- insists only the president authorised to speak on national issues
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The national leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has warned its members at regional or state level against issuing media statements or other media actions on national issues without its permission.
It insisted that only the national president of the association is permitted by CAN’s constitution to do that, and otherwise from its officials at regional or states level could attract sanctions.
In a statement, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, the CAN President, said it has come to the attention of the national leadership of CAN that certain statements attributed to entities such as “Northern CAN,” “Southern CAN,” and other regional or unofficial groups are often in circulation without the knowledge or permission of the national body.
He stated that these entities are not recognised within its constitutional structure, hence any statement issued by such groups do not reflect the official position of CAN, and should be disregarded by the public and the media.
He further explained that CAN operates a four-tier structure. At the national level, the Association is headquartered in Abuja and led by the President and the National Executive Council (NEC). The General Assembly ratifies significant decisions, including the election of the President. This level is responsible for national policy direction and represents all Christian denominations across Nigeria.
At the zonal level, CAN is organised into six geopolitical zones: North-West, North-East, North-Central, South-West, South-East, and South-South. Each zone is coordinated by a Zonal Chairman and a Zonal Executive Committee. The zonal structure serves as an intermediate level for coordination, communication, and implementation of national directives across the broader regional blocs. Zonal leaders facilitate unity and consistency among the state chapters within their jurisdictions.
At the State level, CAN maintain chapters in all 36 states and the FCT. Each chapter is led by a State Chairman and a State Executive Committee that’s coordinating Christian activities within the respective states under the guidance of the zonal and national bodies.
At the Local Government level, CAN maintain councils in all 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across the country. These councils, headed by Local Government Chairmen, manage Christian affairs at the grassroots and report to their respective state chapters.
He stated that the authority to issue official press statements on behalf of CAN resides solely with the President, as stipulated in the CAN Constitution. “The current President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, is therefore the only person empowered to speak on behalf of the Association on matters of national and international importance. While zonal, state, and local chapters may issue communications relevant to their immediate contexts, they are not authorised to issue statements representing the national position of CAN unless expressly permitted by the national leadership.”
CAN said the official clarification regarding its organisational structure and the authority to speak on behalf of the Association, in accordance with the provisions of its Constitution is necessary to ensure accurate public representation and to prevent the spread of misinformation.
He appealed to all stakeholders, especially media organisations, to verify the authenticity of any communication attributed to CAN by contacting the National Secretariat or confirming that it is signed by the President or his designated representative to help prevent misinformation and preserve the integrity of CAN’s official voice.
The CAN President said the Association remains unwavering in its commitment to Christian unity and peaceful coexistence throughout Nigeria, appreciating the continued support of the public, and urges all to rely only on information released through verified and official channels.