The Patriotic Christian Youths of Nigeria, PCYN, has challenged the president of the Christian Association Nigeria, CAN, Rev. Dr. Samson Ayokunle, to explain the rationale behind “spending over N40 million to purchase official vehicles.”
PCYN in a statement by its national president, Mr. Simon Timothy Nasso, expressed concern over what it described as “financial recklessness and misappropriation in the CAN.”
The statement, which was issued in Lafia, Nasarawa State, a copy of which our correspondent obtained, read in part: “Today, we are getting drowned by happenings emanating from the office of the CAN president, where the affairs of CAN are gradually turning into Ayokunle’s private empire, contrary to the provisions of the CAN constitution and operational guidelines.”
The statement, therefore, wondered why Rev. Ayokunle should spend over
N40 million to purchase official vehicles “whereas he is not a full-time staff of the association, especially in this era of economic recession.”
The statement added that as president of the Nigeria Baptist Convention, Ayokunle was only entitled to an official vehicle.
“With the situation of Christians reduced to Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, everywhere in Nigeria, should CAN talk about changing cars while our members are crying out there, without the basic necessities of life?”, the statement asked.
The statement, as a result, called on the Baptist Convention “to stop pretending not to see the ills of Ayokunle whose interest is to make money for himself.”
Consequently, the group called on Christian stakeholders, especially the past presidents of CAN, Board of Trustees of CAN, Elders Forum and all concerned Nigeria Christians, “to look into the issue of gross misconducts of the CAN
president.”
The group added, saying, “We need to really call Rev. Dr. Samson Ayokunle, the president of CAN, to order before the imminent collapse of CAN in the midst of gross marginalisation of Christians in the country.”
Efforts to obtain a reaction from the CAN leaders proved abortive. When our correspondent contacted the Secretary General of CAN, Rev. Musa Asake, on phone, a woman picked up the call, obtained details of the allegation and promised to
call back.
Up till press time, the CAN leaders were yet to respond.
