The Christian Association of Nigeria has denied reports that it has altered its mind on the All Progressives Congress's Muslim-Muslim ticket after meeting the party's presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
The group also cautioned against politicizing Tinubu's attendance at the Abuja commemoration of Rev. Matthew Kukah's 70th birthday as Catholic Bishop of the Sokoto Diocese.
This was announced by CAN President Daniel Okoh in a statement headlined "Muslim-Muslim Ticket: CAN retain its stand," which was released by Luminous Jannamike, Okoh's Special Assistant (Media and Strategic Communication).
The Kukah Centre, he claims, was funded by friends of the celebrant and other good-hearted Nigerians. They wanted to create a real platform to spread and promote the values of democracy and responsible leadership via study and intellectualism.
The statement said, "The attention of the leadership of CAN has been directed to a media item headed, ‘How Tinubu met, resolved Muslim-Muslim ticket with CAN,' which claimed that the highest Christian group had modified its position over the same-faith ticket.
To put it mildly, the narrative is stupid, malicious, and false, and all sane people in society should dismiss it entirely. It is important to note that His Eminence, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, agrees with the position taken by CAN when it was led by Rev. Samson Ayokunle, its immediate past National President, which was to oppose the same-faith ticket controversy.
To paraphrase, "CAN may not agree with every decision taken by politicians and political parties, but it respects their right to reach conclusions on issues that affect their electoral fortunes so long as they accord with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the Electoral Act" (2022).
"CAN, once again, stresses that it is non-partisan and is open to working with any and all leaders and other relevant stakeholders to advance national harmony, peace, and prosperity.
Therefore, as the aforementioned source claims, the Christian umbrella group cannot be opposed to any decent political party or group as the country prepares for new elections in 2023.
Similarly, it "strongly condemns the attempt to build a mountain out of a molehill" over Tinubu's attendance at Rev. Kukah's 70th birthday party in Abuja.
"The event was open to the public, and friends of the celebrant and other good-spirited Nigerians contributed to the construction of The Kukah Centre, which will serve as an open forum for disseminating and promoting the ideals of democracy and responsible leadership through scholarship and thought.
The money was given to The Kukah Centre without involvement from CAN. For this reason, it is deliberately deceptive to imply that there was some kind of bribe money for Christian leaders to change their minds on the same-faith ticket.
"As a religious group, CAN insist that it will neither sell its soul for profit or muzzle its prophetic message for financial gain.
Finally, we urge political parties and their candidates to put the country's interests ahead of their own and prepare to serve the people with honesty and humility.