The Catholic Church has threatened to pull out from Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, archbishop of Jos and president of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) wrote a letter to CAN… “The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), which represents the Catholic Church in Nigeria, has observed with sadness how, for some years now, CAN has continued to deviate from the original objectives for which it was founded. The CSN has, on various occasions, appealed to the leadership of CAN to do all it could to ensure that the noble ideals of the Association be not only recovered but also promoted.”

“Unfortunately, these appeals have so far been unheeded. This situation of things constrained the CSN to suspend active participation in the affairs of CAN, with a request that sincere efforts be made to improve on the situation…”

“The way and manner in which the electoral process of CAN has been handled does not show any willingness of the leadership to do things in a way worthy of the Association. We can no longer go along with the way things are now. The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria therefore demands that the current electoral process be suspended forthwith until the heads of the five Blocks of CAN reconvene (which we hope will be as soon as possible), to work out a way of bringing the association back on track, so that it may serve the purpose for which it was originally founded.

“This is the only condition under which the CSN can positively consider its continued membership of the Association.”

Be that as it may, Rev Dr. Samson Supo Ayokunle, President Nigerian Baptist Convention was elected CAN president recently.