Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has revealed that some influential people working closely with the Federal Government are mounting serious pressure on its leadership to pay a congratulatory visit to President Muhammadu Buhari, following the outcome of the last month’s presidential election.
A source in CAN’s national executive body, who confided in Vanguard, said the pressure had now assumed the form of subtle blackmail against its leaders.
“We have seen how they are polarising the church so that it cannot act as a body. The Bible says the house divided against itself cannot stand. This is where we find ourselves today. If there’s no unity among us, who says the enemy cannot attack and go away? It’s very unfortunate,” the source is quoted as saying.
“If you know the pressure mounted on CAN leadership that we, as a body, have to go and congratulate the president. However, the church is saying this election is controversial and we see what is happening. But, they are still mounting pressure seriously.
“They are telling us if we don’t congratulate him, it means we are against him and that we are partisan. However, we are saying let them resolve the issues (in court) before we go and congratulate whoever wins. That’s the situation we find ourselves as the Church of God.”
In another development, CAN President, Rev Samson Ayokunle, has condemned the recent abduction of a Catholic Priest, Fr. John Shekwolo, in Kaduna State.
He said it was shameful that “gunmen,” have continued to kidnap and sometimes murder innocent citizens in cold blood without being apprehended and prosecuted.”
He reiterated the need to restructure Nigeria’s security architecture and rejig the service chiefs to ameliorate the country’s deplorable situation.
