Brewing tension within the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has reached a whole new level as rumours of alleged plot to install a Northerner to succeed the present President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, by President Muhammadu Buhari has surfaced.
The current President of CAN whose tenure expires in July 2016, about four months to the election of a new group leader is feared to be replaced by a pro-Buhari clergy from the North under the All Progressive Congress, APC, sponsorship.
The move is believed to be aimed at terminating any radical opposition to the President Buhari’s administration from the Christian community.
Mr. Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and a Communications, when contacted dismissed the alleged involvement of the president, he said; “Buhari does not interfere in the internal affairs of any organisation.
“It means that some Nigerians don’t know their President. Your President, Muhammadu Buhari, does not interfere in things like that; so, they need to know the person who is their President.
“The people making the allegation can’t insist that they are correct because that is the man for you and Buhari doesn’t interfere in anything. If he doesn’t interfere in state elections where his own party, the APC, is having candidates, how will he interfere in CAN elections? They don’t know their President.” He added.
In a statement obtained in Abuja on Sunday from the National Director Of Christ’s Redeemers’ Union, CRU, the group claims the President’s interest in the Christian community, CAN, was for a selfish reason and personal vendetta.
The National Director of the group added that; “A top official in the Presidency, who is spearheading the campaign, has started deploying resources for logistics towards ensuring the emergence of a church leader in the northern part of the country believed to be friendly with Buhari.
“The government officials funding some religious leaders in the North have been recruited as foot soldiers to perfect the strategy. There is tension now in CAN and the action of the Presidency has polarised the association along North-South dichotomy, as northern religious members are being lobbied to support the plot.”