The Yakubu Pam led faction of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has asked Joseph Hayab to
desist from further attempts to destabilise the Christian body.
Hayab, a former chairman of Kaduna state chapter of CAN, had on February 26, announced that he had been elected the new leader of Northern CAN at a meeting in Abuja.
Addressing a news conference on Tuesday at the end of their meeting in Kaduna, Sunday Oibe, Secretary General of the Pam faction,
said the purported election of Hayab was illegal, self- serving, and aimed at causing division.
Oibe declared that Pam remains the legitimate Chairman of Northern CAN as his tenure has not expired.
He alleged that “some unsuspecting individuals were deceived into attending a meeting in Abuja where fraudulent act took place.”
Oibe said, “Hayab’s action did not come as a surprise to us because we know Hayab’s antecedents as it concerns Northern CAN.
“To understand the motivations behind this move, it is crucial to highlight Hayab’s antecedents in Northern CAN.”
He said, “Hayab’s involvement with Northern CAN had been contentious right from time.
“He first served as the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Northern CAN under the leadership of our father, the late Archbishop Peter Jatau.
“His tenure, however, was cut short due to insubordination and unruly behaviour, which led to his suspension.
“Subsequently, Hayab served as Vice Chairman under the current lesdership headed Rev. Yakubu Pam.
“His tenure in this role, too, was marred by misconduct, as he was removed from office for plotting to remove Pam.
“Furthermore, when Hayab served as the Secretary of the Kaduna State Chapter of CAN, he, alongside Samuel Kujiyet and Mr. Samuel Salifu declared that Northern CAN was an illegal organisation.”
Oibe said further that, as secretary of Kaduna state chapter of CAN, Hayab ordered for the removal of the Northern CAN signboard at its office on Ibrahim Taiwo Road in Kaduna.
Speaking further, Oibe said, “We want to make it clear that Hayab is not a member of Northern CAN, and his actions are those of an individual with personal motives rather than a genuine desire to serve the Christian community.”
He described the “Concerned Christian Elders of the North,” which allegedly encouraged the election as “a recent creation by Hayab and his associates to orchestrate their mischief.”
Oibe maintained that an illegal group cannot conduct elections for a legitimate group.
He said, “It is essential to clarify that the leadership of Rev. Yakubu Pam, the legitimate Chairman of Northern CAN, remains intact. “Under Northern CAN’s bylaws, the Chairman serves a four-year tenure, which is renewable for another term.
“It is important to note the efforts that Rev. Pam has been making to organise elections as his second term neared its expiration.”
Oibe explained that, “In 2024, the process of reviewing Northern CAN’s bylaws commenced, however the process could not be completed because the tenure of some state chairmen expired and there was need to wait for the states to conduct elections to enable them participate in the process.”
According to Oibe, Pam had actually insisted on holding elections, but the National Executive Council of Northern CAN unanimously decided that changing leadership in the middle of the review process would disrupt the work.
However, reacting to the allegations in an interview with journalists on Tuesday in Kaduna, Hayab dismissed all allegations levelled against him by the Pam group.
He also accused Pam of exceeding his second term of office with over two years.
Hayab maintained that if anyone is to be accused of illegality, it is Pam and Oibe that are culpable, having overstayed in office.
Hayab said, “I am not supposed to respond to Pam and Oibe because they seized to be CAN leaders on May 3, 2023…
“Pam was re-elected for a second term of three years on May 3, 2019.
His tenure expired in May 2022.
Anything that Pam and Oibe have been doing from May 2022 to February 2025 is illegal.
“They overstayed for two years, nine months. Having overstayed in office, they don’t even have the moral right to conduct any election.
“If there is an illegality in the first place, that’s the crux of the matter.
I was never suspended from CAN.
One thing people know me for is that I speak truth to power.
“I have received congratulatory messages from prominent Nigerians from the North for my election.”
