By ileowo kikiowo
The Christian Association of
Nigeria (CAN) has reacted to the withdrawal of the Catholic Church in
Nigeria to pull out of the association, saying they are free to leave.
The
Punch Newspaper today reported that the spokesperson for the 19
Northern chapters of CAN, Sunny Oibe, told journalists in Abuja the
Catholics were free to go away.
He also accused the Christian
denomination of arrogance, saying they were merely angry because the
presidency of the association had moved to another bloc of the group.
Their exit will not affect the association in any way, the CAN spokesperson said.
Mr.
Oibe alleged that Catholics had been sulking since its candidate, John
Onaiyekan, lost the presidency of the association to Ayo Oritsejafor.
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.
"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.
"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?
"They have been
agitating that the Presidency of CAN must come from the South. They are
appendage of PDP and PDP themselves. They are known for double
standards. A man of God should not be double speaking."
The
President, Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBNC), Ignatius
Kaigama had written to CAN President, Ayo Oritsejafor, saying his group
was suspending "participation in CAN meetings at the national level
until such a time the leadership of CAN reverse back to the original
vision, mission and objectives of CAN".
Expatiating further
on its grouse with the Oritsejafor-led leadership of the association,
the bishops lamented that CAN had been politicized and was no longer
being used to promote peace and unity in the country.
"CAN is
being dragged into partisan politics thereby compromising the ability to
play its true role as conscience of the nation and the voice of the
voiceless," the bishops said.
PSN
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