Since its establishment in 1976, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has seen national presidents come and go without much ado. But the run-off to the election of a new president in March 2016 is causing serious ripples in the apex Christian body, reports Sunday Oguntola.
Forces within the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) have intensified surreptitious moves to succeed the National President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, whose tenure ends next March.
Findings by our correspondents revealed that the apex Christian body has been divided into two main camps in the run-off to the election.
Both camps, according to investigations, have settled for candidates from the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), which is favoured to clinch the presidency. Of all five blocs within the umbrella body, only the OAIC and ECWA/TEKAN have never produced the body’s presidency. It was gathered that leaders of ECWA/TEKAN opted out of contention if Otubu, one of the major candidates, is in the race.
The shift to OAIC, it was gathered, is to give the bloc a sense of belonging and rotate the top seat in such a way that none of them feels marginalised or sidelined.
The case for Otubu
The first camp is rooting for the General Evangelist of Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide (MCCSW), Elder Prof. Joseph Otubu to take over from Oritsejafor.
Otubu, a renowned retired gynaecologist, is a postgraduate trainer. He was Senior Registrar/Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in Murtala Mohammed Hospital, Jos (1977) and Lecturer/Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Ahmadu Bello University/Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (1979).
He was Senior Lecturer/Consultant (1984-1987), Associate Professor (1987-1990), and Professor/Consultant (1990-2001) at University of Jos/Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau State.
He was head of Department, then Dean of Medical School at the University of Jos. At the University of Jos/Jos University of Jos Teaching, Professor Otubu established a subspecialty unit of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility that was best equipped in this country for infertility workup.
He was the Pioneer Provost of the College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja and First Honorary Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada.
Widely travelled and exposed, Otubu has written several chapters in textbooks and published over 100 scientific papers in national and international Journals. He was editor in chief, Tropical Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (1989-1999) and Editor in chief, African Journal of Infertility and Assisted Conception (New).
Professor Otubu has served as Member/Chairman on several health boards at various times; Presidential Visitation Panel to BUK, National Committee on Assisted Reproductive Health Research and Development; African Task Force on Reproductive Health, WHO (Afro); Faculty board of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, NPMC; Nigerian Reference Committee, RCOG, PERFAR HP Fellowship Advisory Board, Delta State University Teaching Hospital Board, etc.
His father, Late Elder Dr. Godfrey Otubu, was Director of Finance, Federal Ministry of Defence and former Baba Aladura and Prelate of Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim Church (ESCOCS). The church arguably witnessed its best era under the leadership of the elder Otubu.
It is believed that Otubu enjoys the backing of Oritsejafor, who critics accused of trying to impose the retired gynecologist on the body as his successor. Findings revealed that Oritsejafor is disposed to Otubu because of the latter’s professional pedigree and no-nonsense approach.
A source, who confided in our correspondent last week, said: “Pastor Ayo loves him because he is a core professional. He is a preacher but also a professional and administrator. CAN has always had preacher-leaders and the president feels the body needs to move in a different direction to face the challenges of modern years.”
Some members of the camp, who spoke with our correspondent, also claimed that Otubu is highly principled and incorruptible aside from his professional background. They point to the fact that he has always carried out secular and spiritual assignments without stains to overwhelming applause.
Otubu is also seen as conservative and a quiet operator who will deliver the goodies to CAN and sanitise the body after its much-maligned foray into politics at the last general elections. To actualise his emergence, it was gathered that the Christian Elders Forum, a powerful group within the body, is set to adopt him as the sole candidate at the forthcoming National Assembly elections in March 2016.
The forum was established by Oritsejafor some two years ago to offer policy direction and strategies for the apex Christian organisation. Otubu is a prominent member of the forum said to comprise highly influential Christians drawn from different sectors of life.
Otubu, who lived for years in the north, is said to have the confidence of delegates from the region who see him as one of their own. The region voted overwhelmingly for Oritsejafor in May 2010 much to the chagrin of entrenched orthodox churches in the organisation.
