From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Barring any unexpected changes, a new President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) will emerge before the end of the week, most likely on Thursday.
The new CAN President will take over from the outgoing President, Dr. Samson Ayokunle Olasupo, who will be finishing his second tenure in office.
A reliable source in CAN confirmed that the General Superintendent of Christ Holy Church also known as Nation Builders (Odozi-Obodo), Most Rev. Daniel Okoh, may emerge as the new CAN President. The elections is expected to be ratified and inaugurated on Thursday (if all things go well).
Okoh is said to be from one of the CAN blocs that have not produce CAN President, and he is expected to spend a one term of five years in line with the dictates of the amended constitution of CAN.
The source at CAN said the reason for the rancour-free elections and transition of power was, perhaps, because of the great transformation initiated by the outgoing CAN President particularly as it concerns the constitution of CAN.
He said: “Dr. Olasupo, undoubtedly, did very well during his tenure in office. He defended the interest of CAN as a body and Christians in general. We are particularly impressed with the reforms he initiated that heralded the amendment of CAN constitution.
“With the new constitution, there would barely be rancour in CAN elections and leadership going forward. The constitution expressly explained how offices of CAN should be shared, who occupy what at a time. It also explained how CAN Presidency should rotate among different blocs and who gets what at a time.
“We are optimistic that God will help the incoming CAN President with wisdom and knowledge to pilot the affairs of CAN as body and Christians in Nigeria. He is, obviously, coming at a time Christians in Nigeria are being “persecuted” and issues that concern them are relegated to the background.”
CAN is made up of five blocs and they are; the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN),
Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (CPFN)/Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Organization of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), (TEKAN and ECWA Fellowship).
The Association also has Women and Youth Wings, a National Executive Council (NEC) consisting of 110 members (which elects the President), and a General Assembly of 304 members (which ratifies the President’s election).”