How politicians attempted to stop visit to Buhari – CAN

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has said saboteurs and
politicians in cassock attempted to prevent its leadership from paying
congratulatory visit to President Muhammadu Buhari.

President Buhari and Leadership of CAN

The President of CAN, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, at State House after the
leadership of CAN visited Buhari on Friday, dismissed the allegation
that pressure was mounted on the CAN leaders to congratulate the
president on his re-election.

A national daily and some online platforms had reported that “some
influential people working closely with the Federal Government were
mounting pressure on CAN leadership to pay a congratulatory visit to
Buhari.”

The report quoted a source closed to CAN leadership 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.”

The CAN leader, however, dismissed the report, saying it was the
handiwork of saboteurs and enemies of progress, who did not wish the
association well.

He said: “Saboteurs didn’t want us to come here (Aso Rock). We are old enough to know what to do and what not to do.

“If somebody like me after 60 years of age will be under pressure it means that my life would never have meaning again.

“But by the grace of God we have a meaningful life, I know what to
do. By God’s grace He has prepared me well for this assignment.

“So, those distractors and those politicians in cassock should go and find better job to do,’’ he said.

Ayokunle noted that the CAN leadership was in the villa not only to
congratulate the president on his re-election, but to remind him of the
yearnings of Nigerians.

The cleric said that Nigerians wanted him to perform 100 per cent better than that of the first term.

He, therefore, advised the president that only the best Nigerians
should be considered while constituting his new cabinet, stressing that
he should do more in addressing socioeconomic challenges facing the
citizens.

“Now, he has mastered the job; he has mustered enough strength to be able to go full swing into action.

“We want him to do more on security- kidnappings almost everywhere
and the issue of insurgency in the northeast, the insurgents should be
silenced once and for all.

“These ethnic militias that have now moved to the northwest, which
used to be peaceful, and they are now causing violence there – before
they will grow wings their wings should be clipped completely,’’ he
added.

NAN