The forces against Otubu
But Otubu’s choice is facing stiff resistance from forces indisposed to the agenda. First, they allege that his choice amounts to imposition, which they claim is alien to the succession game of the body. Oritsejafor, according to some voices within CAN, cannot solely determine his successor.
One of them, who spoke under strict anonymity, said: “The plot is one of the challenges we have against our national president. The man has politicised CAN to the point that he is thinking of installing his successor. This is alien to us as a body. No retiring president has ever shown interest in who succeeds him.
“But Oritsejafor is carrying on as if he owns CAN. He is running the place as a political entity. We will not accept this and will resist his move with all that we have.”
So, the perception that Otubu is Oritsejafor’s candidate is making him a hard-sell among some blocs within CAN. They also point to the fact that he was excommunicated by ESOSCS over alleged contravention of church’s rules and regulations in 2012. They wonder how a leader excommunicated by the church his father once led could turn around to head the Christian community in Nigeria.
Otubu, the forces also point out, is neither the head of a church nor that of a bloc in line with constitutional requirement for the body’s national presidency. There is also the allegation that Oritsejafor is planning to handover to someone from Delta State, making some to wonder if CAN is now an extension of the oil-rich state.
The votes for Atilade
To stave off his emergence, the forces have pitched their tent with the South West chairman of the body, Archbishop Magnus Atilade. Atilade studied Pre-Medicine at the University of Ibadan before leaving for the University of Minnesota, USA where he obtained his first and second degrees in Medicine and DCM.
He was at the North Western College of Chiropractic Medicine for his doctorate and finally attended St. Paul’s Seminary for a Bachelor’s degree in Theology.
The president of Gospel Baptist Conference of Nigeria and Overseas (GBCNO) was chairman, Model Neighbourhood Planning Council (MNPC), St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.A; Medical Director – Coccus Hill Chiropractic Clinic and Consultant, St. Paul, Minnesota U.S.A.
He holds an award of outstanding American at the National Awards in 1976 during America’s Bicentennial Celebrations. He was chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Lagos State Branch in 1999 and President, Nigeria-CUBA Association.
He is also President and Provost, Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine; Chairman, Organisation of African Institute of Churches (OAIC), South-West; Chairman, Nigerian Opportunities Industrialisation Centre (NOIC); President and Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Public Management of Nigeria (CIPMN) and Co-chairman, Inter-Faith Forum International Council of Nigeria.
He is married to the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Funmilayo Atilade. He has become a rallying point for those opposed to the alleged plot to install Otubu. Many consider him highly connected in political circles and energetic enough to give CAN a fresh, less combative outlook.
Like Otubu, Atilade also comes from a lineage of priests. His father, Archbishop Emmanuel Atilade, was an evangelical preacher of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), who left to start the Gospel Baptist Conference of Nigeria and Overseas (GBCNO). The elder Atilade was also an educationist who founded many mission schools in Lagos and across the nation.
Those working for him believe he has the charisma and connection to take the body to the next level. He is said to be committed to the welfare of Christians across the nation with the different Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) under his guidance. His camp lays claims to massive support from the CCN and Catholic Secretariat blocs of CAN.
Cases against Atilade
But Atilade is seen by his critics as overly ambitious. They allege that as current Chairman of CAN and OAIC in the South West, he has enough in his hands to attend to. To be bidding for the presidency of CAN, they say, amounts to asking for too much. They also say he is unacceptable to Christian leaders. To underscore this, his critics refer to the failed bid to clinch the national presidency of OAIC last week in Abuja.
The acting chairman of OAIC, Elder Napo Emuchay, received a resounding vote of confidence from delegates at the conference. He was approved as substantive leader of the bloc for another two years. Atilade’s nomination, according to feelers, was rejected by delegates. The development is a setback to Atilade’s move to have the body nominate him for the top CAN position.
Many also accused him of being a herbal doctor, claiming his practice of Chiropractic medicine is an indirect endorsement of traditional medicine. Atilade has rejected the claims at different fora, claiming he is only a practitioner of alternative medicine with no attachment to diabolical acts.
