CAN rebukes Bishops for visiting Governor Lamido

  THE Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Northern states chapter, has condemned the visit by some Christian bishops  to Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State recently.   CAN alleged that Governor Lamido had been shunning the local branch of CAN in his state and therefore,  it was insincerity on the part of the bishops to visit the governor.   The secretary of the chapter, Reverend (Professor) Daniel Babayi, said at a press conference in Kaduna, on Tuesday, that attention had been drawn to reports of the visit
of  the Forum of Bishops and Eminent Clergy of Nigeria, led by His Eminence, Prophet Jones Ode, to the Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido.   “In furtherance of religious tolerance and commitment to the growth of peace, unity and progress, we request the governor to also pay attention to the following:  “He should, at least, allow the Jigawa State Executive Committee of CAN to pay him a courtesy visit. The said Exco has been craving for, and has in fact applied several times, to be allowed to do so to no avail since the ascension of the governor to his glorious seat. He should stop the practice of clustering churches and Christian ministries in earmarked places like industrial establishments. Christians deserve the right to freely worship God Almighty in locations of their choice. This kind of treatment is never meted out to Muslims in the South of this country.”  CAN further complained that Lamido had refused granting Certificates of Occupancy to churches and Christian ministries, while it said he should recognise indigenous local Christians, saying, “very many indigenes of Jigawa State are Christians. Such indigenes are discriminated against in appointments, promotions, disciplinary exercise and even in the provision of welfare packages.”  Lamido, they said, should also extend Christian pilgrimage opportunities  to Christians in the state, just like their  Muslim counterparts.