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From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
The chairman of Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF), Elder Sunday Oibe has expressed dissatisfaction and bitterness with the recent change of the name of Northern States chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to Northern Christian Association (NCA) by the Rev. Joseph Hayab-led group against a rival group led by Rev. Yakubu Pam.
In this interview with our correspondent, Elder Oibe who is also the Secretary General of the Northern CAN, explained why the Northern Christians elders are not happy over the change of the nomenclature of the association.
How has Northern Christian elders Forum faired since you came on board as its chairman?
Like you call it, it’s an elders’ forum, not an all-comers affairs. It’s for elder statesmen, who have already reached a certain level and can give back to the society. We are far and wide. With all the mountains of challenges, God is still helping us. Since we came into office in December last year, it was at the height of activities, so not much was done. But since we have entered into this season, by the grace of God, we have settled down and we are putting so many things in place. One of these days, even the media is going to be invited for some of our programmes by the grace of God.
Recently, the National Body of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said there is nothing like a Northern Christian Association. And they have since placed an embargo on that. What is your reaction to this?
Well, the politics and what has actually led to the national CAN taking that decision, as painful as it is, Northern CAN started in the north. But unfortunately, at the time of our fathers, there was amalgamation between the south and the north coming together. They did not see anything too big to press to put it in the constitution and so because it was not in the constitution, but all the former leaders of CAN have never seen any problem with that because they know the peculiarity of the north here. They need a platform where they can speak, address the issues, just as it was under Joe Tanko and Pat Davis and the rest of them. So they have no problem with that.
But now, what has happened? What led to CAN taking the decision they have taken now?
If you recall, on the 25th of February last year, 2025, one Engineer Salifu,led a group where he put what we call his hunting dog, to become the chairman of a factional leader of CAN, where the substantive leadership under Reverend Yakubu Pam is still in place. And then he gathered some people in Abuja and he said he has elected people. They put Joseph Hayab there to become a CAN chairman, under what authority, which we challenged in court. But the court, in their wisdom said that it is not an incorporated body because it was not in the constitution of Northern CAN, so the court cannot entertain the case. That was the decision of the court. You understand? But the same Hayab, who in their response to that, they said there is nothing like Northern CAN. But he used Northern CAN, every issue he would jump into the press, because he has no choice. But any matter that it is of national interest, it is the CAN president who speaks on behalf of all of us.
And ever in the history, CAN Northern States always toe the line of the decision. But Hayab was always jumping into issues that are not his own. The embarrassment would become too much. That was how the national leadership now took that harsh decision. Not because they like it.
Would you say it was a wise decision?
If Hayab and Salifu and Co. did not cause this problem, the national body would not have done this. Since they invited this trouble, as I’m talking to you, I can feel, I can see late Bishop Baba Jatu turning in his grave in tears. I can see late Eder Saidu Dogo who went to prison because of the same Northern CAN and the rest of them crying in their graves because of this Northern CAN. I can see Jonah Adams, who died at the cause of Northern CAN. I can see them crying in their graves. So, I cannot say the national body has not done well. Or whether they have done well. The issue is that if the national body, if I was given the opportunity to be the CAN president, my approach would have been different.
But I will leave it at that because it is a problem that I cannot run them down.
I’m part of the national body. But if we have not given that opportunity, they would have not done that. So, the fault is of Salifu and Hayab and co. They caused this problem.
These people you mentioned recently went ahead to reclaim what they call the 1964 identity of Northern States CAN, and they have now registered a new name for it. What can you say to this?
Well, it is laughable. And that’s why I keep on telling people, don’t live your life to such a point that when you are old, you have nothing to fall back on. You know, the issue is this, Northern CAN does not exist. You created a problem. Northern CAN has been disbanded. Now you are going back to the 1960s.
You can actually take us to the original arrangement. So now what you see them doing, they needed a platform where they can now begin to reach out to politicians because some Nigerian politicians are gullible. And I can tell you that all of this issue is about 2027 general elections where they can say they have a control over this or that thing. When they gathered in Kaduna for their meeting, I spoke with one of the chairmen. He said, he’s not aware. But I told him I saw his secretary there. He said, how could his secretary be in Kaduna without his permission? That he was part of the decision when we said we should amend the bylaw of Northern CAN.
They also said they have formally registered a new name for Northern States CAN?
Whatever name they have registered, that is what they should have done before, but not to come and create problem for the Northern CAN.
You see, I was the one who produced the signboard for Northern CAN’s secret trade. This man went and removed it. He said there is no Northern CAN. But today he fought back to Northern CAN and destroyed it. Now he is forming another organisation.
