The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN has suspended the association’s secretary, Senior Apostle John Adedigba for congratulating the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Ali Isa Pantami, on his promotion to the rank of a professor of Cyber Security.
Two days ago, Adedigba on behalf of all the members of the caretaker committee of the christian body in Gombe state, wrote to Pantami, congratulating him on the promotion.
Adedigba in the letter extolled Pantami for the feat describing him as a ‘son,’ claiming that Pantami had achieved a lot in his current position thus making ‘them’ proud.
The letter reads: “On behalf of the Christian community in Gombe State, we happily rejoice and congratulate our own son and brother Prof Isa Ali Pantami FNCS, FBCS, FIIM, MCPN, the Honourable Minister of Communication and Digital Economy on your promotion to the rank of professor of Cyber Security and your two years in office.
“We join you, your family, Gombe State and Nigeria at large to celebrate this promotion, we are proud of you as a son in Gombe State and we pray that it will be useful to Nigerians and humanity at large.
“We are not unaware of your great achievement as the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, just to mention but few, the over one thousand completed projects and almost 400 ongoing projects in Nigeria under your supervision within two years with the support of President Muhammadu Buhari, indeed you have made us proud as a son, we pray as a church that God will use you to achieve many more and you will finish well in Jesus name. Once again Congratulations.”
See below, a copy of the letter
This congratulatory message is coming despite the allegations against the minister of his involvement in terror-linked activities. In viral audio clips, Pantami was also heard expressing his sympathy to Boko Haram members while delivering sermons at several worship centres in the 2000s.
Reacting to the congratulatory note, CAN in a letter signed by CAN’s general secretary, Barr. Daramola Joseph Bade, swiftly suspended Adedigba for taking a unilateral decision without due recourse to the body’s National Executive Council.
The body described his actions as that of an overzealous official which they consider provocative, undermining and not in any way a representation of the national body’s position.
While advising him to always consult and get approval from the national executive of the association, the letter instructed him to relinquish his position in Gombe CAN executive with immediate effect and hand over all CAN’s property to the next in line