The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has denied receiving N2 billion from Peter Obi, Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP).
There had been a petition by one pastor Pastor Frank Onwumere, being circulated on social media, alleging that Obi gave N2 billion to churches through CAN to help mobilise their congregation to vote for him.
However, in a statement on Sunday, President of CAN, Rev. Daniel Okoh, denied the claim, stressing that the association is non-partisan and will not endorse or mobilise support for any candidate.
The statement said: “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.”
However, Pastor Onwumere has denied writing the petition over an alleged misappropriation of N2 billion given by the presidential candidate of Labour party, Peter Obi, to churches under the umbrella of CAN.
Onwumere said in a statement on Sunday that he never authored such petition and did not authorise anyone to do so on his behalf.
He said, “My attention has been drawn to a petition with the above subject matter purportedly written by one Pastor Frank Onwumere of Dominion Centre International.
“I wish to use this medium to inform the public, my associates, friends and family, that I, Hon. Pastor Frank Onwumere, did not author the said petition and did not authorise anybody to do so on my behalf.
“I am not a member of Dominion Centre International and have never had any relationship with the organisation. The author of the petition is not known to me.
“Please be assured that it is not in my character to malign any person or institution, let alone revered religious bodies.”