The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has suspended the body’s interim chairman in Gombe State, for endorsing the promotion of Isa Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, to a professor.
Newsbreak had reported earlier this month, that Pantami, who was a PhD holder, was promoted to the rank of Professor of Cybersecurity.
However, CAN, in a letter signed by its General Secretary, Daramola Joseph Bade, dated September 9, 2021, said publications by the Gombe branch chairman to congratulate the minister, “has generated a lot of concerns amongst members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)”.
The Christian umbrella body in the country said the action of the chairman whose name was not mentioned in the suspension letter, to publish the message “on behalf of the association is tantamount to unilateral decision of you and overzealousness on your part which was done without authorization or clearance”.
CAN said the decision was not only provocative, but “undermines CAN NEC Executive”.
Consequently, the body directed him to “relinquish your position in Gombe CAN executive with immediate effect and hand over all CAN property to your next in line in your Bloc.”
The religious body’s reservation about the Gombe chairman’s gesture may not be unconnected to the admission by Pantami that he once shared extremist views, after a newspaper report exposed him in April this year.
President Muhammadu Buhari rejected calls to sack Pantami as minister.
In a statement, the Presidency rather threw its weight behind the minister.
See the suspension letter below:
Discussion about this post