CAN makes U-turn, sides with Fatoyinbo over rape allegation

Yusuf Bello|

Barely two days after the prelate of the Methodist Church, Rev Uche Kalu came out to cast aspersion on the claim of celebrity photographer, Bukola Dakola that she was raped by Biodun Fatoyinbo when she was 16, the Christian Association of Nigeria on Sunday pledged its support for the embattled pastor of the Commonwealth of Assembly (COZA) church.

The development is quite a turn around the from the earlier position of CAN that COZA is not a member and that any intervention in the rape allegation would be outside its jurisdiction.

But in a video shared trending online on Monday two CAN officials, Jonah Samson, the FCT CAN chairman and Israel Akanji, chairman of north central zone of CAN, were seen at COZA’s Sunday service voicing support for Fatoyinbo and the church.

The FCT CAN chairman said, “It’s a pleasure being here and I assure you that we are with you and we will continue to be with you. We are in support of the church. We are in support of your pastor.”

“We stand by him and this church will continue to march forward. I say and I declare, the gates of hell shall not prevail in any church in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.”

Akanji, who on his part described the rape allegation as a ‘Jerusalem-Jericho road’, told the congrgation that he obliged to support Fatoyinbo and the church.

He said, “How can I and then the FCT chairman hear that one church that God has a plan and purpose for is going through this Jerusalem-Jericho road and then we will walk away? We will not do such a thing. We are here to just let you know we are with you in prayer.”

“The Lord will bring you out even stronger. Our pastor here, by the grace of God, will continue to be the voice of God to proclaim (to) the whole nations of the world the mysteries of Jesus Christ. You are not alone.”