Wike meets CAN President, pledges to hand over Ecumenical Centre

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state. [Photo credit: Nairaland]
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state. [Photo credit: Nairaland]

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers on Tuesday said the state government would complete the Ecumenical Centre in Port Harcourt and hand over to the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in May.

The governor made this known when the National President of CAN, Samson Ayokunle, paid him a courtesy visit in Port Harcourt.

Mr. Wike, who commended the CAN president and the Church for the prayers offered for the sustenance of peace in Rivers, also commended Mr. Ayokunle’s leadership role for the Christian body.

He pledged to hand over the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to CAN in May.

He said government would carry CAN along in its scheme of things, adding that he was poised to fulfil all his electoral promises to the advantage of the people of the state.

The governor also promised to work with CAN and pledged government’s support to enable the organisation to achieve its goals.

He explained that the Ecumenical Centre was part of his electoral promises to encourage
unity in Christendom.

He pledged to amend the laws governing the administration of missionary schools to enable government to provide grants to the management of missionary schools, noting that
“government would not tolerate encroachment into government land in public schools.’’

Responding, the CAN president said the visit was to thank the governor for the support
he was giving to CAN and the Church generally.

Mr. Ayokunle, who is also the President, Nigerian Baptist Convention, said the construction of the Ecumenical Centre demonstrated the governor’s respect for the Church.

He said the Baptist Convention would hold a peace rally on February 11, where the governor would be bestowed with the title of “Apostle of Peace’’.

He then asked for the support of government toward successful hosting of the rally.

He also appealed for the handing over of a primary school to the First Baptist Church along Aggrey road in Port Harcourt, currently managed by government.

He again appealed to the governor to hand over Baptist Hospital at Joinkrama in Ahoada West Local Government Area of the state back to the Church, currently managed by government too.

The reverend said the hospital was originally owned by the Mission.

(NAN)

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  • Kamalu

    How can The Church contemplate to confer a title with the theme “Apostle of Peace” on somebody who openly displays the penchant for murder? Have you forgotten his threat to kill INEC officials recently?. How can the church be so insensitive to human lives because of material things?

    • Hector

      CAN and Wike are birds of the same feather. If Oritsejafor was their past leader and this new Chap was hand picked him then he is just as bad. My joy is that CAN does not represent Christiandom.

  • Rev Felix Ulor (Ph)

    If the Baptist Church can maintain and possibly surpass the performance of the government in handling and managing the hospital, I support the handover to them. However, since its a life saving centre, attention must be paid to details on how they plan to sustain and maintain the Hospital before it is finally handed over to them. God Bless you His excellency. Whatever you can do for any of the religions and religious groups in Rivers state to foster Peace and unity, do not relent sir.