The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has frowned at the inclusion of eight of its officials in the Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
News emerged on Thursday that 8 members of CAN are listed in the political campaign committee for the APC, a development that runs contrary to the position of the association.
The Christian body is opposed to the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the ruling APC and their inclusion in the party’s campaign council has generated a lot of reactions.
Those included are: Assistant General Secretary of CAN, Apostle Biodun Sanyaolu, who was appointed as Assistant Coordinator; Lagos State CAN Chairman, Stephen Adegbite (member); Director of Legal and Public Affairs, Comfort Chigbue (member); and Testimony Onifade, former Personal Assistant to immediate past CAN President, Samson Ayokunle (member).
Others are: Victor Ivoke, Personal Assistant to Rev. Daniel Okoh, current President of CAN (member); CAN former Director of Legal and Public Affairs, Kwamkur Samuel (member), and Prof. Para-Mallam (member).
However, in a statement on Thursday night, CAN President, Rev. Daniel Okoh, distanced himself from the APC Presidential Campaign Council list.
Okoh said the inclusion of the officials in the ruling party’s campaign council is worrisome because it counters the well-known stance of CAN on partisanship.
He also expressed disappointment in his officials for being named in the council, despite their opposition to the party’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.
Okoh, therefore, said he has set up probe to investigate how the officials got involved into overt partisanship.
In his words, “My attention as President of the Christian Association of Nigeria has been drawn to the revised list of members of the Tinubu/Shettima 2023 President Campaign Council wherein the names of some outgoing officials of the body were featured.
“Such a development is worrisome because it counters the well-known stance of CAN on partisanship. I want to categorically exonerate my humble self from this development and any of such that may occur in the future.
“I want to use this medium to assure all Christians in Nigeria and the general public that since I received the news, I have commenced full investigation into how the officials got involved into overt partisanship.
“I want to use this medium to assure all Christians in Nigeria and the general public that since I received the news, I have commenced full investigation into how the officials got involved into overt partisanship.
“At the end of the probe, CAN will take fair, but decisive and appropriate action with a view to defending the ideals of the umbrella Christian body I lead by the grace of the Almighty God.
“On a final note, I urge the general public to be calm while we collectively work to entrench a culture of inclusion and respect for our religious diversities in our political leadership.”
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