SUPO AYOKUNLE LEADS CAN AS PRESIDENT FOR ANOTHER TERM
Rev (Dr.) Supo Ayokunle, incumbent President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has been re-elected for another term in office after polling 59 votes against Rev Caleb Ahima who polled 44 votes.
Ayokunle, President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention contested from the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) bloc while Ahima, from Taraba state is the Chairman of the TEKAN/ECWA bloc. According to the Constitution of CAN, Ahima now becomes the Vice President of CAN, replacing Prof Joseph Otubu who was the immediate past vice president.
The elections which started at about 11 am at the Ecumenical Centre, Abuja, the headquarter of CAN, was conducted by Rev Father Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Catholic Church, Sokoto Diocese. The returning officer was Bishop Stephen Adegbite of the Method Church Ikeja diocese, Lagos Nigeria, also CAN Director for National Issues and Social Affairs.
Exactly 103 delegates representing the various power blocks in National CAN voted after due diligence of verification.
All the 36 States CAN chairmen and other delegates filed out to drop their ballots into a transparent ballot box. The ballots were later counted by Bishop Adegbite with the representatives of both contestants in attendance. The result was presented to the electoral body chairman, Hassan Kukah who called out both contestants to stand before the delegates as he announced the result, declaring Ayokunle duly re-elected by 59 votes to 44 for Ahima.
Immediately, in a show of Jesus love and brotherhood, both contestants hugged themselves, laughing broadly to a round of applause from the delegates.
Subsequently, Kukah admonished both parties to work together without acrimony. He charged the new leadership to work for the unity of the body of Christ in Nigeria and to speak truth to power without necessarily being antagonistic towards the government.
“You should not be too close to the government at the expense of Church but to speak for the Church when the need arises. This does not mean you are to be confrontational or fighting the government. And you should work with those who contested against you, those voted for you, who worked for you and those who worked against you. God gives us the freedom of choice and it is that gift we have just demonstrated. I am so happy that the election was free and fair as we can all see it.”
In his acceptance speech, Ayokunle congratulated the delegates for comporting themselves well and shaming enemies of progress who portrayed this election as a do or die affair.
He promised to work hand in hand with the new Vice president and charged Church leaders in Nigeria to avoid contradicting the position of the Association on national issues.
“We are one but our actions must show that we are one. I advised all our leaders to borrow a leaf from Pastor Enoch Adeboye who said he does not need to be speaking again on any issue once the CAN President has spoken over it.”
In his speech, Ahima who showed not sign of bitterness assures delegates that he would work closely with Dr Ayokunle to move the Church forward in Nigeria.
It was a gallery of joy as all delegates pumped hands and hugging one another after the elections.
The acrimony and pandemonium enemies of CAN had predicted, which warranted the presence of several security men did not come to pass.
Earlier, Ayokunle had lamented that the reports and gossips bandied around by men of little value about CAN and it’s leadership is shameful.
“These people gave the impression that the election would be war. Rev Caleb Ahima and I are no enemies. We are both brothers, working in the same vineyard. How these enemies now feel a brotherly election would end up in arms surprise me. Today, we have shamed them with a most transparent and peaceful elections that would usher CAN into a new era.
