The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has refuted media reports that it has pulled out of the body.

The Financial Secretary for CAN in the north, Rev. Sunday Ibrahim, yesterday, denied the purported pull-out, while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.

Ibrahim, who is also the association’s secretary in Kaduna State, said there was no time the state chapters contemplated pulling out of the apex body.

“We have raised some concerns about some developments at the national level and sought redress, but we never considered pulling out as an option,” he stated.

Ibrahim said it was not the 19 northern states’ CAN that pulled out of the apex body, but some Christian stakeholders in the region.

“People should not confuse them with CAN in the 19 northern states and the FCT. We are part of CAN and will remain in CAN.

“If you go through the publications very well, it said northern Christians under the auspices of Concerned Christians of Nigeria (CCN) and Northern Nigerian Christians (NNC).

“Northern CAN was not part of the press briefing. As Christians and as Nigerians, they have the right to air their views and opinion.

“They are simply exercising their fundamental rights of freedom of speech and freedom of association,” he said.

The official, however, urged the apex body to call aggrieved members to a round-table, to amicably resolve all pending disagreements.

The CCN and the NNC had at a press briefing on Sunday in Jos, announced their decision to pull out of the Christian body.

The groups said they had adopted the pre-independence name of Northern Nigerian Christian Association (NNCA) due to alleged political intrigues, travesty of justice and corruption in CAN.

Rev. Luka Shehu of CCN and Hon. Peter Luka of NNC had also at the briefing accused CAN of neglecting northern Christians affected by insurgency in the North East.