The Christian Association of Nigeria on Sunday, February 12, debunked the claim of receiving N2bn from Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as peddled by some social media users.
It was alleged that the claim was made by one Pastor Frank Onwumere in a letter dated December 15, 2022, and addressed to CAN President. The petitioner claimed that the N2bn was shared among some mega-churches while other denominations were sidelined.
However, Onwumere, whose name appeared on the petition has denied any knowledge of it.
In the statement, CAN President Daniel Okoh said the Christian group is non-partisan and will not endorse or mobilise support for any candidate.
CAN also warned 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.
The statement titled Re: Petition on the misappropriation of N2bn given by the presidential candidate of Labour party, Mr Peter Obi, to churches under the umbrella of CAN reads;
The attention of the National leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has been drawn to a purported letter currently in circulation on social media, alleging that a certain sum of N2bn was given by the presidential candidate of Labour party, Mr Peter Obi to Churches under the umbrella of CAN.
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
CAN, therefore, urges members of the public to disregard the purported letter of petition as its content are not only untrue, but malicious.
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.