The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has expressed disappointment with the event on Wednesday during the unveiling of Kashim Shettima as the vice presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
During the event, some ‘unknown clerics’ in bishops’ apparel were seen posing as representatives of the Christian union.
CAN, in a statement on Thursday, through its General Secretary, Barrister Joseph Bade Daramola, said the Christian body was surprised to witness how desperate some politicians in the country have become in their crave for power.
The statement read, “We are shocked, disappointed and worried about the desperation of some politicians who once claimed Christians do not matter in governance and politics who went to hire some unknown ‘bishops, pastors and priests’ to impersonate the leadership of CAN in their political meeting.
“This is totally unacceptable, reprehensible, unprecedented and ungodly. If they are saying Christians have no electoral values why impersonating them in their meetings?
“We are throwing their principals and sponsors into the court of conscience. These actions of theirs have shown who they are to the public and what they are capable of doing to us all.”
The presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Tinubu, a Muslim had picked Shettima, a Muslim too as his running mate.
The decision was condemned by CAN and many other Nigerians including members of the ruling party.
Supposedly in a bid to prove that some Christian leaders were in agreement with the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket, about 30 unknown clerics, allegedly hired, attended the unveiling event.
Though Tinubu’s group has since said they bishops were not fake, CAN unhappy with situation, warned political parties not to ignore “religious sensibilities and sensibilities of the people especially in today’s Nigeria when Christians are becoming endangered species daily.
“Our quest is within the constitutional requirements and ignoring it is akin to trampling on the Constitution especially the Federal Character Act.”
The Christian body went further to say that at the fullness of time, it would direct its members nationwide on how to use their PVCs come 2023.