The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in the 19 Northern states and Abuja Thursday night disowned a band of pastors, who visited president Muhammadu Buhari, saying they lack the mandate to speak on behalf of the pastors in the 19 Northern states.
“ These folks are unknown to us, said Reverend John Hayap, CAN’s publicity secretary while speaking to Per Second News Thursday night.
The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in the 19 Northern states and Abuja Thursday night disowned a band of pastors, who visited president Muhammadu Buhari, saying they lack the mandate to speak on behalf of the pastors in the 19 Northern states.
“ These folks are unknown to us, said Reverend John Hayap, CAN’s publicity secretary while speaking to Per Second News Thursday night.
He disclosed that the Arewa pastors Non denominational initiative for peace in Nigeria is not known to the Christian Association of Nigeria in the north and cannot be said to be representing Christians in the north.
“We have searched through all our chapters in the 19 Northern states and Abuja and we found out that the leader of the delegation and most of them resides in Port-Hacourt, Rivers State.
He alleged that the leader of the group is from Benue, according to findings with most of them from the South-South states.
Rev Hayap, said though the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association are among the most important human rights we possess, these rights protect peoples’ ability to come together and work for the common good.
Reverend Hayap wondered why the Christian leaders did not seize the opportunity of being with the president to draw attention to Leah Sharibu’s plight.
The calamitous terrorist group, Boko Haram retained the only Christian among more than 100 kidnapped girls who were freed recently, prompting the northern (CAN) to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to obtain her release.
Boko Haram refused to release Leah Nathan Sharibu, 15, because she would not renounce her faith and convert to Islam.
“The Northern Christian leaders are all busy praying for the safe return of Leah Sharibu, and would not engage in politics. “ We love the president and we pray for him daily.”
He said the group might have been sponsored by some politicians in the South South region for personal and political gains.
A Christian leader from Adamawa who spoke under the condition of anonymity said a former governor of a South-South state who three years ago accused some church leaders of taking N6 billion bribe from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to campaign against president Muhammadu Buhari, is fingered to have orchestrated the visit of the pastors.
Delighted with the president’s performance, the “Arewa pastors” had during the visit to president Buhari on Thursday vowed to expose those working against him within the Christain fold in the north.
