By: Innocent Osuoha
The Imo State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) came into being in Imo State some thirty years ago with five strong blocs constituting it.
The blocs include 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 Organization of the Africa Instituted Church (OAIC) and the Evangelical Church of Winning All (ECWA).
According to available records, Archbishop AJV Obinna of the CSN bloc was the pioneer Chairman for two terms of three years each followed by Bishop Cyril Okorocha of the CCN bloc. He was succeeded by Pastor Cosmos Ilechukwu of the PFN/CPFN bloc who presided for one tenure while the incumbent Bishop Stanford Nwogu also of PFN/CPFN block is currently completing the bloc’s second term.
From all indications, for peace and equity to reign in the body. It does appear that ascendancy to the CAN Chairman’s position is rotatory among the five blocs so also other positions. But, it is on record that the OAIC and ECWA blocs are yet to ascend the state CAN Chairmanship position.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in all ramifications is a body, of ordained ministers of God who by their vocation should set the pace for others to follow. The CAN membership does not preclude lay persons but one thing common is that members are practical Christians who have the fear of God in them.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) just like the Nigeria Union of journalists should be the conscience of the society which implies that whatever
concerns the two bodies must be peaceful, transparent and seen to have followed due process.
However, it is disappointing to note that, the happenings in the Imo State CAN circle especially as it concerns its inability to conduct its chapter election is nothing to write home about and of course too shameful.
For instance, after several attempts, the issue of who succeeds the incumbent chairman, Bishop Stafford Nwogu of the PFN/CPFN remains unresolved.
The most disheartening event was an attempt to hold an election on Friday, 22nd of July, 2016 during which CAN members were close to exchange of blows. That election was later declared inconclusive – a new register in Nigerian political arena.
This scenario prompted the Press to go to town with various banner headlines. For instance. “Imo CAN Election postponed indefinitely.”I won’t Allow evil men to hijack Imo CAN, Nwogu and “let INEC conduct Imo CAN Elections-members plead”.
Certainly, these captions do not and will never portray Imo CAN in good light and people are beginning to wonder if CAN as renowned as it seems cannot organize a one body election, how come then they criticize the trends in Nigerian politics.
If after several attempts and Imo Chapter of CAN cannot organize an in-house election of its own, then something is amiss. It can then be deduced that politics as entered into religion matters which is too bad, ironically, we should then clap for the politicians.
Again, events in the country have portrayed CAN chairmanship at all levels as gold mines and this no doubt explains the stiffer competition that of Imo State has assumed.
There is every need that the Imo State Chapter of CAN should put its house in order and show a better leadership example so that it can have the moral justification to condemn the ills of Nwogu the society or Is it a case of “Doctor, heal thyself?.
Rev. Innocent Osuoha, Emmanuel Angli Church, Izombe
