Christian leaders across the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) met in Kaduna and adopted a new identity, now to be formally known as the ‘Northern Christian Association’ (NCA), in a move they say is aimed at clarifying their mandate and strengthening their regional voice without creating friction with the national body.

The decision was reached at a well-attended stakeholders’ meeting of CAN chairmen from the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, together with their secretaries and representatives of the youth and women’s wings. The meeting was convened between Wednesday and Thursday in Kaduna to mark the first anniversary of the Northern Chairman, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, in office.

The body was previously referred to as Northern CAN, a description leaders say often created misunderstanding about its relationship with the national structure of the Christian Association of Nigeria.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, Rev. Hayab explained that the change was not a breakaway but a return to history.

He said the association’s roots date back to 1964 in Kaduna, when it was known as the Northern Christian Association before evolving into the national Christian body in 1976.

According to him, the new name is intended to restore that original identity while maintaining full allegiance to CAN at the national level under its President, Daniel Okoh.

“We are CAN. We are Christians and we remain members of CAN,” Hayab said.

“But when we speak about issues affecting Christians in Northern Nigeria, we believe we should have a distinct and clear identity. There is no quarrel with the national body. Any contrary impression is a misunderstanding.”

He explained that the word “Nigeria” was deliberately excluded from the revived name as a way of showing respect to the mother body and to avoid confusion with the national structure. The forum, he added, has been fully registered and incorporated as the Forum of Northern Christians and the FCT, formerly known as Northern CAN.

Hayab said the body would focus on specific challenges confronting Christians in the region, including concerns over religious freedom, access to education, a shortage of Christian Religious Knowledge teachers in schools, and what he described as limited admission opportunities for Christian children in some parts of the North.

“These are serious issues that demand focused attention,” he said. “Our priority is to ensure our people are treated as equal citizens, respected and given the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to nation building, especially in Northern Nigeria.”

Providing historical context, the first General Secretary of Northern CAN, Engr. Samuel Salifu, recalled that the Northern Christian Association was founded in 1964 in Kaduna and later metamorphosed into the Christian Association of Nigeria in 1976, when Christian leaders across the country agreed to operate under one umbrella.

He said the registration was completed during the administration of former military leader Olusegun Obasanjo, when the late Interior Minister, Shehu Shagari, formalised the process.

Salifu noted that the present name change was prompted largely by misconceptions that the regional body was operating in opposition to the national CAN.

Also speaking, elder cleric Rev. Emmanuel Dziggau said the 1964 formation of the Northern Christian Association was born out of what he described as a struggle for survival by Christians in the region.

“We had to organise and fight for ourselves to survive,” he said, urging the present leadership to remain focused on justice and equity. (Nigerian Tribune)

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