Prince Kassim Afegbua, a former Commissioner of Information in Edo State has alleged that the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) was being sponsored by the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to whip up undue sentiments against the candidature of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kashim Shettima and indeed, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement he issued yesterday in Abuja, Afegbua said his allegation was based on findings following a detailed investigation.
He said it started from former secretary to the government of the federation, Babachir Lawal, to other CAN leaders who have never deemed it fit to cede the presidency of the association to a core Northern Christian.
In the over 46 years of CAN, the closest was Cardinal John Onaiyekan, from Kabba, in Kogi State as president of CAN.
All other presidents have been of Southern extraction; yet, they desire to have a weak candidate from the North to strengthen PDP in the election.
“Let me state categorically and without any iota of doubt that CAN, as a body, is working for the Peoples’ Democratic Party,” Afegbua, who used to work for Atiku, said.
“They are being sponsored to sustain a political awareness that cannot pass any true test of ecclesiastical emanation.
“The PDP had earlier set up a committee to sustain these sentiments in the realisation that it will weaken the APC and force it to rescind its well-thought-out decision to choose a Northern Muslim as the party’s vice presidential candidate.
“They are being funded covertly by PDP elements and my very reliable source confirmed a meeting held in Asokoro at the home of a media mogul, a few days ago, where a decision was taken to sustain the umbrage.
“I will mention names very soon if they refuse to desist from such satanic plots just to score a cheap political point.”
Eighteen-Eleven Media reports that CAN has been upbeat over the choice of Senator Kashim Shettima as the vice presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).