It’s a lie — Presidency
As preparations begin for the election of a replacement for the outgoing President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor in July, tension is already mounting in the Christian community following alleged plans by President Muhammadu Buhari and All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders to install an unnamed Northern successor.
The scenario appears to be a repeat of what transpired during the administration of ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo.
Already, APC is said to be interested in sponsoring a pro-Buhari cleric from the North to avoid radical opposition to his administration from the Christian community.
A Christians’ group, Christ Redeemers Union (CRU) on Sunday, claimed that the Presidency was interested in the CAN election for its selfish reasons.
But the Presidency debunked the allegation saying Buhari does not interfere in internal affairs of any organisation.
Mr. Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), dismissing the allegation, said Buhari does not interfere in state elections where his own party, APC, fields candidates so, he would not interfere in any organisation’s internal affairs.
Adesina said: “It means that some Nigerians still don’t know their President; Your President, Muhammadu Buhari does not interfere in things like that; so they need to know the person who is their President.”
Dr. Ebenezer Olusola Abednego, National Director of CRU, who disclosed the Presidency’s scheming to newsmen in Abuja, said that Christians would resist any plan by the Presidency to instal its candidate in CAN Presidency.
Olusola explained that the APC government was desperate to ensure the emergence of its candidate in CAN who will lead the Nigerian Christians community.
He said: “We have it on good authority that any leader being installed by the Presidency in CAN would avoid any virulent criticism of the Buhari government and this has informed their desperation to install a leadership that will not be critical.
“But we are vehemently opposed to government meddling in a purely religious affair and should the Presidency succeed in installing an APC/Buhari stooge in CAN, we will pull out of CAN. We are ready for them, we have it on good authority that some Muslim leaders from the North are behind the plot. But by the power in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, every knee shall bow and they won’t succeed.”
Reacting to it, Mr. Femi Adesina dismissed the allegation, saying: “It means that some Nigerians don’t know their President; Your President, Muhammadu Buhari does not interfere in things like that; so they need to know the person who is their President.
“The people making the allegation can’t insist that they are correct because that is the man for you and Buhari doesn’t interfere in anything. If he doesn’t interfere in state elections where his own party, APC is having candidates, how will he interfere in CAN elections? They don’t know their President.”
-Vanguard
