Shettima’s unveiling: Amaechi, Lawan, Bakare, Okorocha, others absent, as CAN berates ‘desperado’ bishops present

Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has declared that bishops seen at the Wednesday’s official unveiling of Kashim Ibrahim Shettima as the Vice Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were not its members but ‘desperados.’.

The organisation said that although the presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was free to ‘hire mechanics and other artisans and sew clerical garments for them,’ that effort would only add to their many ropes but would not change the need for fairness and justice.

Speaking, Wednesday, in a chat with newsmen in reaction to the official unveiling of Senator Shettima as the running mate of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC, the Vice President of CAN (19 Northern States and Abuja) and chairman in Kaduna State, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, described the Christian clerics who attended the event as ‘people who did not have enough time to learn how to wear Bishop garments.’

“The people we saw at the unveiling of Shettima paraded as Bishops are people who did not have enough time to learn how to wear Bishop garments. Take a closer look at their photo and you will see another Nollywood movie.

“CAN wonders why the desperation. First, a story was out claiming to have come from the Chairman of CAN Borno state only to be refuted.

“Secondly, there was another lie that BAT (Bola Ahmed Tinubu) and his running mate were on their way to meet CAN President one night. A meeting that was not true and was on a night that the CAN President was in Alabama USA attending Baptist World Alliance Conference of which he is the Vice President.

“Another desperation story was that they met Papa Adeboye which the RCCG later refuted. If Christians are not important why the desperation?

“BAT is free to hire mechanics and other artisans and sew clerical garments for them. An effort that will only add to their many ropes when the political exercise is over but will not change the need for fairness and justice that CAN is calling for.

“CAN appreciate that we are in a democracy, no need to do funny and dubious things just to prove a point because it will in the end bounce back. BAT team should simply do what is right and stop the drama,” the CAN leader said.

CAN while reacting to the decision by the APC Presidential candidate, Tinubu to settle for a fellow Muslim as running mate in the 2023 General Elections, said ‘the situation in the country now is not suitable for a Muslim-Muslim ticket.’

“It is up to Nigerians to accept or reject. Today’s Nigeria is not the same when Nigerians voted Abiola-Kingibe ticket which was eventually annulled.

“Our prayers are with Nigeria and Nigerians,” read the official statement by CAN signed by the Special Assistant (Media and Communications) to the CAN President, Rev Dr Samson Ayokunle, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, while reacting to the Tinubu and Shettima ticket.

Meanwhile, at the unveiling of Shettima proper, on Wednesday, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan failed to make an appearance at the occasion in Abuja.

Also absent were those who contested the party’s presidential primary in June, including; Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, former Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi.

Others were; Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello; his Cross Rivers counterpart, Ben Ayade; Ebonyi Governor, Dave Umahi; former Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu; former Zamfara State Governor, Ahmed Sani Yerima; former Minister of State for Education Emeka Nwajiuba; Pastor Tunde Bakare of the Citadel Global Community Church; former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, Tein Jack-Rich and Ike-Obasi Mokelu.

However, those in attendance included; the party’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, National Secretary, Iyiola Omisere and other party officials.

Also present were governors of Kebbi, Borno, Gombe, Kano, Ekiti, Katsina, Ogun, Zamfara, Lagos, Nasarawa and Kogi State, represented by the Deputy.