Contrary to a report that a religious tension was brewing in Osun State, the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has debunked the rumour.
CAN which said there was no truth in the rumour, stressed that Osun State was not mired in a crisis of religious disharmony.
CAN Chairman, Superior Evangelist Abraham Akinola Aladeseye, after a brief meeting with top government functionaries in Osogbo, the state capital, yesterday, also dissociated the Christian body from orchestrated stories being circulated by some political opponents of the state government in the newspaper, saying the body would not make itself a willing tool to be used by some disgruntled elements whose motive was to destablise the state.
This statement came against the backdrop of a newspaper report, which over the weekend had raised the false alarm that there was apprehension in the state over an alleged plan by the government of the state to Islamise its populace and demolish all Christian schools.
Aladeseye denied that the body knew about the report, saying that Christians had no problem with the government in the state.
He noted that Christians in the state were not just peace-loving, but daily prayed for success of the government and the peace and progress of the state.
“We don’t have any problem here. We just had a meeting with the government. What we are saying is that CAN knows nothing about what has been happening and the report about tension in the state in the newspaper. We are peace makers; we want progress for the government. We pray for the government always,” the CAN chairman said.
CAN Secretary, Father Michael Ajayi, in his reaction, said the meeting was successful as it offered the body, the opportunity to be fully briefed on misinformation being peddled around on school uniforms, alleged plan to demolish Christian schools and other such unfounded rumours, saying the religious body was unavailable to be used by politicians.
He continued: “The meeting was successful. We let the government know our own side on the story. We are not being used by any political party.”