The Christian Association ofNigeria(CAN)RiversStateon
Thursday, October 13, 2011, at the Corpus Christi Cathedral,Port Harcourtinaugurated new executive to run its affairs for the next two years.
Those inaugurated were: Apostle Zilly Aggrey Chairman, Bishop D. I. James Alabraba Vice Chairperson, Arch Bishop BA. Obomanu Director State Matters & Social Welfare,. Bishop Emma Ogu Director, Planning, Research & Strategy, Rev Father Michael Akere Director, Ecumenism & Interfaith, Pastor Chigozirim F Nwaodu Director, Legal & Public Affairs.
Others were Monsgr Cyprian Onwuli Secretary, Dame S. Dorubarayei Assistant Secretary, Rev David Akpan Financial Secretary, Mrs. T. O. Mshelbwala Treasurer and Hon S.A. Abere Director Education, Youths & Women Development.
In an inauguration speech/sermon, the National President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor prayed that God should use the new executive to bring peace in the church, in the state while calling for divine enablement; he equally prayed that God should use them to move Rivers State CAN to the next level.
Delivering his sermon titled: Expectation, Pastor Oritsejafor told Apostle Zilly that people had high expectations from him and his executive but expressed optimism that they would deliver.
In order to do well in his new assignment, the National President advised Aggrey to live the life of his expectation, speak his expectation and act his expectation.
Pator Oritsejafor took pervasive corruption in the polity, and even in the church, stressing that if corruption is eradicatedNigeriawould change.
In his post inauguration speech, Apostle Zilly Aggrey recounted how he emerged as CAN chairman giving the glory to God and the various leadership of affiliations of CAN in the state who came to a compromise and decided that CPFN/PFN should have one more chance at leadership ofCAN.
According to Apostle Zilly Aggrey, when these five family heads i.e Head of Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Head of CCN, Head of CPFN/PFN, Head of OAJC and Head of TEKAN/ECWA gathered at Corpus Christi Cathedral on the 15th of May and were in the process of discussing the welfare of CAN, they looked at the constitution and agreed that CPFN/PFN still had one more chance to be in leadership.
As a result of this, Aggrey went on, they all refused to present candidates, saying CPFN/PFN family should continue and complete its 3 year remaining tenure.
Having made the coast clear for CPFN/PFN family, Zilly disclosed Bishop Friday Nwator who was in that gathering said, Zilly should go ahead and become the chairman.
“That was how I emerged”, the elated Apostle Zilly said.
In a speech that was dripping with excessive humility, the CAN chairman,RiversStatethanked these heads of families, including bishop Nwator whom he repeatedly addressed as father immensely.
H e equally showered encomiums on the founding fathers of CAN who he said came together on August 27th 1976 to create an umbrella body of all churches inNigeria. He however, had special eulogies for Apostle G.D Numbere, CAN Chairman South-South.
He said Numbere took evangelism to the nooks and crannies of Rivers andBayelsaStates when they were still young. He equally commended him for taking it upon himself to go to court in order to recover a parcel of land belonging to PFN atAggrey Road which somebody
claimed.
Governor Amaechi who was represented by George Feyii, the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, SSG, said his administration is rooted in God and related the various supports his administration has given to the church. He also spoke about the projects his administration had embarked upon to alleviate the suffering of the people.
Highlights of the ceremony was the presentation of a book written by Apostle Numbere to a number of church dignitaries and awards of honour to some distinguished personalities who have contributed positively to the growth of the church and society generally.
One of those who received the awards was Apostle Eugene Ogu former chairman of PFN,RiversState who Zilly praised so much for his contributions to the church and for popularizing the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) inRiversState.
Two former governors, Chief Alfred Ditte Spiff who was the chairman of the occasion and Dr Peter Odili also received awards.
The inauguration ceremony attracted many heavy weight ministers of God, including Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, President CAN, his Vice, Daniel Okoh, Apostle G. D Numbere and a host of others.###
