AMINA ANEBI, Kaduna
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Kaduna State chapter, has expressed dismay over the alleged desperation of the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, to get the support of any group or whoever claims to be a Christian.
He was responding to a recent report that a Christian group, “Progressive Christian Clerics, North-West Zone,” has declared support for Tinubu despite his Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Kaduna CAN Chairman, Chairman, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, who spoke to journalists on Wednesday, said the development showed that the APC presidential candidate and his running mate “are so desparate in getting the support of Christians in the country not minding the genuineness of the person, group or organisation.”
Recall that Progressive Christian Clerics, North-West Zone, had claimed it has members in the 19 northern states including Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, saying that Nigerians should be more concerned about electing leaders with capacity to tackle daring security challenges and economic problems militating against the country’s progress rather than issues of religious and ethnic sentiments.
The group’s position was contained in a statement issued by its zonal Chairman, Reverend Moses Bitrus of Arise and Shine Prophetic Ministry Kaduna.
But Rev. Hayab said, “I have all my life lived in Kaduna and as a minister of the gospel l have been opportuned to interact and know most of the Pastors in Kaduna. To the best of my ability, l don’t know the name of the zonal chairman nor the existence of a group like that.”
He added, “It is a pity, the desperation of the APC presidential candidates to convince Nigerians that they are being supported by the Christians in the country…
“If the Christians were important, l strongly believed they would have been consulted and carried along in the struggle of the presidency by the APC in nominating the running mate to its presidential candidate. Using names, groups, organisations that are alleged to be Christians will not change the reality of what CAN is talking about.”
He explained that the Christians in the country know the difference between their genuine leaders from opportunist parading as christian groups.
“Christians genuine leaders will continue to speak out against divisive actions in the polity of the nation so that the generations yet unborn will have a peaceful and united country,” he added.
According to Hayab, anything that is not in the interest of all Nigerians irrespective of any different, “CAN would not support it but will completely distance itself from such things that are meant to separate and cause suspicion, disharmony and hatred among the good people of Nigeria that desired the best from the leadership of the country.”
He added, “CAN would continue to preach peace, love and unity among its followers, believing that that is the only way they could live in peace without any form of suspicion but togetherness among Nigerians.”
