The national leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has rejected a claim that it received the sum of N2 billion from the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi, for churches under the umbrella of CAN.
The CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, said this Sunday night in a statement he signed.
He noted that there was a purported letter currently in circulation on social media alleging that N2bn was given by Obi to churches under the umbrella of CAN.
He said, “I use this medium to categorically state that the so-called letter of petition reportedly signed by one Pastor Frank Onwumere and addressed to my office is illogical and can best be described as a failed attempt to drag the apex Christian body into the politics of 2023. However, we will investigate the source of the letter in the interest of the public.
“To set the records straight, I am not aware of any N2bn given to churches in Nigeria to mobilise votes for any 2023 presidential candidate and never received the said petition dated December 22, 2022.
“Nigerians should note that CAN, as a faith-based entity, maintains its non-partisan stance and will not endorse or mobilise support for any candidate in the upcoming elections as against the social media post being circulated by some elements bent on soiling its name and image.”
He, therefore, urged the public to disregard the purported letter of petition as its content were not only untrue, but malicious.
He further said, “We warn those peddling the falsehood to desist from such acts because they are capable of defaming innocent people and revered religious institutions, as well as breaching public peace.”
