CAN suspends its Gombe chairman for congratulating Pantami

September 17, 2021 8:49 am

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has suspended Sunday Congo, its Gombe state caretaker chairman, for writing a congratulatory letter to Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy.

The caretaker chairman had written a letter to congratulate Pantami on his recent “promotion to the rank of a professor of cyber-security by the governing council of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri”.

But reacting, CAN, in a letter by Joseph Daramola, its general secretary, said the congratulatory letter was written without the authorisation of the Christian body.

It described the action of the caretaker chairman as “overzealous”, adding that it undermines the national executive council of the association.

“Following the recent publications of your congratutatory message to the Minister ‘of Communications and Digital Economy Dr Isa Ali Ibrahi Pantami, we write to inform you that your actions has generated a lot of concrns amongst members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN),” the association said.

“This action of yours in publishing and release made on behalf of the Association is tantamount to unilateral decision of you and overzealousness on your part, which was done without authorization and clearance. It is not only provocative but undermines the CAN NEC Executive. It does not in anyway represent their position.

“In view of the above, you are hereby directed to relinquish your position in Gombe CAN Executive with immediate effect and hand over all CAN’s property to your next in line in your Bloc.

“In future you are advised to consult and get approval from the Authority of CAN National Level so that WE ALL MAY SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE.”

Pantami had been in the news earlier in the year over his comments in the past adjudged to be proclamations in support of terror groups.

Although the minister publicly recanted his previous comments, saying he made them at a time he had little knowledge of the issues involved, Nigerians had demanded his resignation.