the country for their support and understanding while the dialogue lasted.

“My joy knows no bond with the presence of the CSN at the Constitutional Amendment Meeting held on Thursday and at the National Executive Committee meeting of the Association on Friday. It is our prayers that the Body of Christ in the country will remain one forever in Jesus’ name.

“At a time like this when Christians are almost becoming endanger species in Nigeria, when churches are being denied the Certificate of Occupancy especially in the core North, when Christians are being denied of key public offices and when the Church is expected to speak for the voiceless especially over the economic and social hardship in our country, we cannot afford of being at war with ourselves”. Speaking further, Ayokunle who also doubled as the President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention said, “Our Association is unity in diversity. Jesus Christ prayed for the Church shortly before He returned to heaven in John chapter 17 when He said, ‘I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me”’ (John 17:20&21).

Speaking in the same vein, the CAN Chairman, Northcentral, Rev Dr Israel Akanji who was among those who played prominent roles in the matter said the return of the Catholics to the Association is a sign of good omen to the Body of Christ in Nigeria.

“We are all happy with this new development, now the Body of Christ in Nigeria is one, virile and strong. We can now speak with one voice. With their return, CAN is even now stronger and greater. We have learnt one lesson or two from the challenges that led to their withdraw. Never again will any of the blocks withdraw its membership.”

The Director of Legal issues, Barrister Samuel Kwanku disclosed that the association is working on the new Constitution to ensure that “CAN has an effective internal mechanism to address any misunderstanding among its members. We are all happy with the return of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN). Our strength lies in our unity.” The CSN delegation participated fully in all the discourse while the two days meeting lasted.

CAN was formed in 1976 by five Christian blocs in the country: the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN); the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria/Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN/CPFN); Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), Tarayar Ekklesiyoyin Kristi a Nigeria or The Fellowship of the Churches of Christ in Nigeria (TEKAN)/ Evangelical Church of Winning All (ECWA).

- Vanguard.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

BREAKING: Buhari Declares to Run for President 2019

President Muhammadu Buhari has declared the intention to run for the second term after months of speculation. The President said this on Monday at a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership. The national publicity secretary of the APC, Bolaji Abdullahi and the Chief Whip, House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado Doguwa confirmed this while addressing journalists in Abuja after the NEC meeting. The NEC meeting is attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara and other APC governors. Special adviser to the President on New media and engagement, Bashir Ahmad in a tweet on his official handle @BashirAhmaad also confirmed the President’s declaration. “President Muhammadu Buhari has just officially announced his intention to seek re-election in 2019. Details soon…” his tweet read. Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai also in...
Post a Comment
Read more

Herdsman and 15 Cows killed in fresh Benue attack

The nigerian Police on Tuesday, March 5, 2018, confirmed that unknown gunmen killed a Fulani herdsman and 15 cows at Rafin-Bauna community of Iregwe land in Bass Local Government Area of Plateau. Terna Tyopev, the spokesman of the Police Command in the state said in Jos that the incident happened at about 5:30 p.m on Monday. Tyopev said that two Iregwe youths were on Monday also attacked and severely injured at about 6 pm while returning from a mining site at Gyero community COPY CODE SNIPPET ;At about 17:30hrs we received information that a Fulani man was killed and 15 of his cows slaughtered by gunmen suspected to be Iregwe people at Rafin-Bauna village of Bassa Local Government. “We are yet to ascertain the name and address of the slain victim. “Similarly, two Iregwe youths while returning from a mining site at Gyero were attacked by armed men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, and as a result sustained a various degree of injuries,” he said. The spokesman said the two injur...
Post a Comment
Read more

NO AUTOMATIC TICKET FOR BUHARI 2019–TINUBU

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the National Leader of the APC , says there will be no automatic ticket for President Buhari to run as APC's presidential candidate in 2019 as the party would follow the normal democratic process of conducting a primary to elect its presidential flagbearer.  Speaking after a meeting with members of pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, in Ondo state earlier today, Tinubu said the leadership of the party had not endorsed President Buhari as its sole candidate for the forthcoming presidential election. His statement was against the recent endorsement of President Muhammadu as the sole candidate of the APC for the 2019 election by  APC governors. Tinubu's comment comes after Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha, declared his support for President Buhari to run for a second term in office “No governors can appropriate the power of endorsement to themselves. Buhari is a believer in the process. The Buhari, I know, believes in the rule of law. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

NIGERIAN ARMY PROMOTES SENIOR OFFICERS

The Nigerian army council on Monday approved the promotion of 137  of it's senior officers. The council approved the promotion of 45 Brigadier Generals to the rank of Major Generals and 92 Colonels to the rank of Brigadier Generals. The announcement was made in a statement by Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman, Director Army Public Relations.  Some of those promoted to the rank of Two Star Generals (Major General) include: Brigadier General HO Otiki, Acting Commander Defence Headquarters Garrison. Brigadier General OO Soleye, Acting Director Veteran Affairs, Defence Headquarters Acting Provost Marshal, Brigadier General AT Hamman. Acting Military Secretary, Brigadier General F Yahaya. Acting General Officers Commanding 3, 7 and 8 Divisions, Brigadier General BA Ahanotu. Brigadier General IM Yusuf and Brigadier General SO Olabanji respectively. Acting Commander Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps Brigadier General JI Unuigbe. Brigadier General AA Jidda; Acti...
Post a Comment
Read more

MY PRIORITY IS FOR PDP TO RETURN TO POWER 2019–JONATHAN

Former president of Nigeria Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has said  His priority is to make sure the People's Democratic party returns to the presidency in 2019.He said his focus now is to take the PDP to its former position. The former Nigerian leaders said this when he received Bode George, a chairmanship aspirant of the PDP, at his residence in Otuoke, Bayelsa state. “Whether I like it or not, I must take responsibility for the defeat because I led the party to the election,” the media team of George quoted Jonathan as saying. “My priority now is how to ensure that the Peoples Democratic Party regains the presidency in 2019.… The only thing that will make me sleep well is to ensure that the PDP comes back to power.” The former president said he was working with other stakeholders to ensure that the party was well organised to take back power.  Promising that the mistakes of the past would not be repeated, Jonathan advised the party to take steps to regain the confide...
Post a Comment
Read more