During its 7th December, 2017 meeting, the National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) passed a resolution to set up another Committee to intervene in conflicts amongst the Executives of CAN. This would be the third time in one year that the NCEF would wade into such contentions.

The issues that are unfolding in CAN portend great danger for Christianity in Nigeria and should neither be treated with levity nor favoritism. In its mortal struggle against Islamism, the Nigerian Church requires Christian leadership that possesses strong moral authority.

The attention of National Christian Elders Forum  (NCEF) has been drawn to information circulating in the media that CAN has dissolved the Forum of Christian Elders. This is not true. NCEF urges Christians and the General Public to disregard the misleading information.

NEC of CAN is not empowered by the Constitution of CAN to dissolve any Christian Group. In the 42 years of CAN's existence, such reckless violation of CAN's Constitution has not been witnessed. Articles 6 and 8 of the Constitution of CAN explains the limits of the power of NEC and lists the "member group" it can "suspend".

The truth of the matter is that there are allegations of fraud and criminal violation of the Constitution to conceal fraud in CAN. NCEF exposed the allegations and demanded proper independent investigation so that the truth can be established and justice can be done in the Church. This is after NCEF had set up two independent Committees whose Reports CAN Officials ignored choosing rather to set up an in-house Committee which resulted in further contention.

NCEF regrets the acrimony and strife that has engulfed the Church since the inception of this current CAN Administration. The Christian Elders will publish a more detailed Report on this issue later.
NCEF remains a duly constituted Group serving the interests of the Body of Christ.

Thank you.
Secretary
19th Dec. 2018
 

Rejoinder: CAN Advertorial Of Friday 14th December, 2018

The National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) regards with much concern and regret the consistent contention and acrimony demonstrated by the current Officials of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle. It is a cause of great concern when Officials of Christian Association of Nigeria paid for Advertorial to denounce an arm of the Body of Christ in total disregard of the Constitution of CAN. In its paid Advertorial, signed by Barrister Daramola Joseph Bade, the Acting General Secretary of CAN and Bishop S. T. V. Adegbite, Director of National Issues, CAN stated, that it “forthwith dissolves and dissociates completely from the NCEF”. This statement has no basis in law or logic. Having issued such falsehood through a paid Advertorial, NCEF is left with no other option but to utilize the same medium to set records straight. The NCEF wishes to clarify as follows:

LOVE GOD AND LOOK UP TO YOUR NEIGHBOR AS ANOTHER SELF 

FOR PEACE AND PROSPERITY OF NIGERIA  

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

LOVE GOD AND LOOK UP TO YOUR NEIGHBOR AS ANOTHER SELF 

FOR PEACE AND PROSPERITY OF NIGERIA  

Introduction

This presentation begins with the various reasons why Amalgamation took place in
January 1, 1914 and since then 104 after, Nigeria has “under-re-sourced, sapped by
corruption and distrusted by the population” kleptocracy and government dishonesty
have corrosive effect on popular confidence in government. Nigeria’s security
apparatus seemed determined to turn Nigeria from a Democracy to an Islamic Sharia
State.

NCEF regrets the constant contention and strife that define the current Administration of CAN. It is very disturbing that Christ-like leadership is not demonstrated in the Church.

TEXT OF PRESS CONFERENCE ORGANIZED BY CHRISTIAN SOCIAL MOVEMENT OF NIGERIA (CSMN) AND ADDRESSED BY NATIONAL CHRISTIAN ELDERS FORUM ((NCEF) ON FRIDAY 23^RD NOVEMBER, 2018 AT GOSHEN LAND, IKEJA, LAGOS AT 12.00 NOON

POLITICS AND THE NIGERIAN CHURCH:

THE NATIONAL CHRISTIAN ELDERS FORUM’S VIEWPOINT

Politics affects the lives of all of us; it cannot become an Exclusive Preserve of a handful of Politicians.

Neutrality of the Church at “TIMES LIKE THIS” is tantamount to “Leaving the flock alone without the guidance of a Shepherd” (Mk. 6: 34)

Distinguished gentlemen of the Press,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Our attention has been drawn to a Press Release signed on behalf of CAN by Bishop Steve Adegbite, the Director of National Issues and Mobilization, on Wednesday 14th November, 2018 condemning the intervention of NCEF in the contentions and crisis amongst the CAN Executive.

Arising from the aforementioned Press Release, NCEF wishes to clarify as follows:

November 14, 2018

Bishop Oriname O. Kure

Chairman

Christian Association of Nigeria CAN

Benin City

My Lord,

CONTENDING IDEOLOGIES OF DEMOCRACY AND SHARIA

Further to our telephone conversation, Kure/Asemota of Tuesday, November 13, 2018, the issues in contention in Nigeria today is the competing ideologies of Democracy and Sharia.

“For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth,” 2 Cor. 13: 8

Please find below links to three reports on issues that affect the current state of Christianity in Nigeria. These issues are made open in the interest of Truth and Righteousness and also for record purposes in Heaven and on Earth.

“The further a society drifts from the truth the more it will hate those who speak it.” –

George Orwell.

OUR ATTENTION HAS BEEN DRAWN to a very disturbing notice in the Social Media issued by the Media Assistant to the President of CAN, to the effect that a NEW COORDINATOR has been appointed for the CAN TRUST FUND. This action climaxes the series of manipulations and intrigues set in motion by Rev. Dr. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle to destabilize, frustrate, destroy and eventually illegally dismantle the current structure of the CAN Trust Fund and put in place one that would be pliable to him. We wish to place on record that since Rev Dr Samson Ayokunle assumed office as the CAN President, he has not hidden his avowed intention to destabilize the Christian Association of Nigeria by frustrating and dismantling the CAN Trust Fund. Pastor Bosun Emanuel, Secretary/Coordinator of the Trust Fund has in the past written severally to CAN on this subject but it is now clear that Rev Dr Ayokunle has succeeded in misleading CAN on the issue of the CAN TRUST FUND. It has to be noted that all the actions taken under the directives of the CAN President are illegal and unsustainable in law having regard to the actual nature of the TRUST FUND and the involvement of CAN thereto. 

INTRODUCTION

The NCEF has written letters to Church leaders which, till date, have not been acknowledged. This, in our view is not in keeping with Christian ethos and ideals

We have pleaded with Prof Otubu and Pastor Bosun from taking court action against Rev. Supo Ayokunle for the obvious reason that Christians in Nigeria today more than ever before need “to be one”.  This is not to say that Church leaders and elders can hide criminal acts by Church leaders especially and specifically, the CAN President, who is the head of the number one organization of Christians which pride itself as the moral conscience of the Nigerian Nation.

 -These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him:

A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running unto mischief,

A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Proverbs 6:16-19.