BY CHIKA OTUCHIKERE, ABUJA
Following the controversy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Muslim-Muslim ticket, Archbishop John Praise, the General overseer of the Dominion Chapel Intl churches, has confirmed that the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has not taken a position on which presidential candidate to vote for.
John Praise made this known on Sunday, in an exclusive chat with New National Star Group News Editor at the premises of the New Christian Power Center (NCPC) International Church, Dawaki Extension, where he spoke as Guest Minister at the church’s 2022 Thanksgiving Service themed “ Living in His Glory”.
He reacted to his reported support of the APC candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the APC bishopgate saga, where he photographed with the candidate.
He said: “Why we met with Tinubu and all the Bishops that gathered was because we cannot play the politics of exclusiveness. We from the north were very angry with him that he chose a Muslim as his vice instead of a Christian.
“But he had his reasons. He said it was a political decision. And all I did was to give him the opportunity to speak with all Nigerians and I used John 7:51, “you cannot judge a man without hearing him out”, that is the essence, to let him explain.
“And it was not an endorsement. I specifically mentioned that we were not there to endorse the APC presidential candidate, but to listen to him, give him a fair hearing, hear him. He has an explanation. We have seen his antecedents in the years past, when he was governor of Lagos for eight years and the things he was able to do.
“We cannot deny the impact and his contribution to the national life of Nigerians. Yes, he has his past, things that maybe had not happened well with him, but he had some good side. You can’t throw away the baby with the bath water, you know. So, that’s the essence why we listened to him.”
He also reacted to insinuations that he was paid to appear in that photograph with Tinubu saying, “Well some people even said he bought me, that they gave me so much money, but that’s not the essence. God knows my heart because you see, we want people who have capacity; people that can raise a team that can salvage this country to confront evil and anything that is called evil.
“And I’m not saying he will win, but then the church must be wise, what if he wins, especially in this country where we know what politics is, when we talk about the power of the incumbent and all of that”.
On his advice to Christians on voting in the 2023 elections, he said, “You see, I have a position, that’s why I’m saying the things I’m saying so that everybody can make a right judgement. I cannot categorically come out and say, vote PDP or vote APC or vote Labour Party. By my leadership position in the country because all of them, like our GO would say, they are all our children.
“So we want people to make an informed decision on who to vote for. Vote from your conscience and from your heart. I belong to CAN, Christian Association of Nigeria and I am the National Deputy President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and we have not taken a position on any candidate,.
“So, it would be wrong for me to tell you or to say to the Christians this is who you will vote for. If CAN comes tomorrow and says this is who we should vote for, that is when I will say. But we have not heard from the leadership of the Christian fellowship”
The Senior Pastor of the NCPC Rev Dr. Mrs Charity Edeki in her reaction urged the church to seek the face of God concerning the 2023 general elections