Bishops Forum Kicks Against Suspension From CAN

Bishops Forum Kicks Against Suspension From CAN

The Bishops and Eminent Clerics Forum of Nigeria has kicked against the reported suspension of its members by the Christian Association of Nigeria, stressing that the group has no constitutional authority to take such an action. 

The forum also disowned one Archbishop Avwomakpa for allegedly making false claims to be the leader of the Bishops forum, describing his claim as false.

A statement by the General Coordinator of the Bishops forum, Bishop Julius Ediwe, in Abuja on Friday, criticised CAN and Avwomakpa for announcing the suspension of the forum members.

Ediwe stated that Avowomakpa was only invited to lead a delegation of Bishops to Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and the First Lady, Patience  Jonathan, when the leader of the forum was indisposed, stressing that this did not make him the forum leader.

“CAN has no right to infringe on our fundamental human rights as enshrined in the constitution of Nigeria. We want to say that CAN and Archbishop Avwomakpa have no right to suspend any bishop in this association. Avwomakpa is not the head of our forum and should stop making bogus claims of leadership of a group he barely knows,” he stated.

Ediwe said the forum was not set up to meddle in the Peoples’ Democratic Party crisis, adding that the association had not made any promise to any politician or political groups.
He added that its objective for consulting with a wide spectrum of Nigerians was to enthrone peace and national unity without which the country could not make progress.