The Christian Association of Nigeria, Ebonyi State branch has strengthened her total confidence in the Reverend Scamb Chinedum Nwokolo-led administration in the state.
The group made their position known after an emergency meeting held on Sunday in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital.
The resolution was a reaction to a recent publication by some persons purporting that a new CAN leadership had been formed in Ebonyi, headed by one Pastor Alloysius Ogah.
The splinter group had earlier, in a petition dated 15th February, 2024, addressed to the CAN president, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, demanded that the Nwokolo-led CAN Executive be declared null and void by virtue of Nwokolo being a non indigene of the state.
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The group went further to sponsor a public notice in some local media outlets purporting that a five-member new executive led by Ogah has been formed in place of Nwokolo.
Meanwhile, the CAN members in a seven-point communique at the end of their meeting described the splinter group as impostors, out to deceive Christians and the general public, adding that the information was both misleading and frivolous.
They noted that the Nwokolo led executive is the only authentic CAN leadership in the state, stressing that some of the names from Nwokolo’s cabinet mentioned as part of the purported new leadership were criminally impersonated by the mischief makers.
In the communique read out by Rev. Father Simon Eseni, the CAN members cautioned both government and the general public to have nothing to do with the splinter group as it does not belong to any CAN leadership arrangement both at the state and local government area levels.
Part of the communique read: “the general public is equally notified that at no time was the newly elected and inaugurated CAN Executive of Ebonyi State led by His Eminence Rev. Dr. Scamb Nwokolo was dissolved or caretakers inaugurated.
“All elections of the State CAN are always conducted by the National and Zonal bodies of CAN.
“The locus stand of the publishers “that strangers should not rule over their host” (Deut. 17:15) is not only embarrassing to us as leaders of the Christian body in Ebonyi State but nepotic, clannish with pagan undertone as in Christ, “…there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3: 28) “since Christ is all and is in all” (Col. 3:11).
“…Again, to answer Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Ebonyi State by the group, is equally not just impersonation of the body of Christ in Ebonyi State but criminal.
“The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Ebonyi State passes a vote of confidence in the leadership of His Eminence Rev. Dr. Scamb Nwokolo as CAN Chairman, Ebonyi State.
“Any person(s), group(s) dealing with the fake body of CAN does so at its own risk.”
The communique was signed by 18 members representing all the blocs of CAN, directorates, Women and Youth wing.
Meanwhile, Nwokolo, speaking to newsmen said he was unperturbed by the action of the impersonators.
He reaffirmed his resolve to continue to serve the Church in Ebonyi State with utmost transparency and unusual commitment.
