CAN election: Tension mounts over alleged plan by FG to install Northern President

Ahead of the expiration of the tenure of the President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor in July, tension is already mounting within the Christian community following alleged plans by President Muhammadu Buhari and All Progressives Congress, APC, to install a Northern successor.

This appeared to be a repeat of what transpired during the administration of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Already, APC, is said to be interested in sponsoring a pro-Buhari clergy from the North to avoid any radical opposition to his administration from the Christian community.

A group of Christians under the umbrella of Christ Redeemers Union, yesterday, claimed that the Presidency was interested in CAN election for some selfish reasons. But the Presidency debunked the allegation, saying Buhari did not interfere in an internal affairs of any organisation.

 Reacting, the Special Adviser to the President (Media and Communications), Mr. Femi Adesina, dismissed the allegation, saying Buhari does not interfere in the internal affairs of any organisation. He said: “It means that some Nigerians don’t know their President; Your President, Muhammadu Buhari did not interfere in things like that; so they need to know the person who is their President.”

The National Director of CRU, Dr. Ebenezer Olusola Abednego, who disclosed this to newsmen, in Abuja, said that Christians would resist any plan by the Presidency to instal its in CAN Presidency. Olusola explained that the APC government was desperate to ensure the emergence of its candidate in CAN who will lead the Nigerian Christians community. “We have it on good authority that any leader being installed by the Presidency in CAN would avoid any virulent criticism of the Buhari government and this has informed their desperate to install a leadership that will not be critical.

“But we are vehemently opposed to government meddling into a purely religious affairs and should the Presidency succeed in installing an APC/Buhari stooge in CAN, we will pull out of CAN. We are ready for them, we have it on good authority that some Muslim leaders from the North are behind the plot. But by the power in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, every knee shall bow and they won’t succeed.” Reacting to this, the Special Adviser to the President (Media and Communications), Mr. Femi Adesina, dismissed the allegation, saying Buhari does not interfere in the internal affairs of any organisation. He said: “It means that some Nigerians don’t know their President; Your President, Muhammadu Buhari does not interfere in things like that; so they need to know the person who is their President. “The people making the allegation can’t insist that they are correct because that is the man for you and Buhari doesn’t interfere in anything. If he doesn’t interfere in State elections where his own party, APC is having candidates, how will he interfere in CAN elections? They don’t know their President.”