Betrayal, anger and tension best described the situation at the headquarters of the Christian Association of Nigeria with the surprise appearance of about eight members opposed to the Muslim-Muslim ticket on the list of the Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress.
Among them is Assistant General Secretary of CAN, Apostle Biodun Sanyaolu, who was recruited as Assistant Coordinator; its controversial Lagos State 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).
Although the tenure of the CAN officials would elapse in ten days’ time, The PUNCH learnt that Samuel has applied for reappointment.
Since the names were made public, the issue had remained the topic of discussion in several churches and WhatsApp groups of CAN leaders.
But Okoh in a statement issued on Thursday night distanced himself from the APC Presidential Campaign Council list.
Sources said he was disappointed when he learnt that his trusted PA was among beneficiaries of the APC list, despite their opposition.
Okoh said, “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 a 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.”