And let me shock you. There is one group, apart from the people who sponsor an NGO, one John Praise and one Dolly. When they saw the movement, Dolly said, no, you cannot go with the NGO again. They went and formed their own organisation. All they do, it is not because of Jesus Christ and it is not because of the suffering masses of the Northern Nigeria, it is because they needed a platform to reach out to politicians. Those characters that Hayab gathered lack the credibility to rewrite the history of the struggle of our founding fathers. The first question is, who were those characters representing beyond gathering to collect transportation and feeding fees? What structure do they have to speak on behalf of Northern Christians? For example, I am the chairman of CAN in the northwest zone comprising seven states. I am not in the know of any of such decisions. Secondly, as the leader of the Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF) I am not aware of any agreement for such a reversal. How can a group of tired legs that are not representing anyone except their stomach claim to be speaking for the Christians in the North? Since these same characters led by one Engr Salifu and Hayab staged a religious coup on the 25/2/25 which resulted into an unresolved crisis rocking the Northern CAN, which effect caused the national body to make a disclaimer, they were cut off from their sources of food which is a platform they use for propaganda. The authentic Northern CAN led by Rev. Yakubu Pam as its chairman has issued a directive to the members not to say or castigate the decision of the national body while awaiting the direction the Holy Spirit will direct us to take. My humble and free advice to these people led by Hayab is to create their structure devoid of relying on the structure of CAN to be used in the guise of speaking for the Christians in the North. Who are their followers and why rely on the structure of CAN if truly they have the people as claimed? When John Praise & Dolly decided to break away, they formed their organisation and started building their structure devoid of CAN, hence, nobody is quarrelling with them. That’s how to test one’s popularity and credibility instead of fishing from another man’s pond. All that you see them do is because of 2027 general elections after which, they are going to scatter. Hayab and Salifu needed a platform to speak and get the attention of politicians for the purposes of some socio-economic gains. As leaders of CAN from the Northwest zone and the national leader of NOSCEF, we have nothing to do with this group and we call on our people to shine their eyes by resisting the temptation to follow people blindly forthwith.
They said they are doing so because they are voice of the Northern Christians. Don’t you think so?
Are they the voice of the North?. What have they done for the North? I can tell you now, even from 25th of February, 2025 when they started it, tell me one thing they have done for the North. And I can point to things that Reverend Yakubu Pam has done for the Christians in the North. I can tell you the things that some of us sacrificed for the Christian in the North. So, the people who sacrificed for the Christians in the North cannot be part of it. Did you see people like Evangelist Owojaye and Barrister John Achimugu, who laboured till, of recent, he decided to stay on his lane? Did you see people like that? Everybody that you see there, I can tell you their history. They are hungry people.
They also claim that they still belong to the national body of the CAN as Christians?
Of course, every Christian is supposed to belong to CAN at that level, yes. But they are not players in CAN. They didn’t come to CAN meeting. They don’t know what is happening in CAN now. They did what they did because they want to be clever by half, by making Okoh, the CAN president, to be happy. They belong to one NGO.
So they are doing this one to pacify Okoh.
It’s not because the leadership of the National CAN. They know better. So it’s about money collection. And some of us live bigger than them by the grace of God. I can drink my garri for one month, I will not die. But I cannot follow a man without character. If you remove character from a Christian, then you have nothing to live for.
If I show you what a Muslim wrote when he heard about this disbanding of Northern States CAN by the national body. He said, you know, this is happening because of one particular person. And they will go and carry a bogus title; Reverend Dr this, Reverend Dr that. Which school did you go? Because that’s what the society likes.
And their cross is longer than the cross of Jesus Christ. It’s Jesus that died for the church. It is not them who died for the church. But their cross is longer than Jesus Christ.
They don’t have integrity. They don’t have morals, even in the community of the Christians. So that is just the reality. Do you see Yakubu Pam making noise? He’s a man of discipline. He’s a man who has a church. He’s a man who pastors people. He’s a man who goes every week to teach Bible, Bible study and on Sunday, he goes to prison.
Do you still need to have another Northern Christian body?
Well, you see, in fact, this other group that sponsors Hayab and the one that started their own, do you know what they will say? One journalist asked Hayab and he said as many bodies that the people want to have, there’s no problem. Why? Because to them, the more, the merrier.
Some Christians are still in support of a Muslim-Muslim ticket. What is the Northern Elders Christian forum position on this?
The position of the Northern States Christian Elders Forum is consistent.
Our father in heaven, who decided to put us in Nigeria and put the boundary of this country, in his wisdom, he knows why he put us Christians, Muslims and others together. In His wisdom, He could have turned everybody to become one tribe. He could have turned everybody to become one religion.
But he allowed us the beauty, unity and diversity. If you see any Christian talking about Muslim-Muslim ticket, Nasir El-rufai started it. He said because he started it, nobody is going to talk about it, that it was going to happen at the national level. But where is El-rufai today? Look at the content of the National Anthem. We live in Nigeria where no man is oppressed. If it is a place where no man is oppressed, then why are we talking about flagging one thing? Not National Christian Elders Forum, we will advocate a Muslim-Christian ticket. Anything short of that, we are not going to support for any amount of money.
