N7bn: CAN Denies Collecting Money From Jonathan

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has denied knowledge of the alleged N7bn given to its president, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, by President Goodluck Jonathan to campaign for his re-election, as alleged by Pastor Musa Dikwa, executive director of the Voice of Northern Christian Movement.

CAN, in a statement signed by its secretary-general, Rev. Musa Asake, said that the Christians association is not a political party and dose not get involved in partisan politics, saying that who are members of CAN belong to different political parties, and it is therefore surprising to hear that CAN is campaigning for one presidential candidate.

Asake said that, ordinarily, they would have ignored what he described as “baseless and worthless” allegation, but they could not ignore it presently, because of the vulnerable public which believes in anything, no matter how incredible the source could be, especially in this era of politics.

Asake said: “For the avoidance of doubt, CAN has no knowledge of any N7bn transaction as alleged by Musa Dikwa who claims to be the executive director of a non-existent group, Voice of Northern Christian Movement.

“Revered men of God, including CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, , Bishop David Oyedepo of Winner Chapel and Pastor Bosun Emmanuel, secretary-general of National Christian Elders Forum, are too upright to be linked with any such deal. CAN is, therefore, not surprised to see Musa Dikwa doing a yeoman’s job the next day through his allegations. This is the hand of Esau but voice of Jacob.”

CAN said the allegation by Dikwa was master-minded by those who were not happy with their recent press statement in which they denounced the endorsement of the presidential candidate of the APC, General Muhammadu Buhari by a group of people using the name of different Christian organisations to perpetrate fraud.

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

“We are, therefore, calling on security agencies to commence investigation into the activities of this Voice of Northern Christian Movement and Musa Dikwa to unravel the N7bn mystery which is intended by their sponsors to throw the country into serious crisis.

“We repeat, for emphasis, that neither Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, Bishop David Oyedepo, Pastor Bosun Emmanuel and CAN was given any money by the Presidency, let alone N7bn. The allegation is the height of mischief and desperation.

“Unfortunately, our psyche as a nation has been bastardised and abused by the institutionalised 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 people in the nation who act without financial inducement,” CAN