We Have Nothing Against Buhari, Says Borno CAN
BEVERLY HILLS, February 22, (THEWILL) – The Borno State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Sunday declared that it had nothing against the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari.
It also denied the allegation of victimisation of Christians who are sympathetic to the APC flagbearer, saying the allegation was not only false but “baseless, fictitious and unfounded.”
A statement titled, Response To The Wild Threat of Allegations of Threat to Christians in the State” issued by the Borno CAN chairman, Rev ( Dr.) Titus Pona, said: “The attention of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Borno state chapter has been drawn to a publication making the rounds in several of our national dailies and other social media alleging that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan bribed Pastors in the Nation with the sum of seven Million Naira and that this money was channeled through the National CAN's Office, for Pastor's to help campaign for his re-election in the next polls scheduled for March 28, 2015.
“ It further alleged that each of the State chairmen of CAN received three million Naira for same purpose to campaign for PDP against APC.”
Quoting the allegation credited to one Pastor Musa Ali Kallamu Dikwa further, Pona said: “They are threatening Christians in Borno state that they will deal with anyone anybody who refused to vote for Jonathan. And that the CAN officials are now campaigning that if Buhari emerges as President, he will Islamise Nigeria, and that Osinbajo collected money from Islamic world and that the same Osinbajo will resign soon after Buhari wins to give way for Tinubu to emerge Vice President.”
According to Pona : “Ordinarily, we would have ignored such wild allegation but for the specific mention of Borno state in the write-up. Such allegation can easily mislead well meaning persons and perhaps vulnerable members of the public.
“Pastor Musa Kallamu Ali Dikwa has been a charlatan for quite sometime. A recent convert from Islam to Christianity and we thank God for that , however he was not properly discipled. He took advantage of that to deceive several people especially to get the sympathy of Southern Christians. He is well known for that.
“We are therefore not surprised that he agreed to be a willing tool to be used to cause disaffection among the general populace. His claims to have been an associate pastor with EYN Farm Centre in Maiduguri is also untrue. Available records reveal that he was never a part of the staff of EYN.
“For the records, CAN Borno State chapter has no knowledge of such wild allegation and did not collect any three million naira
” As a body, the Christian Association of Nigeria is non-partisan and we encourage everyone to belong to a party of his or her choice since we have Christians in all parties.
“Pastor Kallamu is not living in Maiduguri. For some years now while in Maiduguri he was the leader of a Mission Organisation known as KANURI GOSPEL MISSION, we do not know when he became the Executive Director of a non-existent Voice of Northern Christian Movement; maybe for such a propaganda.
“We urge the public to be wary of such characters in the likes of Pastor Musa Ali Kallamu. We urge well meaning Christians to pray for him pleading for God's mercies on his behalf.”