In what could easily qualify as an unintended disobedience, virtually all churches in Delta State failed to participate in the national day of mourning declared by the national leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the apex body of Christians resident in the country.
This was just as the Delta State Chapter of CAN said the national exercise had no binding force on its members adding that its controversial nature subjected it to the discretion and personal judgment of Christians in the state.
Investigations by our correspondents today revealed that only two out of over ten churches visited across six local government areas of the state observed the declaration which was made by the National President of CAN, Mr. Supo Ayokunle through the Secretary General of the association, Musa Asaka.
Supo Ayokunle, CAN National President
Recalled that Asaka had, in a press conference held in Abuja at the wee hours of last year, disclosed that “the President of CAN has directed that Sunday, January 8, 2017 be declared a national day of mourning by all Christians, including those in diaspora” in honour of the countless number of people slain by suspected Islamic extremists in Southern Kaduna.
According to the catholic Archdiocese of Kafanmchan, the unrest had already claimed 808 lives, injured 57 others and sacked 53 villages.
Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El Rufai said the attackers are foreign Fulani herdsmen who were avenging past attacks on them and their livestock.
Asaka had noted that the mourning should engender the offering of fervent prayers to the Christians in Southern Kaduna who have been made to swallow the bitter pills of religious intolerance and wanton acts of gruesome murder as well as seek God’s intervention in the restoration of peace to the troubled parts of the country.
Unfortunately, virtually all the churches that were visited today, including the Catholic, Anglican and Baptist denominations in Ethiope West, Ethiope East, Ughelli North, Ika South, Warri North and Oshimili South Local Government Areas of the State, did not adhere to the directive during their various church services.
Nontheless, the mourning was observed at Life Choosers Ministries, Oghara and Divine Way Baptist Church, Asaba in Ethiope West and Oshimili South Local Government Areas of Delta State respectively.
Most of the pastors who spoke with our correspondents blamed the situation on poor communication, claiming that they were unaware of the declaration which was broadcast on national television stations and published on some national dailies.
The pastor of Grace on the Throne Bible Church, Oghara, Rev. Lucky Omobude and his Ministry of Perfection, Abraka counterpart, Pastor Amos Omovo, noted that they did not receive any directive regarding the national mourning from CAN.
Corpses of some slain Christians in Southern Kaduna
Also, the Secretary to the Ethiope West Chapter of CAN, Rev Pius Iphurie, whose church, Shekinah Glory Assembly, Mosogar, did not observe the mourning exercise, also claimed ignorance, saying the state chapter of the Christian body never passed such information to the local government chapter of CAN.
Contacted, the State Secretary of CAN, Prof. Oke Akokotu admitted that the information regarding the national mourning was not spread across all chapters of the body because of “the controversial nature of the declaration by the national CAN”.
Prof. Oke Akokotu, CAN Secretary, Delta State.
Akokotu said some leaders of the association had moved against the declaration hence, the justification of leaving the exercise at the discretion of the Christians, adding that there was no intention to set up a monitoring team that could ensure a compliance with the directive.
He however claimed that his church, Gods Own Revolutionary Church, Agbor religiously observed the declaration as his members were dressed in black attires and interceded for Christians and Nigeria during their church service yesterday.
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