The Lagos Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has dissociated the Lagos State Government from the news making the rounds that the government had locked up the gates to the home of the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos located around the City Hall, Marina, in the Lagos Island Central Business District (CBD).
A statement signed by the Lagos State CAN Chairman His Lordship Rt Rev. Dr. STV Adegbite, warned those behind spreading such falsehood to desist from creating any tension within the Christian community and the state.
He said the report is capable of pitching the peaceful Christian community against the state government.
According to Adegbite, though it was true that some persons had locked the gates into the home of the revered leader of the church on yet to be ascertained grounds, but it has since been discovered that none of these men are working for or are agents of the state government or any of its agencies or parastatals but for a private company.
The statement reads: “It is true that some persons who have been discovered not to be working for or with the Lagos State Government or any of its agencies or parastatals but rather, a private company went ahead to lock one of the gates that leads to the residence of one of our Leaders within the Christian Community in the State, the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos. And when the matter was investigated, it became clear that there was no instruction from any of the Lagos State Government agencies saddled with such responsibilities and immediately, the Government swung into action and those behind it were fished out.”
Adegbite said the state government have since apologized over the misrepresentation and have ensured that normalcy have since returned.
“As a body, we also apologise to our revered leader for the embarrassment this very unwarranted and needless act of exuberance may have caused him and the body of Christ in Lagos State in particular and Nigeria in general.”
The statement expressed the immense gratitude of the Christian Community to the government for the prompt and swift response and the management of the situation which uncovered the perpetrators of the action, who in no way have any affiliation with the State Government or any of its agencies or parastatals. It therefore demanded that appropriate sanction be meted out to the perpetrators to serve as deterrent to others. “We regret any kind of unease the earlier false reports may have caused and we ask that all those lies and misleading reports should be disregarded as they are nothing but mischief.
“We would like to say unequivocally, that CAN and the Christian Community in the State have continued to enjoy deep and rewarding cooperation with the Lagos State Government over the years and the relationship has continued to grow stronger. We thank Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu for his transparent and all inclusive style of leadership and we enjoin citizens to remain hopeful for a more beneficial and fruitful experiences under this administration”, the statement further stated.