The Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigerian, CBCN, has denied media
reports that it returned to the umbrella body of the Christian Association of
Nigeria, CAN.
The Christian Association had informed Nigerians in a statement on
Sunday, February 18, 2018, that the CBCN was back to its national body, after
five years of withdrawal.
The statement signed by Adebayo Oladeji, the media assistance to the CAN
President, attributed the return to effort made by the CAN leadership to unite
the various blocks of the association.
“Their return was one of the best things that have been happening since I
was given the mandate to become the President,” the statement said, quoting
CAN’s President, Samson Ayokunle.
But in an interview on Wednesday, February 21, 2018, Ignatius Kaigama,
the CBCN president, said although negotiations were ongoing for the expected
return, the CBCN was yet to take a final decision about rejoining the umbrella
body.
“We want to dialogue and conclude some issues of the constitution. We are
still talking, we are still negotiating. We are still re-examining how things
have been so that when we return, our return will be total and complete. So the
statement you saw did not emanate from the Catholic Church. Although we are
working with CAN at the state levels.
“When we are through with our dialogue and negotiations with the
Christian Association of Nigeria and we are mutually satisfied, we as the
Catholic Bishops Conference will issue a statement to that effect,” said Mr.
Kaigama, who is also the Catholic archbishop of Jos.
Samson Ayokunle, the CAN President, explained that his media aide
interpreted the decision of the CBCN to attend the constitution review and the
Executive Council meetings organised by CAN, to mean that the Catholic Bishops
had returned to the association.
“Well it’s not a full return. We have been having meetings. They attended
our Constitution review meeting and the following day they had a full
representation at our executive Council meeting. That was what my media man
interpreted to mean that they had returned.
“But we have been having improvements in our negotiation. They even
invited me last Sunday for a program. Such things were not done before.
“But I have just received a mail from them saying that they would like
the constitution review completed before they return. So their full return
depends on when we complete our Constitution review,” Mr. Ayokunle said.
The CBCN pulled out of the Christian Association five years ago, citing
politicisation of CAN’s leadership as reason for its decision.
The Catholic bishops accused the Ayo Oritsejafor-led former leadership of
the Christian association of involvement in partisan politics.
In a statement signed by Mr. Kaigama, the CBCN said it would only return
to CAN’s national body when it believes that the leadership of the association
had returned to its original vision.
“CAN is being dragged into partisan politics thereby compromising the
ability to play its true role as conscience of the nation and the voice of the
voiceless,” the bishops said.
The statement further said the CBCN would however continue its
participation with CAN at state levels.
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