National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, yesterday, urged the Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi to investigate the stampede that claimed the lives of 28 Nigerians during a crusade last Friday at Uke, in Idemili Local Government Area of the state.
However, South East zone of CAN, disagreed with Oritsejafor saying that the Federal Government was better placed to set up a panel of inquiry over the issue saying that Obi cannot be a judge in his own case. CAN in the zone also banned political campaigns in churches across the area.
Chairman of CAN in South East and Bishop of the Anglican Diocese, Enugu, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, who made this known in an interview in Enugu, said the group is becoming worried about how politicians come into churches to campaign, a development he described as a menace.
The Bishop spoke as the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Anambra State also described Governor Obi’s promise to set up an investigative panel into the issue as deceptive.
Oristejafor asks Gov Obi to set up probe panel Pastor Oritsejafor who reacted to the controversy surrounding the Uke episode said the news brought sour taste in the month especially as the Nigerian Church was grappling with many security challenges.
His words: “It is indeed a sorry situation and I am deeply touched by the news. I really sympathise with those who lost their loved ones in the tragedy and pray God to comfort them.”
According to him, details of what transpired at the vigil were still sketchy, even as the conflicting reports by politicians were meant to use the ugly incident to canvas for votes.
Oritsejafor maintained that the only way to avoid a repeat of such occurrence was to fish out the culprits and deal with them decisively to appease those who lost their loved ones in the stampede.
But in his own reaction, Bishop Chukwuma said: “It is my own duty as CAN chairman, South East to ban all politicians from attending our churches with their teams for campaigns. The church should also steer clear of partisan politics because there are different kinds of people in the church that belong to different political parties.
”So it is wrong to come into the church and begin to talk about manifestos. It is not going to be acceptable any more because it causes commotion and disrespect for one another.
”We appeal to bishops, priests, pastors and clergymen to please avoid politicians coming to use churches as campaign arena. This does not augur well for our spiritual growth.
”We therefore urge the Federal Government to set up a probe panel to find out what actually happened because we feel very much worried. Since the state government is involved, I think there should be a neutral body for the investigation.”
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