Despite strong and spirited denial by Pastor Tunde Bakare, an All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain, of a statement credited to him where he was alleged to have linked leading opposition party, People’s Democratic Party, PDP, to stringent criticism of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN’s opposition to the ruling party’s same faith ticket ahead 2023 general election, Prince Kassim Afegbua, a former commissioner for information in Edo State, another APC stalwart has made a similar charge against the body of Christian Association.
Bakare, though has since debunked the viral statement attributed to him where he claimed that CAN’s opposition to APC’s Muslim Muslim ticket was a ploy sponsored by PDP to weaken Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC presidential candidate, Afegbua in the statement, a copy of which Truthlive.net has in its possession, insists that CAN is being teleguided by PDP.
The latest statement from Afegbua rather confirms growing speculations from the APC of growing frustrations within the ruling party of CAN’s and other major Christian body’s anger at the same faith choice of APC.
“Latest findings by me, have revealed that CAN is actually being sponsored by the opposition PDP, to whip up undue sentiments against the candidature of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima, and indeed, the APC,” Afegbua said.
He equally accused the Christian body of marginalizing the Christian North in its 46 years of existence saying that only one CAN president has emerged from the region while the rest has always been from the South.
“Let me state categorically and without any iota of doubt that CAN as a body is working for the Peoples’ Democratic Party.
“They are being sponsored to sustain a political awareness that cannot pass any true test of ecclesiastical emanation.
“The PDP had earlier set up a committee to sustain these sentiments in the realization that it will weaken the APC and force it to rescind its well-thought-out decision to choose a Northern Muslim as the Party’s Vice Presidential Candidate.
“They are being funded covertly by PDP elements and my very reliable source confirmed a meeting held in Asokoro at the home of a media mogul, a few days ago, where a decision was taken to sustain the umbrage.
“I will mention names very soon if they refuse to desist from such satanic plots just to score a cheap political point,” Afegbua said.
Read Full Text of the Press Release below;
PRESS RELEASE.
PDP BEHIND C.A.N STANDOFF AGAINST APC.
For the past few days, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has been upbeat over the choice of Senator Kashim Shettima as the Vice Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress- APC-. Taking an interrogative assessment of their activities, one would think they are altruistic in their demand for the number 2 position, but the latest findings by me, have revealed that CAN is actually being sponsored by the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party -PDP- to whip up undue sentiments against the candidature of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima and indeed, the APC. It started from former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, who has never won in his polling unit, Hong Local Government, Adamawa State, to other CAN leaders who have never deemed it fit to cede the presidency of the association to a core Northern Christian. In the over 46 years of CAN, the closest was Cardinal John Onaiyekan, from Kaba, in Kogi state as president of CAN. All other Presidents have been of Southern extraction; yet, they desire to have a weak candidate from the North to strengthen PDP in the election.
Let me state categorically and without any iota of doubt that CAN as a body is working for the Peoples’ Democratic Party. They are being sponsored to sustain a political awareness that cannot pass any true test of ecclesiastical emanation. The PDP had earlier set up a committee to sustain these sentiments in the realization that it will weaken the APC and force it to rescind its well-thought-out decision to choose a Northern Muslim as the Party’s Vice Presidential Candidate. They are being funded covertly by PDP elements and my very reliable source confirmed a meeting held in Asokoro at the home of a media mogul, a few days ago, where a decision was taken to sustain the umbrage. I will mention names very soon if they refuse to desist from such satanic plots just to score a cheap political point.
It is one thing to be a Christian, and another, to be a member of CAN. In 2015, the Catholic body had accused the CAN under Pastor Oritsejafor of politicizing the body instead of concentrating on serious issues that could advance the collective aspirations of the people. The Catholic body had suspended its participation in CAN activities as a direct response to such politicization. CAN has just entered another phase of such politicization again by its standoffish posturing in the name of the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC. Bishop Matthew Kukah has given very informed perspectives on the Muslim-Muslim ticket, saying it only presents the voters with options and choices. Those who are fanning the embers of disunity and religious intolerance are located within the vineyard of the PDP. Rather than face their campaign with a candidate that is contesting against the run of play, they are already asking the APC candidate to withdraw from the race.
The PDP chieftains were the ones who went to hire some persons and decorated them with robes to assume the role of Bishops and Reverend Fathers, just to embarrass the APC candidate; whom they dread so much. I have insiders in PDP who are giving me blow-by-blow accounts of what transpires. Please PDP, get serious and stop trivializing serious issues with mundane scripting of nebulous plots in the name of politics. PDP is very desperate to make inroads into political camps that would help it pursue its political aspirations. C.A.N is being sponsored by the PDP, and the PDP works for C.A.N. Rather than devote time, energy, and attention to articulate solutions to our existential problems, CAN leaderships are busy raising dust where there is none. Our problem is not religion. Our emphasis should be on how to find solutions to our problems and not dig into our religious differences.
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