By James Orji
The Christian Association of Nigeria President, CAN says Nigerians are free to choose their leaders in the 2023 generation election without any religious consideration.
The President of CAN, Dr Daniel Okoh disclosed this in Onitsha on Sunday, during the 75th-anniversary celebration of the founder of the Grace of God Mission International, Bishop Paul Nwachukwu.
The position of the Okoh-led CAN seems to be different from that of his predecessor who rejected the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Okoh stated that the 2023 election offers the electorates the best opportunity to install the president of their choice through the ballot box, noting that Christians will play a critical role in determining who succeeds President Muhammadu Buhari next year.
“The church should be non-partisan in election matters, it has a duty to ensure the people are properly guided in the choice of leaders they choose. If Nigerians can unite and forge a common front, the choice to turn around this country is in their hands,” the CAN president said.
The association had in July accused the APC of trying to polarize the country, saying its members will not vote for the party next year.
Joseph Bade Daramola, the National Secretary of CAN had described the same faith ticket as a threat to the peace and corporate existence of Nigeria.
He said, “CAN urges that a balance of both religious practitioners be considered in the choice of running mates of the presidential candidates. We do not subscribe to Christian/Christian ticket or Muslim/Muslim ticket.
“Politicians can talk politics but we have stated our view long before now. Any party that tries same religion ticket will fail. This is not 1993. Even when we have joint Muslim/Christian ticket, the church still goes through hell.
“Imagine how bad it will be if we have two Muslims in power? The extant Nigerian constitution promotes religious balance. So, if any political party wants to try Muslim/Muslim ticket, it is at its own peril. CAN is only forewarning, but will make a categorical statement in the event our warning is not heeded.”
“Anything contrary to the above means that the leadership of these political parties do not bother about the unity of Nigeria. Those who are planning Muslim/Muslim ticket should also find out what was the outcome of MKO Abiola and Kingibe ticket in 1993. If they try Muslim/Muslim ticket this time around, the outcome will be worse because our fault lines are very visible.
