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The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has denied the allegation that it got N7billion to campaign for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election, calling for an investigation into the Voice of Northern Christian Movement and its Executive Director, Pastor Kallamu Musa-Dikwa, who made the allegation recently.
Pastor Musa-Dikwa had alleged that CAN was given N7billion to mobilize against the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. According to him, the association got the money on January 26, 2015 and disbursed N3 million to each state chairman of the association across the country.
But in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by the General Secretary of CAN, Dr. Musa Asake, the association said Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, had fallen into wrong hands, “because his endorsement for the March 28 general election by Northern Christian Leaders Eagle-Eye Forum led by one Aminchi Habu was fraudulent.”
The statement read further: “We are therefore calling on security agencies to investigate the activities of the Voice of Northern Christian Movement and Musa Dikwa himself to unravel the N7bn mystery which is intended by their sponsors to throw the country into serious crisis.
“For the avoidance of doubt, CAN has no knowledge of any N7bn transaction as alleged by Musa Dikwa who claims to be the Executive Director of a non-existent group, Voice of Northern Christian Movement.
“CAN is not a political party, let alone getting involved in partisan politics. Christians who are members of CAN belong to different political parties. It is therefore surprising to hear that CAN is campaigning for one candidate.
“Revered men of God including the CAN President, Pastors Ayo Oritsejafor; Bishop David Oyedepo of Winners Chapel and Pastor Bosun Emmanuel (Secretary-General of National Christian Elders Forum) are too upright to be linked with any such deal.”
Recall that Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, weeks ago, alleged that some pastors were given N6billion to campaign against Buhari.
A counter allegation followed when chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in Cross River State, Bishop Emmah Isong, accused Amaechi of being the one who bribed 500 pastors in October 2014.