Taraba CAN under attack for endorsing Guber candidate
Jethro Yerga, Jalingo
The Taraba State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN has continue to receive verbal blows from all corners of Taraba State for endorsing the gubernatorial Candidate of the People’s Democratic party, Col. Agbu Kefas (Rtd) as its sole candidate in the 2023 gubernatorial elections.
The CAN, Taraba State Chapter had on the 24th February, 2023 released a public notice signed by Bishop Manaseh Silas, calling on all Tarabans to vote Col. Kefas Agbu as the next governor of Taraba State.
But in a swift reaction shortly after the endorsement notice was released, a Christian group known as Integrated Christian Ministers Association of Nigeria Taraba State, held a press conference in Jalingo, where it described the purported endorsement as a sham.
Speaking at the briefing, the spoke man of the group, and president, Integrated Christians Association of Nigeria, Taraba State chapter, Bishop Silas Lotto Foseh frowned at the involvement of the leadership of CAN in to politics, stating that the purported endorsement was an embarrassment to the body of Christ in the state.
“We are completely embarrassed by the fact that CAN Executives without due consultations, endorsed a gubernatorial candidate in the state. It is important to know that there are other christian candidates who are also seeking for the same Governorship position in the state including Senator Emmanuel Bwacha of APC, Danladi Baido of SDP, Joel IKenya of Labour Party and Sunday Fedemure of APGA among others.
” “It is wrong for CAN to have gone as far as sidelining the other candidates to endorse Kefas Agbu. Again it is not within the mandate of CAN to decide for Christian community and the public in the state on the Candidate whom they would vote on the election day.
“For CAN to engage in chosen a prefer candidate to the exclusion of others is a dangerous attempt to sow a seed of disunity among the christian community in the state.
“In view of these, we hereby declare that we disassociate ourselves from the endorsement as it is wrong and has no effect whatsoever on the christian community in the state”. He lamented.
The group further called on christian leaders to be passionate on their duties and avoid heating up the polity just to satisfy their ego, even as they advised all christians in the state to disregard the purported endorsement and seek counsel of God through prayers for good leaders for the state.
Similarly, Mr Simon Japhet of Tsukundi Ward who share similar view with many Tarabans in the Southern Part of the state expressed displeasure over the silence of CAN on the several challenges brethren are passing through in the Southern Part of the state, especially in Wukari Local Government where over 1000 Pastors’ residences were looted and over 2000 churches burnt, christians displaced with no hope of a peaceful return to their areas.
He wondered why CAN which claims to be acting for the best interest of christians in the state had not seen anything wrong with the displacement of their Christian brethren for almost four years and had not made any effort to reconcile the christian brothers in the area but is quick to delve into politics and take it upon itself to campaign for a candidate in an election.
Japhet described the leadership of Taraba State Chapter of CAN as a group of hypocrites, pretenders, tribalist and scavengers who are focused on worldly gains and not working to build the kingdom of God.
