The leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has warned political parties and their supporters to desist from acts that are aimed at dragging the Christian body into the politics of 2023.
This is as the religious body denied receiving N2billion from the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi on behalf of Bishops and Churches during the Christmas season as alleged in a purported petition sent to the CAN president, Archbishop Daniel C. Okoh’s office
It would be recalled that a petition was circulated on social media on Sunday, purportedly written by one Pastor Frank Onwumere, alleging the Obi gave CAN N2b on behalf of the Bishops and Churches for the purpose of his 2023 presidential election mandate
Reacting o allegation in a statement titled “Re: Petition on the misappropriation of N2 Billion given by the presidential candidate of Labour party, Peter Obi to Churches under the umbrella of CAN…” CAN president, Arch Bishop Daniel Okoh, noted that the purported letter currently in circulation on social media, alleging that a certain sum of N2bn was given by the presidential candidate of Labour party, Mr Peter Obi to Churches under the umbrella of CAN was not only illogical but a deliberate attempt to drag the apex Christian body into the politics of 2023.
“I use this medium to categorically state that the so-called letter of petition reportedly signed by one Pastor Frank Onwumere and addressed to my office is illogical and can best be described as a failed attempt to drag the apex Christian body into the politics of 2023. However, we will investigate the source of the letter in the interest of the public.
“To set the records straight, I am not aware of any N2bn given to Churches in Nigeria to mobilise votes for any 2023 presidential candidate and never received the said petition dated December 22, 2022.
“Nigerians should note that CAN, as a faith-based entity, maintains its non-partisan stance and will not endorse or mobilise support for any candidate in the upcoming elections as against the social media post being circulated by some elements bent on soiling its name and image
“CAN, therefore, urges members of the public to disregard the purported letter of petition as its content are not only untrue, but malicious.
“We warn those peddling the falsehood to desist from such acts because they are capable of defaming innocent people and revered religious institutions as well as breaching public peace.
Meanwhile, the Obi -Datti Campaign Organisation has alerted on what it described as latest attempt to dwarf the rising profile of the Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi by alleging that he gave N2bn to Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Catholic Bishops Conference and some churches to enable him to canvass to address their faithful.
The campaign council in a statement on Sunday alerted the nation of a grand design to fatally injure the high-rising political profile of the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi with what they called a ‘killer punch’ propaganda material.
“Circulating in social media this weekend is another blackmail stuff against the LP candidate purported to indicate that he gave out the sum of two billion naira to Christians under the umbrella body of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Catholic Bishops Conference and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria to induce them.
“The petition is said to have been signed by one Pastor Frank Onwumere of the Dominion Center International based in Okigwe, Imo state. Obi-Datti Media feels the institutions so mentioned in the write-up have enough instruments to tackle such cheap extortion”.
Obi-Datti Media Campaign office reported that “it as a fact that you cannot be in front of a political competition and not get roughen, especially if you are in the race with morally bankrupt persons.
“That is why we will continue to be amused by the desperation of some opponents to search for faults on the front-running Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, and the apparent frustration of not finding any.
“The LP standard bearer has remained the most searched and fact-checked one among the four top Presidential candidates for obvious reasons. He is the only one running an issue-driven campaign and therefore, provoking intellectual conversations.
“But as Election Day draws nearer and the victory of their ‘unwanted’ Obi looks real, the anger and frustration of some dubious characters have increased”.
It alerted that it is even beginning to notice some state of despair which is resulting in senseless violence and blackmail, aimed at distracting and removing the candidate’s eyes already glued to the ball.
“Our mission in the Obidient Movement this day is to alert and warn discerning minds, especially those desirous to see a new Nigeria emerge through Peter Obi to ignore and treat as thrash any doctored and faked items on Obi. Anything they are bringing now after their long fruitless search is concocted to tarnish the hard-earned reputation of the candidate and should be disregarded.