CAN rejoinder unnecessary — Sultan’s Media Team
By KEMI KASUMU
The Media Team urged CAN to focus its public communications on promoting peaceful coexistence among Nigerians of diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds.
The Media Team of the Sultan of Sokoto has described as unnecessary the recent rejoinder issued by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) concerning the planned foundation ceremony of an ecumenical chapel at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
This was contained in a statement by the Media Team of the Sultan of Sokoto, signed by Prince Bashir Adefaka and dated Sunday April 19, 2026.
CAN had stated that the document generating public confusion originated from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), stressing that it neither issued nor approved any invitation to the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, to play a role in the event.
However, the Sultan’s Media Team maintains that an official invitation card was duly sent to His Eminence, requesting his attendance as Royal Father of the Day. The invitation also listed the Senate President, Senator God’swill Akpabio, as Distinguished Guest of Honour, and Senator Oluremi Tinubu as Mother of the Day.
According to the statement, the event is to be hosted by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, with the President of CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, and Archbishop Peter Ogunmiyiwa serving as RSVP and organising chairman.
The Media Team expressed concern over the CAN’s denial of the invitation by the Christian body, an impression it described as unnecessary, particularly as the Sultan did not seek an invitation to attend the event.
It emphasized that the Sultan’s presence at a Christian ceremony would foster inter-religious peace and harmony, noting his position as Co-Chairman of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC). The statement also referenced global examples of interfaith engagement, where religious leaders participate in activities outside their faith traditions without negative consequences.
The Media Team urged CAN to focus its public communications on promoting peaceful coexistence among Nigerians of diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds.
