The leadership of Adamawa State Youth Wing of the of Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN) has been embroiled in a leadership tussle with Pastor George Oaya leading one faction and Brother Godwin Joseph on the other.
The Pastor George Oaya led faction had during its congress at the YOWICAN secretariat in Yola claimed been the duly elected executive council members of the CAN youth organization.
During the congress meeting, the factional Chairman of YOWICAN, George Oaya said they have put security agencies and the generally public on the alert to be wary of individual(s) or group parading themselves as the new EXCO of the union.
George who chaired the meeting said “Saturday 14 December election conducted was a ”kangaroo” one. It was aimed at bringing disrupting the Peace and unity of Christian community and by extension, Adamawa state as a whole. It was pure covert under the sentiments of a particular tribe denomination.”
The factional chairman who alleged that the YOWICAN election was conducted amidst serious election irregularities with illegible voters claiming to be YOWICAN was illegal and at war with the norms of the association.
George claimed that the entire leadership structure of the Union from local government representatives and the various blocs that made up the association in Adamawa state were present, with the exception of Catholic bloc to show their infringing support and loyalty to his leadership.
While stressing that his legitimacy of being the Youth President of CAN in Adamawa state stands and unshakable, George added that, “YOWICAN elections in States are conducted by the Zonal leaders, after the expiration of three years tenure, the tenure of the present executive committee members will expire on the 18th May, 2022. What would have warranted the conduction of an election, while the tenure of the present Exco is still intact.”
George who expressed surprised that non-members of YOWICAN who gathered in EYN church and conducted a purported and charred election, for a new executive members revealed that there was no any official or formal notification from the national or zonal Office or else where that election will take place to replace them.
“We have not received any instrument from either the National or Zonal Exco members of CAN, informing us of our dissolution, so when the purported election was going on, we called the national and the zonal Secretariat to know from them if they were aware of the so called election, they said no.”
Pastor George who said his leadership later confirmed that the contentious election was directed by the Adamawa state CAN, who does not have the constitutional right to dissolve or conduct YOWICAN Exco or election, described the exercise as illegal, aimed at breach of peace, confusion, disunity and undermine the sanctity of the Christendom as well as the autonomy of the various blocks that constitute CAN as a whole.
He called on peace loving youth and Christians in the state to disregard the new YOWICAN Exco members, adding that “we also wish to warn all and sundry, never to have anything to do with the purported new Exco; as they are impostors and never meant well for the Christian family in Adamawa state in particular and Nigeria as whole.”
Speaking on behalf of the bloc leaders, Mr Ajine Delo who is the CCN Youth Bloc leader said under normal circumstances, leaders of YOWICAN emerges through congresses and not through what she describec as “a charred meeting concocted by some people with primordial and parochial interest that the leaders of YOWICAN emerges.”
Delo who claimed ignorant of any call for the dissolution of Pastor George led YOWICAN for a fresh election informed that they were duly elected under the umbrella of CAN as a mother body.
“Same goes to our able state Chairman, he remains a substantive leader of our Union, genuine and duly elected by us. So, nobody should be deceived of another officials of YOWICAN in the state. George Oaya remains our authentic leader and our due loyalty is to him with no regrets,no second thoughts and betrayal.” Delo said
In his response Mr Joseph Godwin said that after the election that brought in George as a duly elected chairman, it was later discovered that he is over aged and his election stands dissolved.
