PASTORS and Bishops have defied the directive of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to attend the unveiling of Senator Kashim Shettima as the running mate to the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 presidential elections.
Their presence became cynosure of all eyes 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.
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