CAN seeks review of ban on religious broadcast in Ebonyi

THERE are indications that the Ebonyi State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) plans to meet with Governor Martin Elechi over an alleged embargo on the broadcast of religious programmes on the state-owned Ebonyi State Broadcasting Corporation (EBBC).

This followed a resolution to that effect by the association after a meeting of bishops and heads of various Christian organisations under CAN across the state.

Chairman of CAN in the state, Dr. Emmanuel Nshii, told journalists that the body would take its stand on the matter after meeting with the governor this week, pointing out that the peculiarity of the situation on ground necessitated the coming together of clerics for an interactive forum to fully appreciate the implications of the said ban.

While expressing the hope that the proposed meeting with Elechi would bear positive fruits, Nshii called on Christians in the state to exercise restraint, assuring that CAN was determined to get to the root of the matter in order to ensure that the gospel was fully propagated in the state.

The CAN chairman added: “After we shall have met with Governor Martin Elechi, then we shall have the very conclusion about the matter and then the body could provide its stand concerning the matter. This is Chairman-in-Council where the entire bishops and ecclesiastical functionaries in the state present their opinion as one unity body. Definitely, the programmes will come back on air. The realities on ground brought about this meeting. We were not told it was an absolute ban by government. We learnt that there are so many other issues arising in this matter, which needed to be resolved.

“We are appealing to our Christian brothers and sisters to keep faith with God that soonest, the matter would be adequately taken care of. As Christians, we ought to exercise restraint over issues believing God that after our meeting with his Excellency, this matter will be adequately taken care. We will resolve it to the best interest of Christians in the state. They elected us to manage the affairs of Christians and we promise them 100 per cent of our attention and everything that would ensure that Christianity thrives in this state.”