As the general elections in 2023 approach, the Kaduna state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has voiced dismay over the purported desire of the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential aspirants to win the support of anyone in the name of Christianity.
The state chairman of CAN, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, told reporters on Wednesday that a recent publication by a purported group of Christians called "Progressive Christian Clerics, North-West Zone" had demonstrated how the APC presidential candidates were so anxious to win the support of Christians in the nation that they didn't care about the veracity of the individual, group, or organisation.
You may recall that some individuals operating under the banner of the Progressive Christian Clerics, North-West Zone, declared their support for the Tinubu/Shettima ticket, which is the Muslim-Muslim ticket fielded by the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by presidential flagbearer Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. They also urged Christian faithful to ensure brotherliness, which led to their decision.
In a statement released by the group's zonal chairman, Reverend Moses Bitrus of Arise and Shine Prophetic Ministry Kaduna, the group, whose membership spanned 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, said that Nigerians should be more concerned about electing leaders with the capacity to tackle the difficult economic issues and security challenges impeding the country's progress than issues of religious and ethnic sentiments.
But Rev. Hayab, while denying the presence of the zonal chairman and group, said, “I have all my life lived in Kaduna and as a Minister of the gospel, I have been opportune to interact and know most of the Pastors in Kaduna. To the best of my ability, I don’t know the name of the zonal chairman nor the existence of a group like that.”
“It is a pity that the desperation of the APC presidential candidates to convince Nigerians that they are being supported by the Christians in the country will definitely attract non existence group of people in the name of Christians claiming to support their candidacy in order to milk them.”
“If the Christians were important, I strongly believe 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.”
Authentic Christian leaders would continue to speak out against divisive actions in the nation's polity so that generations yet to be born will have a peaceful and united country, he said, adding that the Christians in the country know the difference between their genuine leaders and opportunists parading themselves as Christian groups.
The CAN would not support anything that was not in the interests of all Nigerians, regardless of their differences, he continued, and it would completely distance itself from anything that was intended to divide and sow discord, suspicion, and hatred among the good people of Nigeria who wanted the best for the nation's leadership.
According to Rev. Hayab, 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.