President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Olasupo Ayokunle, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the suspension of the implementation of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, (CAMA).
The position of CAN was received on behalf of Buhari by his Special Assistant on Niger Delta Affairs, Ita Enang, during a brief meeting held at CAN Secretariat in Abuja.
The letter signed by Ayokunle on Tuesday was delivered by a former Chaplain of Aso Villa Chapel, William Okoye, warning that the CAMA Act was inimical to the interest, security, peace and stability of Nigerians, hence should be suspended.
Buhari had on August 7, 2020, signed the amended CAMA Act into law, however, Christian leaders have faulted the act which they insisted is targeting the church.
He stressed that the Act did not receive input from “various interest groups” and failed “to accommodate their views”.
Ayokunle stated that there was no point in seeking judicial intervention or amendment of the Act by the National Assembly as such “shall achieve nothing much”.
He said;
We respectfully acknowledge the invitation extended to us to make an input into the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 following the myriad of objections that attended the enactment of the Act.
While we sincerely appreciate the courtesy of your invitation, we are, however, constrained from doing so on the following grounds:
We are yet to be availed with the authentic version of the voluminous Act, made up of 870 sections besides the sundry and complex schedules and addendum.
The Bishop stressed;
Furthermore, we are mindful that comments in public domain are beginning to indicate that CAMA, 2020 has the potential that can further undermine the faith of stakeholders in the Nigerian-state. The reactions from public officeholders have not helped matters because they are binary in perspective and pander towards a fait accompli.
The dominant schools of thought in the public domain, hold the view that should stakeholders of the Nigerian-state seek judicial intervention or amendment of the Act by the National Assembly, they shall achieve nothing much, as they consider such, as exercises in futility.
The association’s president added;
We consider the Act, as indeed, a complex of statecraft compendium, laden with issues that are grossly inimical to national interest, security (- peace and stability), and overall wellbeing of the Nigerian-state.
Mr. President, we are of the opinion that you should kindly issue the appropriate directives to suspend the implementation of CAMA 2020 and affirm a thorough reappraisal of the legislation that is in correlation with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), other extant legal and policy frameworks, the national economy, national security, national interest and the wellbeing of the Nigerian-state.
He explained that;
In order to participate actively in such an exercise, you may wish to kindly furnish us with an official version as assented by you. This will enable us do the due diligence required, please.
