CAN Is Aiding 'Ongoing Jihad Against Christians,' Christian Elders Forum Declare

The National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) has called on Nigerians to turn on their spidey-sense, alleging that the largest Christian body in the country, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is aiding “ongoing jihad against Christians” in the country.

Similarly, the forum which claimed that the CAN President, Mr Samson Ayokunle, has continuosly thwarted efforts aimed at ensuring the emergence of a Christian President in 2019 alleged that Ayokunle is also frustrating sincere attempts to raise funds for the development of vulnerable Christian groups in the country.

“On May 6 and 7, 2018, the President of CAN deliberately frustrated the meeting summoned by NCEF to build Christian political consensus. On August 13 and 14, 2018, the CAN leadership also frustrated the efforts of CSMN to mobilise funding for the purpose of building Christian political structures," said Bosun Emmanuel.

The Secretary of the NCEF, in a statement issued Saturday added, “Deliberate frustration of the CAN Trust Fund which was set up to raise N5 billion monthly to fund Christian structures and support persecuted Christians. Dr. Ayokunle has frustrated it to the point it has become moribund.

“Even a cheque for N7 million issued by CAN Trust Fund on 12th April, 2018 to purchase food for Christian IDPs in seven states has lapsed in the National Secretariat of CAN after six months. Dr. Ayokunle, the President of CAN, frustrated the release of the money to feed Christian IDPs.”

The NCEF is reacting to the statement released on Friday evening by the CAN President, Ayokunle, in which he denounced the Christian Elders Forum explaining the CAN National Executive Council has dissolved the elders forum.

Ayokunle said, “In the Communique issued on Friday, November 30, 2018 in Abuja, CAN among other things “immediately dissolves the National Christian Elders’ Forum (NCEF) which was inaugurated on Thursday, January 15, 2015 by the powers conferred on the then 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,” the statement added.

In the statement signed by Adebayo Oladeji, the spokesperson of the CAN President, and sighted by the Premium Times, CAN said it was also ‘dissolving’ the NCEF, following the failure of both parties to reach an amicable resolution.

The CAN statement accused the NCEF of “using the social media and a section of the traditional media to attack its leadership” by disseminating “unprintable words” against the association, following what CAN described as its failure to “take directives from the elders forum”.

However, the NCEF while reacting to the CAN statement on Saturday said CAN cannot dissolve the NCEF.

“Our attention was drawn to a press statement by Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, the Special Assistant (Media & Communications) to the current President of CAN, purportedly claiming that CAN has dissolved the National Christian Elders Forum. We urge Christians to disregard this statement as it is not based on truth,” the statement said.

The NCEF in the statement recounted its history, saying it was formed by a group “outside CAN” and therefore submitted that it cannot be dissolved by the Christian association.

According to the NCEF, the forum was formed by three founding members who were part of another group: the Christian Social Movement of Nigeria, (CSMN), which had given birth to the forum.

It explained that its founding members including the NCEF chairman, Solomon Asemota, had invited the former CAN President, Ayo Oritsejafor, to inaugurate the group after it was formed by the CSMN.

“CAN Trust Fund was established by CAN and its bank account was opened in the name of CAN. The National Christian Elders Forum was established by CSMN. The bank account operated by the NCEF is in the name of CSMN and not in the name of CAN.

“There is nothing wrong for any Christian body inviting the President of CAN to inaugurate any of its arms and its leaders. CSMN is an independent and duly registered body that sought to strengthen Church Unity by projecting CAN.

“Therefore, inauguration of NCEF by the former President of CAN does not confer its ownership on CAN,” the NCEF said in its statement on Saturday.