CAN dissolves its elders forum, gives reasons

The National Executive Committee, NEC, of the Christian Association of
Nigeria (CAN), has with immediate effect, dissolved the National
Christian Elders' Forum, NCEF due to irreconcilable differences with
its activities.

This resolution was reached at its meeting held earlier in the week
where it also unanimously applauded the CAN President, Rev. Samson
Ayokunle for his achievements.

CAN accused NCEF of using the social media and a section of the
traditional media to attack its leadership, especially Rev. Ayokunle
and using unprintable words to label CAN due to his alleged refusal to
take directive from its members.

In a communique forwarded to DAILY POST on Friday, NEC said, "It sees
all the negative and baseless publications against the CAN President
as mere distractions and a calculated attempt to malign his integrity
and derail him from his focus of giving CAN credible leadership."

CAN among other things declares: "immediately dissolves the National
Christian Elders' Forum (NCEF) which was inaugurated on Thursday,
January 15, 2015 by the powers conferred on the CAN President.

"CAN NEC, by the same powers that inaugurated the forum, forthwith
dissolves and dissociates completely from the NCEF in view of the
incongruous and unacceptable operations manifested consistently by the
group.

"CAN NEC dismisses in its entirety, the publication of the immediate
past National Youth CAN Chairman, Mr. Daniel David Kadzai, who, in the
Guardian Newspaper of Monday, November 12, 2018, p.9 alleged that the
CAN President defrauded CAN of "over N2.8 billion".

"CAN regrets that a man who had served the Association in the past,
and was tolerated in spite of his numerous incompetent leadership
skills, could not only be malicious, but impersonate himself as
Chairman of the Congress of Northern Nigerian Christians (CNNC).

"Although he has apologized for his falsehood by the said publication
and has verbally retracted his claims, and the CNNC has equally denied
him of being their Chairman, it is important to set the records
straight. However, because he has apologized to CAN leadership, he has
been forgiven in the spirit of Christ as recorded in Matthew 6:14-15.

"The Meeting critically examined the activities and programmes under
the leadership of its President, Rev Dr Samson Olasupo A. Ayokunle and
ressolved as following;
1. That the CAN President should be appreciated for his courageous
leadership at such a time as this in the history of our nation.

"The CAN National Executive Committee is particularly pleased with the
CAN President for consistently speaking out about the plight of
numerous voiceless people in our country, chiefly, on the terrorist
activities as unleashed by the Boko Haram, the Fulani Herdsmen and
other terrorist groups on innocent Nigerians.

"His struggle for the release of the remaining Chibok School girls,
Miss Leah Sharibu, a captive of her Christian faith, by the Boko Haram
group, and other innocent captives all over the country has been
greatly applauded.

"That the CAN President should be appreciated for his great concern
and positive actions in caring for the Internally Displaced Persons
(IDP's) all over the country. The Association recalled how CAN
leadership travelled from State to State in the country, rendering
support to people who have been displaced from their homes.

"The CAN President should be appreciated for leading CAN in interfaith
activities which were almost completely closed up before he assumed
office. It was noticed that it was at his time that NIREC was revived
and officials who were not giving the organization the needed
cooperation and cohesion were replaced.

"The CAN President was applauded for giving great attention to people
with physical challenges and for setting up a committee to look into
their plight.

"The CAN President was appreciated for recognizing and opening room
for various Christian organizations to collaborate with CAN from
across the country and beyond.

"The CAN President was appreciated for his ability to bring together
Christian leaders from across the country to deliberate on moving the
Nigerian Church forward. This was an unprecedented feat.

"The CAN President was appreciated for ensuring that various court
cases all over the country were withdrawn for out-of-court settlement.

"The meeting ended with the entire house passing a VOTE OF CONFIDENCE
IN THE CAN PRESIDENT, HIS EMINENCE, REV DR SAMSON AYOKUNLE and urging
him to forge ahead with his good work in CAN."