The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, yesterday reacted to the alleged moves by the Catholic Church to break away from the umbrella religious body, stressing that the threat was occasioned by the loss of the Presidency of the body to Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.
The Public Relations Officer of the 19 Northern States of CAN and Abuja, Mr. Sunny Oibe, who spoke with journalists yesterday on the alleged threat, also accused Catholics of arrogance. He said: “There is no division in CAN and we are all speaking with one language.
There are some certain elements in the leadership of CAN, led by Cardinal John Onaiyekan because he lost the 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 nowbecause power has changed hands, they are threatening to pull out and causing confusion?
“They have been agitating that the Presidency of CAN must from the South. They are an appendage of PDP and PDP themselves. They are known for double standards.
A man of God should not be double speaking.” He said in exercising their right to free association, Catholics should not mislead the public. “The Catholics are claiming that the current CAN leadership has deviated from the vision of the founding fathers when they don’t even know how CAN came about.
What did the Catholics know about the vision of the founding fathers? “CAN was formed because of the marginalisation of Christians in the North.
The Christians in the North, particularly those of them from the TEKAN extraction came together and formed Northern Christian Association. It was that body that metamorphosed to CAN,” he said.
According to him, during the administration of Olusegun Obasanjowhen CAN was to be registered, “the leadership was given to thembecause Catholics were in leadership; I want o correct that impression because they have been telling the world that they arethe founding fathers of CAN.
“Catholics have accused the current CAN leadership led by Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor of being pro-government. But if you look at the whole scenario, you will be able to find out who between Oritsejafor and Onaiyekan is more close to government.
“The problem of Catholics is that they always display arrogance ofknowledge. They don’t want to be under anybody but they want everybody to be under them. It doesn’t work like that because there is no seniority in CAN,” he added.
http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/can-dares-catholics-says-you-can-pull-out/

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Just in case

CAN and Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs are the most useless organizations in this country. Very useless and highly inept.
Kudos to Catholic.

Could sanusi be right? That such organisation should be ban.

are they really pressure group for the generality of Christian or some few once are just using it for their own gains.

Pls can some tell me what had this organisation achieve so far?

Is can truly an arm of PDP, going by catholic decision to step aside for a while?

CAN is right. Any Church/body that wants to pull out should pull out. Nobody is stopping them.

Let the Body of Christ not be divided in Nigeria. The Catholics should remain in CAN.

The whole CAN of a thing should be scraped.. And who gave the so called man of God the right to judge catholics?

ekt_bear: Let the Body of Christ not be divided in Nigeria. The Catholics should remain in CAN.

You hardly visit Nigeria, so you don't know what is happening.
No Religious organization with human feelings will take side with a government noted for massive corruption and injustice.

ekt_bear: Let the Body of Christ not be divided in Nigeria. The Catholics should remain in CAN.

which one is the body of Christ, the pharisees, sadducees and scribes?

gboss4sure: CAN is right. Any Church/body that wants to pull out should pull out. Nobody is stopping them.

if you pull out of CAN, how u go manage involved in the official religious scam called pilgrimage? you will go to mecca ? Boko boys are not smilling o, but how RCC no go vex? When they were there, they share the spoils to all concern, but today the PFN block carry everything and buy private jets. If na u , u go gree?

ekt_bear: Let the Body of Christ not be divided in Nigeria. The Catholics should remain in CAN.

d catholics havent left yet, they simply suspended their participation till mr presido can address their points. With this development it is clear mr presido wont address their points, febuary will be a plenary council of all catholic bishops in nigeria, if any decision to withdraw is taken, it will be in dat council. But with this provocative reaction by CAN i wont be too suprised if the bishops decides they've had enough.

christemmbassey: if you pull out of CAN, how u go manage involved in the official religious scam called pilgrimage? you will go to mecca ? Boko boys are not smilling o, but how RCC no go vex? When they were there, they share the spoils to all concern, but today the PFN block carry everything and buy private jets. If na u , u go gree?

dis wasnt even among their points. They didnt even mention "private jet" in their letter to CAN.

Ubenedictus: dis wasnt even among their points. They didnt even mention "private jet" in their letter to CAN.

private jets is the euphemism to what ever is causing the wahala-canality, worldliness, the bane of the church of Christ in naija

Ubenedictus: dis wasnt even among their points. They didnt even mention "private jet" in their letter to CAN.

Even if it was one of their points they are not wrong. Why should CAN ask them to pull out? Is that the way good leadership should operate? I dont see anything wrong yet about catholics stand on this issue except i ll see it tomorrow. Until then, catholic is on the right track.

Witout catholic Can is nothing