The Northern Christian Elders Forum (NOCEF) has expressed shock over the death, on Friday, of one of its strong pillars and General Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Musa Asake.

“We are in pains because it is very difficult to use one word or expression to describe Asake,” the group said yesterday afternoon in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Sunday Oibe.

According to NOCEF, “Asake is an epitome of humility, unassuming and selfless man who is not greedy. In my interaction with him since I met him, Asake keeps telling me that he was born in poverty, enjoys growing in poverty and doesn’t look for money. But he held on to his fate very strongly and his passion for the church in Nigeria, particularly in the North is very wonderful.

“Asake is an epitome of humility, his death has created a very big vacuum in the body of Christ in Nigeria, the North, NOCEF and TEKAN/ECWA. Asake is many things to different people. But to us, he’s a hero that deserves celebration.

“You can see the humility of Jesus Christ in him. Anytime we talk, Philippians Chapter 2 guides him. It said, ‘let this man be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.’ He is guided by the spirit of humility, as exemplified by the Lord, Jesus Christ. People who are Junior to Asake will abuse him. And Asake will take it humbly.

“He doesn’t fight in defence of himself, he fights in defence of his faith and fights for the less-privileged people; even when people insult and fight him, Asake will say, ‘Jesus is enough to defend me.’ Those of us in NOCEF, we are in pains. We have lost one great man among us, we in the TEKAN/ECWA family have lost a great leader.”

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