Sunday Tribune authoritatively gathered that the newly inaugurated CAN executives in the state, led by its chairman, Rev Elisha Ogundiya, held a closed door meeting with Governor Rauf Aregbesola at the Government House, on Friday night, on the stand of the religious body on the new educational policy as its affects Christians and mission schools in the state.
Credible source informed our correspondent that the meeting which lasted several hour dragged into early hours of Saturday where CAN tabled their demands and harmonise it with the position of the state government.
At the end of the parley, the CAN agreed with the state government on the new education policy and expressed its support on the its implementation.
It would be recalled that CAN, had last week, issued a 7-day ultimatum to Governor Rauf Aregbesola to reverse the new education policy or face appropriate action from the religious body.
In a letter signed by the CAN chairman, Reverend Elisha Ogundiya, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent, the body said the state government must halt all its action on the merger, which they said, had generated serious crisis in the state education sector.
According to the letter, which stated the position of the religious body, “the Osun State chapter of CAN has given the state government a 7-day ultimatum to reverse the changing of single-sex schools to co-educational schools in order to preserve the religion of each school or face the appropriate actions of the religious body”.
The letter dated 9th October, 2013, warned that “If there is no concrete and sincere step taken before the 7-day ultimatum expires, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Osun State chapter, will take further appropriate action.”
Meanwhile, the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) General Evangelist Worldwide, Prophet Samuel Kayode Abiara on Saturday, said the current reforms in the education sector in Osun was the best for the children of the state just as he appealed to Christians to be patient with the state government over the on-going re-classification of public schools.
He made this known while speaking with journalists after a courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House in Osogbo.
Abiara urged Christians in the state to always seek for clarification on issues that is not clear to them from government rather than be confrontational with government on its policies.
The clergy emphasised that Aregbesola if given the chance meant well for the education of Osun children, adding that the developmental stride of Aregbesola in the educational sector is innovative.
Abiara also charged Christians in the state to be patient and show understanding about Aregbesola’s style of leadership which has changed the outlook of Osogbo to that which befits a state capital and that of other cities in the state.
According to him, “I want to use this opportunity to appeal to Christians in the state to be patient with the government. If one wants to be fair, Aregbesola means well for our children, when I saw the ‘Opon-Imo’, I was amazed because the tablet is a school on its own.
Our Christian brothers and sisters should be patient, they should always ask for clarification on issues if it is not clear to us”
The CAC evangelist advised Aregbesola not to get weary in dishing out dividend of democracy to people and that he should not get distracted with goings on, but must ensure that the populace is well educated on every programmes of his administration.
In Abiara’s words, “Osun is a peaceful state, we should be careful about what we say or do, so as not to disturb the peace that we are enjoying in this state.
“I am not unaware of the fact that you cannot satisfy everybody, but I believe that Christians should show some degree of understanding with the present administration, and government should at all times seek for peoples understanding”
Abiara’s visit came a day after the state government and the leadership Christian Association of Nigeria CAN agreed to work together after a meeting which saw both parties ironing out the grey areas on the school reforms projects.
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