Against the backdrop of the controversies that dogged last week’s election of Rev. Samson Ayokunle of the Nigerian Baptist Convention as the new President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), a religious leader in Rivers State, has called for a review of the association’s constitution, pursuit of fiscal viability for CAN and the shielding of the body from hijack by money bags, if the association is to continue to be relevant to society.
The Supreme Head of Christ Healing Church of Nigeria, Archbishop Benjamin A. Obomanu made the call in an exclusive interview with The Tide yesterday in Port Harcourt.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Fathers’ Day celebration at the All Saints Christ Healing Church of Nigeria, Port Harcourt Parish, the religious leader noted that the rape of CAN constitution has become pervasive both at the state and national levels, saying the trend, if not immediately checked, could lead the body into the “unholy“ grip of moneybags.
Obomanu, who holds the national honour of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR), noted that, of the five blocs that constitute CAN, three had produced the association’s President.
These, he said included the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria/Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN/CPFN), whose candidate, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor’s  tenure ended last week.
Obonmanu said that in line with the CAN Constitution which provides for rotation of the presidency among the five blocs, Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC) and TEKAN/ECWA were the next blocs in line to produce the next CAN President, but noted that the constitutional provisions were breached in the election of Ayokunle, who hails from CCN.
Noting that money was gradually becoming influential in determining the leadership of the association, Obomanu said if the development was allowed to continue, it would adversely affect the unity of CAN.
He, therefore, called on Ayokunle to speedily  move to mend the crack, in the CAN arising from his election while subsequently ensuring a review of the constitution to plug the loopholes that encouraged its rape.
The religious leader also charged the new CAN President to sustain the organisation’s faith in the secularity of the Nigerian State and its opposition to membership of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC).
He also called on Onyekunle to make CAN financially viable without depending on government so as to remain uncompromised to criticize and provide government and society honest advice and spiritual guidance.
Meanwhile, Archbishop Benjamin Obomanu has called on Christians in Rivers State to continue to pray for the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike to enable him to deliver the Ecumenical Centre, whose foundation stone he laid during the recent celebration of his government’s one year in office.
Obomanu, who expressed appreciation to the governor for fulfilling his campaign promise to Christians in the state, noted that it was the crystallisation of a project which the immediate past Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state, Apostle Zilley Aggrey was passionate about.
“As the Director, National and State Issues and Social Welfare in that executive, I share the joy of that achievement”, he said.
The religious leader noted that the Ecumenical Centre would not only promote stronger unity among the five blocs of CAN in the state who are joint owners but will also yield revenue for CAN from the various services it would provide, including event halls.
“Christians in the state will be eternally grateful to Wike at the commissioning of the centre on completion”, Obomanu said.

Donald Mike-Jaja