Pastors, Bishops at Shettima’s unveiling
- CAN disassociates self from clerics at event, dares APC to name them
Journalists assigned to cover the official presentation of former Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima as the running mate of the presidential flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, watched in amusement as pastors and Bishops from different Christian denominations showed up at the venue.
The Punch reports that their presence seemed to cause a stir as onlookers and guests stared hard at them as they walked into the reception of the Musa Yar’Adua Centre dressed in their cassocks and habits, amid heavy security at the venue.
Earlier, the media had been awash with reports from religious bodies urging Christian leaders to boycott the unveiling to drive home the point of their grievances.
Special Assistant on Media and Communications to the Christians Association of Nigeria’s President, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, had a few weeks ago condemned the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket.
He stated, “The Christian Association of Nigeria has stated it clearly that the situation in the country now is not suitable for a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“It is up to Nigerians to accept or reject. Today’s Nigeria is not the same as when Nigerians voted Abiola-Kingibe ticket which was eventually annulled. Our prayers are with Nigeria and Nigerians,
In a related development, CAN General Secretary, Rev. Joseph Bade Daramola, in a statement, also considered the choise of Shettima “as a declaration of war.”
CAN President (Youth Wing), Belusochukwu Enwere, also confided in our correspondent on Tuesday night that no member will be there either to protest or show any form of solidarity for the party’s stance on the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Enwere said that the body was still consulting and had not taken a position.
He said, “Well, we are still meeting at our level in CAN. Consultations are still ongoing on what we need to do and the kind of candidate we want. For now, we are weighing all the presidential candidates irrespective of religion. For now, let us just say we are indecisive at the moment,” he said.
CAN disassociates self from bishops at Shettima’s unveiling
Meanwhile, CAN has dissociated itself from Bishops and pastors who reportedly attended the event.
According to Kemi Filani News, the Vice President of CAN (19 Northern States and Abuja), Rev. Joseph John Hayab, described the Bishops as desperados who went there for themselves.
Hayab, who is also CAN Chairman in Kaduna State, said that the Tinubu, was free to “hire mechanics and other artisans and sew clerical garments for them.”
He added that APC’s action would only add to their many ropes but would not change the need for fairness and justice.
He said, “The people we saw at the unveiling of Shettima paraded as Bishops are people who did not have enough time to learn how to wear Bishop garments. Take a closer look at their photo and you will see another Nollywood movie.
“CAN wonders why the desperation. First, a story was out claiming to have come from the Chairman of CAN Borno state only to be refuted. Secondly, there was another lie that BAT (Bola Ahmed Tinubu) and his running mate were on their way to meet CAN President one night. A meeting that was not true and was on a night that the CAN President was in Alabama USA attending the Baptist World Alliance Conference of which he is the Vice President.
“Another desperation story was that they met Papa Adeboye which the RCCG later refuted. If Christians are not important why the desperation?
“BAT is free to hire mechanics and other artisans and sew clerical garments for them. An effort that will only add to their many ropes when the political exercise is over but will not change the need for fairness and justice that CAN is calling for.
“CAN appreciate that we are in a democracy, no need to do funny and dubious things just to prove a point because it will in the end bounce back. BAT team should simply do what is right and stop the drama.”
Also, the association challenged the ruling party to mention CAN officials who attended the event.
Adebayo Oladeji, Special Assistant on Media and Communication to the President of CAN, Samson Ayokunle, stated this while reacting to the reported presence of some bishops at Shettima’s unveiling ceremony at the Shehu Yar’adua Center in Abuja.
In a short reaction sent to journalists, Adebayo said, “Let them name the CAN officials at the programme and their offices. If they could use 2017 photos to claim that some Pastors visited Shettima and lied that Pastor E. A Adeboye has endorsed them; they could do anything.
He said, “Let them name the CAN officials at the programme and their offices. If they could use 2017 photos to claim that some Pastors visited Shettima and lied that Pastor E. A Adeboye has endorsed them, they could do anything.
“Our position on Muslim-Muslim ticket is irreversible. Anybody can claim anything but one thing is clear, CAN was not part of the unveiling programme of Shettima.”
The Punch / Kemi Filani News
