SAN FRANCISCO, July 04, (THEWILL) – A group of Christians called Christ Redeemers Union (CRU) have alleged that two ex-Presidents of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), have formed a powerful bloc to frustrate the inauguration of President-Elect, Dr. Supo Samson Ayokunle scheduled for July 20.
The organisation alleged that Catholic ArchBishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, a former President of CAN, has summoned some Christian leaders including the outgoing President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor to a meeting to effect the plan.
The group disclosed that the said meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, July 7, in Akwa Ibom State, at the residence of another former President of CAN and ex-Primate of the Methodist Church, Sunday Mbang.
A statement issued by the National Director of CRU, Dr. Ebenezer Olusola Abednego, in Abuja, described the meeting as illegal warning that the group would resist any plot to scuttle the inauguration of Ayokunle and create confusion in the body of Christ.
“We have been informed that the meeting was at the instance of Cardinal Onaiyekan who is from the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria block, who was defeated by outgoing CAN President, Oritsejafor,” Abednego said.
“The aim of the meeting is to frustrate the inauguration of the newly elected President of CAN, Ayokunle and Prof. Joseph Otubu.
“This same ex-President of CAN had earlier expressed his disdain and had sworn that no member of Pentecostals and white garment churches would be President of CAN.
“For us in CRU, the meeting is laced with serious mischief and we see it as a plot and Bobby trap to cause crisis in the body of Christ and disallow the incumbent from finishing his tenure successfully.
“The Akwa Ibom meeting has no name, and is unconstitutional in CAN. Will Nigerian Christians allow this aggrieved ex-President of CAN to usurp the authority of CAN NEC which had validly and constitutionally elected a successor to Oritsejafor.”
THEWILL recalls that Ayokunle, President of Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), contested and won under the platform of Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), while his Vice President-Elect, Prof. Joseph Otubu of the Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Movement, contested under the umbrella of Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC).
The new leadership of CAN is expected to be inaugurated on July 20 during the forthcoming General Assembly of CAN.
Story by David Oputah