When will this factional issue come to an end among these Christian bodies?
Well, the issue there is that until we begin to change our theology and also begin to have a benchmark for people we call pastors and the rest of them. If a person is a pastor, let him be a pastor. Let a mechanic be a mechanic. Let a doctor be a doctor. But unfortunately, big people who don’t have a touch we have with the Lord Jesus Christ, they hide under the castle of religiosity to begin to use it to up North. So, that is the people who are causing division. So, we are challenging people, even the theological disciples, train people who are Christians, so that when they come, they will serve God in their capacity in the church. Don’t you see in the 1950s, in the 1960s, even as far as the early 1970s, pastors are respected. They don’t hobnob with politicians. Even the military respected them. But today, all these hungry people that we call pastors
who are not pastors, who God did not call them, because they have no job to
do. Now, they have taken pastoral job as an option. And they are not having time to sit in the church. They go from one business empire to the other. No, that is not how it should be. Christians should have respect for themselves. So, until we do that, this kind of conflict, you will see it continue. But do you know the joy? The Bible says, mark those who cause division in the church. There is implication. The judgment of God will come upon them.
How would you rate Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani’s administration in terms of uniting the two major religions; Christianity and the Islam?
Well, the first thing that I want to talk about personally, there’s no human being that is perfect. But when Governor Uba Sani came on board, he decided to bring the leaders of Southern Kaduna and the leaders of Northern Kaduna and met with them and asked them,
Kaduna, it’s your project, whatever you want to do with it. To me, that was a very smart move. I doff my cap for him.
And since then, consistently, you see him trying his best for the people of the State. The damage that he found was so deep. Don’t expect him, he is not a miracle worker to be able to solve the problem in one day. But so far, so good in an attempt to unite and make the two major religions have a sense of belonging. I doff my cap for Uba Sani.
If he continues like that, then I think the sky will be his beginning. And in the first place, why must you discriminate against anybody because of his tribe or his religion? So, Uba Sani has done well, but I want to use this medium also to beckon on him. He should not allow anybody in the state to divide him. Let him be wide. People like us will support him as long as he’s doing what is good.
But if he does something that is contrary, that is discriminating against the people of Kaduna, against the Christians, some of us who speak, will not have the mouth to speak. But so far, so good, I think his administration tends to unite the people, tries to make people have a sense of belonging. It’s highly commendable.
Will you advise him to pick a Christian deputy governor in Kaduna?
Of course, I don’t even advise him. We are begging on him to pick a Christian
so that he will have a paradigm shift from the evil of Nasir el-rufai. If he does that, he will be celebrated because El-rufai brought division. Has Kaduna ever been divided like under El-rufai?
But you can see the air of freedom. You can see the air of peace. Nasir El-rufai
intentionally refused to patronise Christians to go to pilgrimage. But Uba Sani has started helping Christians to be able to go to Jerusalem. That is a very good one. Inasmuch as the issue of pilgrimage is another ball game altogether, I would have loved them to spend their money to develop Kaduna State. You understand? Let people find money and go to Jerusalem themselves. But what he’s trying to do is to show that if Muslims have been benefiting under El-rufai, let Christians do it. He’s trying to do a balance. That is highly commendable.
What message do you have for President Bola Tinubu concerning the affairs of the country?
God of mercy has picked him out of over 200 million Nigerians to become the president of Nigeria at this time. We are carefully watching some of his policies, we are watching some of the actions that he has been taking. I want to beg on him, there’s something that can be done, nothing that can be more disastrous to Nigeria than political fraud. He should not allow his name to be stained. He should not allow the people around destroy his reputation. Let them not destroy this country. The best legacy he can bequeath to Nigeria is this democracy. He fought the military. He was in the trenches. He knew the beauty of democracy and if you know the beauty of democracy now that he is the president of the federal republic of Nigeria, all the things he knows about democracy, he should allow democracy to be democracy indeed.
Some of this brouhaha and the nonsense that is happening in some states like in Rivers and like the kind of thing we saw happening in Abuja during the recent election, that ought not to be. He should not allow his government to be messed up by the National Assembly. Let him become a committed democrat so that he can be celebrated. Former President Goodluck Jonathan lost election, and he accepted the result before the electoral empire made the pronouncement. Today, Jonathan is being celebrated globally, and I want Tinubu to know that Nigerians will remember him either for good or for bad. He should be on the mandate of Nigeria, not on the mandate of the people who are singing the slogan. Because when the chips are down the people who benefited from Jonathan, even some of his political appointees disappeared. They ran away from him. Tinubu is there that’s taking on his mandate. When the chips are down, it is him who is going to take the bullet and they will always run away from him. So Tinubu should become a statesman by allowing the beauty of democracy to have its way in 2027. That would be my call for him.
