Catholics return to CAN after 5 years

By Daniel Tyokua
Five years after pulling out of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) has returned to the umbrella body for Christians in the country.
The Secretariat under the auspices of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria had in 2012 when Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor was the CAN president, withdrew its membership following what it termed a�?malfunctioninga�? in the association.
But in a statement issued on Sunday, CAN President, Dr. Samson Ayokunle, said that Catholics were back to the body.
In the statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, the CAN President said that the return of Catholics into the national Christian body was one of his goals since he assumed office.
Ayokunle stated that as the CAN President, his priority was to ensure that all Christians work together and under one umbrella.
According to him, the decision was reached after an expanded National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for the amendment of the constitution of CAN and the quarterly meeting of the association, which the Catholics delegation was led by Rev. Fr. Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua, at the weekend.
He said: “One of my visions for CAN is to bring our Catholic brothers and sisters back to the fold and I must acknowledge the support and understanding of my brother in Christ, Most Rev Ignatius Kaigama, President, Catholic Bishopsa�� Conference of Nigeria and his team”
CAN was formed in 1976 by five Christian blocs in the country: the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN); the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria/Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN/CPFN), the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), Tarayar Ekklesiyoyin Kristi a Nigeria or The Fellowship of the Churches of Christ in Nigeria (TEKAN)/ Evangelical Church of Winning All (ECWA).
Kagama had led the leadership of CBNC to the CAN National Secretariat last year where in a meeting with Ayokunlea��s team they addressed the grey areas and Kagama hinted of the readiness of the Catholics to work with the new leadership of the group.