by Kolapo Olapoju

On Thursday, February 19, a pastor based in Borno state, Kallamu Dikwa, corroborated the allegation by the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, that the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gave some pastors billions of Naira to campaign against the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

According to Dikwa, the pastors received N7bn from the Presidency as opposed to the N6bn alleged by Amaechi.

In reaction to the Northern States Christian Elders Forum, who challenged Amaechi to reveal the identity of the pastors involved, Dikwa spoke to journalists in Kaduna, disclosing that money was disbursed through the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria.

Dikwa claimed that CAN received the money on January 26, 2015 and shared N3m each to state Chairmen of the body across the country. He also added that the Christian body had began threatening Christians in the Borno state to re-elect President Jonathan in the rescheduled election.

He said: “It was N7bn that was given to the CAN leadership by President Goodluck Jonathan. They (CAN) later disbursed N3m each to the state chairmen of the CAN. The money was handed over to the CAN leadership on 26th January, 2014.”

“This is what I know. One of the CAN officials from Abuja told me that they have collected the money. The corruption in CAN is terrible. They are corrupting the body of Christ because of money.”

“They are now threatening Christians in Borno State that they will deal with anybody who refused to vote for Jonathan. And the CAN officials are now campaigning that if Buhari emerges President he will islamise Nigeria; and that Prof. Yemi Osinbajo will resign soon after Buhari wins to give way for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to emerge Vice President.”

“And at the same time, CAN is threatening Christians in Borno if they didn’t vote for Jonathan. And the same CAN continues to blackmail Prof. Yemi Osinbajo that Islamic world has bought Osinbajo with millions of dollars, all this is because of the N7bn bribery that they have received from Jonathan.”

Meanwhile, the General Secretary of CAN, Rev. Musa Ayake, denied the allegations, stressing that “At no time did CAN collect money from Jonathan to preach against Buhari or to give the impression that Buhari wants to islamise Nigeria.”

“I do not think I will lower ourselves, our integrity and our positions to somebody who is fake, who called himself a pastor when he is not; a liar, somebody who does not even know his left from his right. I know the person, if I want to comment, I will be lowering myself and my integrity to such a thing. Please that person is not what he claims to be. What he said is a lie. It did not happen. It will not happen.”

“He is a liar. We should not waste our time on him. He is not a pastor. He has never been a pastor. He is just a liar. If I should reply, I would be lowering myself. What he said is between him and his God. Let him know that when this life is over, we are going to stand before God to give an account of what we said or did in this life. Let him continue with his lies, God will catch up with him one day.”

Speaking in a similar vein was the presidency, who once again refuted the claims and alleged that Dikwa was an agent of the APC.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, stated that the political affiliation of the pastor must be established.

He said: “Is the pastor a member of the APC? He probably belongs to the APC. Since he is a member of the APC, he will echo, modify and amplify whatever Amaechi said. I think before you do anything, you should establish the political affiliation of that pastor.”

“He must be a member of the APC. Otherwise, he will face his primary responsibility as a pastor. I have no doubt that the man is a member of the APC. As a member of the APC, he will say whatever he feels will advance the course of his party.”