A leadership tussle is rocking the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory over tenure elongation.......CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE>>>>>
DAILY POST reports that two groups are laying claim to the leadership of the association.
The group led by Rev. Yakubu Pam has condenmed the faction led by Rev. Joseph Hayab for allegedly organising an election of new officials without following due process.
The Pam group described the newly elected officials as mischief makers bent on destabilising the Northern CAN for selfish and political purposes.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday in Kaduna, the Secretary General of Northern CAN on the side of the Pam faction, Elder Sunday Oibe alleged that the action of the Hayab group amounted to fraud and illegality.
Countering the Pam faction, Hayab explained, “It is very clear that constitutionally the tenure of Rev. Yakubu Pam and his officials have expired. It expired over two years ago and they were reelected in 2019 for the second term that has three-year tenure. We are now in 2025. So they have overstayed in the office for over two years.
“Constitutionally, they cannot conduct or be involved in this CAN election. Instead of them to address the issue at hand, which is expiration of tenure, they are busy insulting people, calling others all sorts of names.
“We will not join issues with them, but we will do the right thing for the development and progress of Northern CAN.
“I was invited to Abuja last week as a member of CAN like any other member where the election was organised by elders of CAN from the North. I was opportuned to be elected as the substantive chairman of Northern CAN at an election that was attended by 16 states CAN chairmen and their secretaries and other stakeholders of the organisation.”
But the Pam faction, speaking through Elder Oibe, said, “Last week, a group which called itself Concerned Christian Elders of the North, led by one Joseph Hayab, invited some people to a meeting in Abuja. At the meeting, he decided to appoint himself as the chairman of Christian Association in the 19 Northern states and the Federal CapitalTerritory (FCT).
“His co-travellers were also appointed to various positions as members of his executive. Their action, to say the least, is not only fraudulent, illegal, crude and self-serving, but divisive and tantamount to a religious coup.”