The Kebbi State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has said it did not reject a N30 million donation from the state government during the healing and deliverance crusade held by the Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), a mega church in Nigeria.
Venerable Ayuba Kanta, the chairman of the chapter, which co-planned the event with DIGC, in a statement on Thursday 19 June, said the gift was not a personal one to any religious leader but support from the government.
Backstory
During the two-day crusade themed, “Dominion,” and held at the Haliru Abdu Stadium, Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital, the state Commissioner for Special Duties, Zayyanu Umar Aliero, announced that Governor Nasir Idris had approved a N30 million gift for the event’s organisers.
He said, “Our governor, His Excellency Dr Nasir Idris, has approved the donation of the sum of N40 million to this gathering,” he said.
However, the DIGC Senior Pastor, Dr Paul Enenche, rejected the gift, and pleaded that it should be given to orphans and other vulnerable people.
“If there is anything like an orphanage, if there is anything like that, at your discretion, please apply this amount of money to it. No. It will not be received,” Enenche said.
Explaining why he rejected the money, the clergyman stated that government funds should only be used for government projects, not for churches.
“We are one of those who believe that government money should be used for government projects and government things should be used for government things; and church money should be used for church things, not mixed together.
“That is what we did, that is what we do. As small as the Glory Dome is right there, government money is not in it. From land to the building to everything,” he said.
Enenche then advised that if the money must be given to a religious group, it should be given to a government-approved Christian body, such as CAN or the Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board.
“This is so that we can retain our dignity as a body of Christ; retain our dignity as a church, and say what we need to say when we need to say it,” he added.
In response to Enenche’s rejection, Aliero said he respected the pastor’s choice, saying, “They didn’t accept it because whatever he is doing, he is doing it for the sake of God. We appreciate and we thank him for what he is doing in our state.”
No to rejection
However, in his statement, Venerable Kanta, explained that CAN accepted the donation because it was given in support of the crusade, jointly organised by the association, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and Enenche’s DIGC.
“The N30 million was in support of the crusade jointly organised by the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, and CAN Kebbi State chapter,” the statement said.
He said Enenche, who ministered at the event, has a standing policy not to accept personal gifts during his ministry activities, adding that based on his (Enenche) recommendation, the funds were redirected by the state CAN leadership towards developmental projects.
Kanta, who is the vicar of the St. Luke’s Anglican Cathedral Church, Birnin Kebbi, confirmed that part of the money was used for the construction of a perimeter fence at the Christian cemetery recently approved by Governor Nasir Idris.
He also thanked Governor Idris for his support, including the release of the state stadium for the crusade, use of the banquet hall at the Presidential Lodge for a ministers’ meeting, and the facilitation of palliative distribution to students and women during the event.
He reaffirmed CAN’s cordial relationship with the state government, describing the governor as “a jolly friend of all Christians and CAN leadership in the state.”