Fire for Fire in the House of God: Buhari’s cash gift divides CAN

It is indeed fire for fire as the National Christian Elders Forum, NCEF, is accusing the leadership of the Christian of Nigeria (CAN) of corruption and abuse of office.

The forum alleged that the leadership of the organisation for Christians in Nigeria received the sum of N25 million or N40 million from the Presidency during a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari, speaking up against the action and calling for probe and sanction. It also accuse the CAN leadership of buying official cars at a very questionable prices.

Reacting to the allegations leveled against the leadership of CAN, The CAN President, Rev. (Dr) Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, dismissed the allegations, branding them as “a catalogue of lies” coming from disgruntled elements designed to smear his good reputation among the Christian faithfuls.

In a memo, titled ‘NCEFProtests:Is NEC of CAN Guilty of Negligence?’, and signed by the Chairman, Elder Solomon Asemota, SAN, on behalf of members, including retired Generals Joshua Dogonyaro, Zamani Lekwot, Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma; Elder Matthew Owojaiye, Justice Kalajine Anigbogu (ret.), Elder Shyngle Wigwe, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Pastor BosunEmmanuel (Secretary), NCEF is calling on the National Executive Council, NEC, to investigate alleged  high handedness of the CAN President.
According to the memo, NEC should immediately convene an emergency meeting to consider the issues raised and set up the process for the investigation of Ayokunle and immediate suspension ofthe President of CAN, until all these allegations have been investigated and he is cleared of wrong doing.

They went on: “On the 10th of November, 2017, a delegation of CAN, led by the President of CAN, Rev. Dr. Ayokunle, met with President Muhammadu Buhari and, after the visit, collected ‘transportation’ money. While informed sources claim it was N40 million, CAN officials insist it was N25 million and it was alleged to have been shared by somebody who is not an official of the National Secretariat of CAN.

Ayokunle, who was attending a conference in Philadephia, United States, at the weekend,advised the Christian faithfuls  to discountenance the charges and view it as a “ box full of lies.”
You know if these people are allowed to carry out successfully their campaign to smear my reputation and that of CAN on the pages of the media,they have successfully finished the Church of God in Nigeria. They have already asked that I should be removed from my position because they did a kangaroo investigation which did not involve me.”
While appealing for restraint,Ayokunle said representatives from both partiesto the conflict must allow the NEC of CAN to handle all perceived grievances amicably “because when you have done the damage, it will be difficult to correct.”