CAN denies collecting N7billion bribe, demands police probe

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has formally denied an allegation by a Borno State-based pastor that President Jonathan and the PDP gave the leadership of the association N7billion to campaign for his re-election. Read the allegation here

The claim followed an earlier one made by Rivers State governor and Director General of the Buhari campaign organisation, Rotimi Amaechi, who some weeks ago said Pastors were given N6billion to work against Muhammadu Buhari and for the president.

Musa Dikwa, a Borno pastor and the Executive Director of the Voice of Northern Christian Movement, corroborated his claims to reporters in Kaduna, Thursday, and that CAN was actually given N7billion, not N6billion.

General Secretary of CAN, Musa Asake, in a released statement said the body is not aware of “any N7 billion transaction as claimed by Musa Dikwa who also doubles as the Executive Director of a non-existent group, Voice of Northern Christian Movement”.

The statement also mentioned that CAN was not a political entity, let alone get involved in partisan politics.
“Christians members of CAN belong to different political parties. It is therefore appalling to hear that CAN is campaigning for one candidate,” Mr. Asake stated.

The CAN leader reiterated that revered men of God including CAN president, Ayo Oritsejafor; David Oyedepo of Winners Chapel and Bosun Emmanuel (Secretary-General of National Christian Elders Forum) are too upright to be linked with such scandal.

“CAN is however, not surprised to see Musa Dikwa doing a yeoman’s job the next day through his allegations. This is the hands of Esau but voice of Jacob,” he said.

He further added that the allegation by Mr. Dikwa was masterminded by those who were unhappy with a recent press statement in which CAN denounced the endorsement of APC's candidate Gen. Buhari by a group of people using the name of different Christian organizations to perpetrate fraud.

“We still reiterate that Buhari has fallen into wrong hands due to his endorsement for the March 28 general election by Northern Christian Leaders Eagle-Eye Forum led by Aminchi Habu is fraudulent,” he said.

Mr. Asake pleaded with security agencies to start investigations into the activities of the Voice of Northern Christian Movement and Mr. Dikwa himself, to unmask the N7 billion mystery.

“We lay emphasis, that neither Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, Bishop David Oyedepo, Pastor Bosun Emmanuel and CAN was given any money by the presidency, let alone N7 billion.

“The claims is the height of mischief and desperation. Unfortunately, our psyche as a country has been bastardized and abused by the institutionalized corruption introduced by successive military rulers (in uniform and out of uniform) that we no longer believe that anyone can speak the truth without financial inducement or gratification. Fortunately, there are still citizens in the nation who act without financial inducement.

“We are Christians and our candidate remains Jesus Christ. As long as we believe that the Church is under threat, we will speak for Jesus Christ and maintain the Wake Up Call to the Church,” he said.