A former Edo State Commissioner for Information, Prince Kassim Afegbua, has alleged that the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is being sponsored by the leading opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to heat up polity over the All Progressives Congress (APC) same faith ticket.
The erstwhile member of the PDP made the allegation on Sunday in a statement made available to The Star.
Afegbua further said that the PDP is bankrolling the CAN to weaken the APC with its sustained campaign against the choice of former Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima.
According to him, his sources within the PDP confided in him that a meeting was held in Abuja residence of a media mogul to perfect the plan.
The statement read: “Let me state categorically and without any iota of doubt that CAN as a body is working for the PDP. 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 realisation 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, few days ago, where a decision was taken to sustain the umbrage.”
He contended that the Christian body was not doing anything in the interest of the people, adding that “one would think they are altruistic in their demand for the Number 2 position, but 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.”
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Afegbua, who accused CAN of having almost all its presidents from the South, wondered why it’s now championing the right of Northern Christians.
“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,” he added.
The former commissioner, who accused CAN of unnecessary politicisation, argued that CAN is expending resources on issues that are not existential problems.
“CAN has just entered another phase of such politicisation again by its standoffish posturing in the name of 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.
“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 how to find solutions to our problems and not dig into our religious differences.”
Afegbua further threatened to mention names of people involved in the process.
“I will mention names very soon if they refuse to desist from such satanic plots just to score cheap political point,” he said.
He further accused his former political party of hiring persons to appear in Christian apparels to embarrass the APC presidential candidate during the unveiling of his running mate.
He insisted: “The PDP chieftains were the ones who went to hire some persons, 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. CAN is being sponsored by the PDP, and the PDP works for CAN.”
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