Efforts to resolve the crisis occasioned by the conversion to Islam of Charity, daughter of Pastor Raymond Uzoechina of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), suffered a setback this afternoon when the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) alleged that the young lady has been subjected to unhealthy influences in the palace of the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar.

CAN in a statement issued in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, insisted that Charity a.k.a Aisha, should be moved from the royal father’s house and put under the custody of Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu if efforts by the state government to settle the crisis are to be successful. Said CAN General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Musa Asake, in the statement in which he denied exonerating the Etsu Nupe:

‘My attention has been drawn to a news item published in a few Nigerian dailies yesterday, Thursday, August 1, 2013, quoting me as having exonerated the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar over his role in the conversion of Charity, daughter of Pastor Raymond Uzoechina of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) into Islam.

‘Specifically, the newspapers concerned quoted me as having said, “We have actually resolved the issue; there is a good understanding now especially as it concerns the person of respectable Etsu Nupe who has been misrepresented in the media.”

‘I hereby disown the above quoted statement credited to me and say that I, as the General Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, could not have spoken in that manner especially after witnessing the emotional encounter between Charity, her parents and siblings; a momentary family union which suggested to me that the young girl was under certain influences within the palace of the Etsu Nupe. Young Charity had agreed to go home with other members of the family during this encounter only to talk about threat to her life during the meeting.

‘The statement, therefore, does not represent my words and thoughts since I represented CAN at the meeting and not the spokesman of the Etsu Nupe. For the avoidance of doubt, the statement I made to the press who approached me after the meeting was that we have listened to both sides and that after hearing them have come to an understanding of the matter. I also recall telling the Correspondents that the matter would soon be resolved and that Pastor Uzoechina had all reasons to accuse the Etsu Nupe for taking custody of his daughter without his consent. I said the Etsu Nupe explained how he was given the custody of the girl. I then referred the Correspondents to the Acting Governor whom I said would brief them further.

‘CAN has been consistent on this issue of the forceful conversion of Charity Uzoechina because the manner, method of securing her custody and the demeanour of the Etsu Nupe each time a truce meeting before the last one held in Minna was called, left much to be desired. Even now that the Sharia Court has vacated its earlier order, the ruling is neither here nor there. To that extent, CAN has not exonerated the Etsu Nupe until Charity is put under the custody of the Niger State governor as agreed.’

•Photo shows CAN General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Musa Asake.

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