Atilade is also seen to be too close to politicians, a development many fear may further dent the body’s image should he become the national president. Some of his critics say he is merely trying to capitalise on the power-shift to OAIC bloc, saying his church should ordinarily belong to the CCN group, like the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC).
The intrigues
Both candidates have been moving behind the scene to sell their agenda to top members of the National Executive Council (NEC) of CAN. Sources say they have been reaching out during meetings and personal consultations to those who can be sympathetic to their candidacy.
The development, it was gathered, is generating ripples among top Christian leaders with many of them expressing worries that the tussle could snowball into a major mess for the organisation.
Informed sources said the constitutional review of CAN was suspended last week pending the election of a new president. The move, it was learnt, was to forestall the possibility of any interested camps hijacking the process in its favour.
Otubu speaks
Otubu told our correspondent that he is vying for the post after much pressure from people and divine confirmation. He said he was approached by many in the body to come over and move it to the next level. According to him: “It was never my idea or ambition. Some people came to me and said I should offer myself for service.
“I wasn’t keen and told them to join me in praying about it. I started getting signals that God wants me to serve His body. So, I am not in this because I want to. I am there because people and God want me there.”
He said his major agenda would be to unite the body. “I want to bring unity to CAN. That is the major thing to do because you must have internal unity to be effective as a Christian organisation. I want to unite all the blocs because only then can we be powerful as a community.”
Otubu further stated that he also intends to organise training programmes in the form of short courses for church leaders to improve their effectiveness. The short courses, he explained, could be on ecumenism, for example. The doctor-preacher also said he would bring all past presidents of the body together to serve in advisory committee so that CAN could benefit from their wealth of experience.
Reacting to claims that he is the preferred candidate of the outgoing president, Otubu said that was far from the truth. According to him: “I have never spoken to the President of CAN about it. He has never spoken to me about it either. I’m surprised that people are trying to associate me with him.”
He also dismissed claims that he and Oritsejafor are from Delta State as a non-issue. CAN, according to him, operates with blocs not states. Otubu further explained: “In the area of competence, where you come from doesn’t matter. We are from the same state but different blocs and denominations.”
He also dispelled the notion that he is an outsider, saying he has been in national CAN for over 15 years and served not less than three presidents. “I know about the workings of CAN inside out. I am surprised people are saying I am an outsider. I have served under former Presidents Akinola, Onaiyekan and Oritsejafor. I have been in NIREC for years. I am more than an insider because I know how the organisation functions.”
Atilade opens up
On his part, Atilade said he threw his hat into the ring because “I am a special vessel in the hands of God.” He said he derives pleasure from serving God and humanity, saying the CAN top post is an opportunity “to do much more for God as His servant.”
On claims that he is of the CCN and not OAIC bloc, Atilade said that is a non-issue. According to him: “There is freedom of association. We didn’t just join OAIC today; you know I am a national official of OAIC. We have been there for years. Ours is an indigenous church, not established or sponsored by foreign mission organisations like the NBC.”
Reacting to allegations that he is overly ambitious and should make do with the two national assignments in his hands, Atilade said: “Experience is not something you can just wake up and claim to have had. I have been in CAN for over 20 years.
“If I have served well as CAN and OAIC South West chairmen, there is nothing wrong in wanting to serve God’s people in higher capacity. This is not about ambition but deploying all I have garnered over the years to do a better job for the Christian community.”
Dismissing the notion that he is close to politicians, Atilade said: “I am a friend to all. My bible teaches me to be at peace with all men. I have the capacity to manage people from different spheres of life. Politicians are human beings and I cannot run away from them. I don’t see that as a challenge because it is what you do with being close to them that really counts.”
He said he is gunning for the presidency to protect the interests of Christians and defend persecuted saints. “I love our people to be safe and well-looked after. That is what I have always done. I am all for welfare and equity. That is what we need now.”
