CAN doesn’t endorse candidates for elections, says Reverend Fr. Shinga
The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Gombe state chapter, Reverend Fr. Joseph Shinga, said CAN does not endorse any candidate for the 2023 general elections.
Shinga made this known on Friday while debunking a viral letter that urged Christians in the state not to vote for the ruling All Progressives Congress governorship candidate and current governor of Gombe, Muhammadu Yahaya.
He stated further that the Christian body does not drum support for any candidate for political positions.
According to reports, the letter alleged that Yahaya is a religious bigot with unfair policies affecting the Christian faith in the state, stressing past occurrences to juxtapose why the governor is a hater of the faith.
In reaction, Shinga, while speaking with journalists, said the allegations are unfounded, saying anyone with complaints against the governor should formally disclose it through appropriate channels.
He noted that the content of the letter was capable of causing mistrust and disunity among the Christian faiths.
He stated, “I stand to debunk the letter. Who wrote it is not saying the mind of Christians. The fact that the person is anonymous means the person is hiding and unsure of what they are is saying. What the person is saying is baseless or else the person would have made themselves known.
“If the person is a Christian that has a problem with the governor the person should come to us, we know how to contact the governor on any issue, we have legal way of presenting bad feelings, it’s capable of breeding rancour among Christians and the Muslims. We condemn it in entirety, we call on those spreading the fake news to desist from it.”
Commenting on claimed endorsement of Khamisu Mailantarki, candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party ahead of the March 11, 2023 governoship election, Shinga explained that it was not true that they endorse a candidate.
He pointed out that that her members cut across all political parties, adding that it would not augur well for a candidate to be singled out.
Shinga added that, “Let it be made abundantly clear to the public that the Christian Association of Nigeria does not endorse candidates to be elected.
“What CAN does is to encourage her members to actively participate in electoral processes to vote whoever is their choice. The people have the free will, free mind to vote anyone they are comfortable with. Our brothers and sisters are in all the political parties, whoever emerges has the support of Christians.”
Explaining Christian participation in election, chairman noted that, “There is need to participate in electoral processes, if they participate, they will put eyes into the running of Government for the betterment of the state, but sitting aloof makes you indifferent to the running of government. That is why am calling on Christians to participate actively.