CAN AND ZONING: MATTERS ARISING



Rev John Hayab,
Secretary, CAN Kaduna Chapter





Not even the Adamu Ciroma-led Northern Leaders Consultative Forum could have anticipated it. As its consultations on the search for a consensus presidential candidate from the North from Peoples Democratic Party, PDP was about to end, they chose to touch base with religious leaders.

In the event, they met with leaders of Jamatul Nasrul Islam (JNI) and those of the Northern wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). As I write this nothing, to my knowledge, has been heard in the public space about JNI's reaction to the politicians' proposal, whatever it was. Not so, in the case of CAN - thanks to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Hausa service and a cleric by the name of Habu Aminci.

Reports, quoting BBC, had it that Pastor Aminci granted an interview following the meeting between the prominent northern Nigerian politicians and CAN in respect of Nigeria’s presidency in the 2011 elections, in which he purportedly spoke on behalf of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). He was quoted as saying that: “the Christian community in the northern region has resolved to stand on the side of pro-zoning, by ensuring that Christians in the region vote on the side of a Northern aspirant, whether in the PDP’s presidential primaries and the general election as well..."

Reactions were swift. The Kaduna chapter of CAN was the first to speak through a statement signed by its secretary, Reverend John Hayab. The statement dissociated the group "from claims by a Christian clergy, Pastor Aminci that CAN has taken a position on Zoning and would only support a northern candidate in the 2011 presidential elections, saying it has no business with partisan politics".

Describing Aminci's claim as untrue, the statement said "CAN has never and will not, in any case, be partisan in issues related to politics rather, it will continue to maintain our neutrality of being apolitical but religious organisation conscious of national development, cohesion, integration and peaceful coexistence of our dear country."

CAN further stated that it “has no business with such partisanship politics, and has not in any way taken such a stand. Rather, its persistent stand that Nigeria as a country has suffered a monumental under development, owing to nothing but corrupt and bad leadership, and as such Nigerians must irrespective of religion, ethnicity, political inclinations rise and vote into power men and women of virtues, moral and upright tendencies..."

Next to react was CAN, North Central Zone. Rev Yakubu Pam who spoke on behalf of the zone denounced the Aminci's statement as unauthorised and not representing the views of CAN members in the area.

Then came the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which spoke through its Secretary, Elder Saidu Dogo. His words:

“We wish to state that Pastor Aminci which some national dailies were quoting to have spoken on behalf of CAN in the north actually came with the Ciroma entourage and is not an official or the chairman of CAN in Bauchi State or any other state for that matter.

“The Chairman of CAN in Bauchi State is Bishop Musa Tula, who represented the northern CAN Chairman, Archbishop Peter Jatau during the meeting with the Ciroma committee. Pastor Aminci is not an official of CAN anywhere and therefore has no locus standi to speak for christians in the north.

“Those making any issue out of the interview he granted to the Hausa service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) were doing it mainly for mischief and for their selfish political interest. Our position as religious leaders is to remain neutral and continue to pray for the best leadership for this country.

“We wish to state in very clear terms that there is no crack in CAN and will resist any attempt to be dragged into issues that are purely the affairs of politicians.

“During our meeting with the Ciroma committee, we never said anything on zoning. What we told Ciroma and his committee members was that as religious leaders, we would continue to pray for the best leadership for this country...

“Ciroma restated our position at the meeting in an interview he granted journalists shortly after the meeting when he told them that the only thing one gets from religious leaders is prayers.”

Meanwhile, mum has been the word from the now thoroughly discredited and disowned Rev Aminci. As I write this, he seems to have simply vanished from the public space. Mischief has an expiry date!

But in all of these, one question has continued to tug at my heart. And it is this: how united is CAN? On a national issue such as this, should we have these any voices - State, North Central, the North, speaking for CAN? If this umbrella body of Christians is supposed to comprise five sub-groups - Catholic Secretariat, Christian Council of Nigeria, Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria/Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Organisation of African Initiated Churches & Evangelical Church Winning All/TEKAN, why does it seem to be operating like a geopolitical federal arrangement. It just so happened that the three groups that spoke are in agreement with each other and, presumably, with the national body. What if it had been different? This ought to be food for thought for the current leaders of CAN, I think.