The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has denied a letter currently in circulation on social media, alleging that a sum of N2bn was given by the presidential candidate of Labour party, Mr Peter Obi to Churches under the umbrella of CAN.
The body in a statement by its president, Archbishop Daniel Okoh described the letter supposedly signed by one Pastor Frank Onwumere and addressed to CAN as, “illogical and can best be described as a failed attempt to drag the apex Christian body into the politics of 2023.”
While promising to investigate the source of the letter, the body stated it never received such letter and that CAN was never 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.”
The body stressed 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
It added that the social media post was being circulated by some elements bent on soiling its name and image
CAN urged members of the public to disregard the purported letter of petition as its content are not only untrue, but malicious.
It 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.
Read also: May Nigeria not miss the opportunity of electing a leader with focus:https://churchtimesnigeria.net/2023-nigeria-leaders-focus/
Meanwhile the said Pastor Onwumere has come out to deny ever writing such petition and that he was not aware of such transaction.
In another viral video he said he does not even own a church called Dominion Centre International inscribed on the head of the letter allegedly written to CAN president.
A fact checking agency, PR Nigeria also found out from its investigation that there is no church bearing Dominion International Centre. The agency also tried to reach the number on the letter. The response is that the number was not assigned to anybody. It then stated in its report that the claim that one pastor Frank Onwumere has petitioned the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, over the N2 billion campaign grant given by the presidential candidate for Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi is FALSE.