The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has dismissed social media reports claiming that the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, was invited as “Royal Father of the Day” for the proposed foundation-laying ceremony of an Ecumenical Chapel at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
In a statement issued on Saturday by its Media Office, CAN described the claim as false, stressing that no such invitation was extended to the Sultan.
The association clarified that the material circulating online originated from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), and not from CAN.
“For the record, the material in question was made public by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and not from CAN. At no point did CAN release any such invitation,” the statement said.
CAN further noted that the narrative appeared deliberately crafted to inflame religious sensitivities and create unnecessary controversy.
It warned that such distortions were reckless, particularly at a time when national unity requires careful handling.
Reaffirming its position, CAN said it remained committed to upholding Christian values while promoting peaceful coexistence and mutual respect among Nigerians.
The body emphasised that truth should not be sacrificed for sensationalism, insisting that claims assigning any ceremonial role to the Sultan were entirely unfounded.
CAN urged the media, opinion leaders and the public to act responsibly by verifying information before dissemination and prioritising facts over viral content.
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