SAN FRANCISCO, September 11, (THEWILL) – The Borno State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Wednesday declared that no church has been marked for demolition in the state.
The Christian body also allayed the fears in some quarters of the brewing tension in the state following last week’s report of an alleged plan to demolish about 20 Churches and some schools built by Christian missions in Maiduguri to make way for a housing estate in the state capital.
But clearing the air on the alleged plan on Wednesday, Chairman of Borno State chapter of CAN, Reverend Titus Pona, said in a statement :
“The attention of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Borno State chapter, has been drawn to reports in some national dailies of 09/09/2013, to the effect that tension was brewing in Maiduguri following alleged plans to demolish churches and schools in and around the state capital, at the site of planned housing estate.
“We feel duty bound to correct the erroneous impressions created by the said media reports which was credited to CAN, and wish to disown it. We believe that the national CAN office acted in the interest of the Christian community in Borno State based on the information contained in a letter dated 20th August, 2013 from the Ministry of Land and Survey to some churches around the area of the said estate.”
According to Pona,”The leadership of CAN in the state is always available for clarification on all issues relating to the Christian community. We feel that channel had not been exhausted in this matter, hence this response.
“We urge Christians to disregard the said report and continue their normal activities. Christians averywhere are known to cherish peaceful-coexistence. Here in Borno State over the years, we have without compromising the interest of the Christiandom maintained a cordial relationship with the present administration in Borno State.
“We are confident that the same government will not contemplate jeopardising that harmonious relationship.”
The CAN chairman however disclosed that: “Facts available to us indicate that the planned construction of a housing estate by the Borno State Government does not warrant the demolition of any church, or any public or private structure at that location.”
He added: “We are aware that notice of acquisition and assessment of some church properties were earlier sent to some churches by the Ministry of Land and Survey as mentioned earlier, but that was before the site of the planned estate was adjusted from any of the churches, schools or private structures.”
Pona, who also explained that “We were made to understand that assessment notice was a mere administrative procedure,” disclosed that no member of the CAN executive in the state has been denied audience with the governor.
“On the issue of the state CAN officials being prevented from seeing the state governor, we want to state for the avoidance of doubt that the doors of the governor have always been open to us.
” We actually had audience with the governor on this matter where the concept of the said housing estate was explained to us, and we are convinced that it will not affect any church structure within that locality.
“We want to use this opportunity to tell all those who may have been misinformed about the issue at stake, to take cognizance that of the fact that the Christians and Muslims have always lived together, even in trying times, such as we have been experiencing. As Christians, we pledge to remain peaceful as we have always been,” he explained.
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