Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) North-East zone, Rev Shuibu Byal, has denied media report (not Daily Sun) that the Christian body in the North has endorsed the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate General Muhammadu Buhari.
Byal was reported to have made the endorsement when the Arewa Citizen Action for Change paid him a courtesy call in his office in Bauchi last week.
He said the group had solicited for his words of encouragement and advice on how Christians and Muslims could live peacefully.
“I was quoted out of context when I said there was need for our elite to live peacefully. As CAN, we are here to promote understanding, peace and unity among the people and groups in the society. To say that I have promoted Buhari as the presidential candidate was not true,” he said.
Also, a statement signed by the Arewa Citizen (AC) Chairman and Legal Officer, Sadiq Abubakar and Emmanuel Danjuma respectively, said the issue of the two presidential candidates of the APC and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was never discussed during their courtesy visit to the North-East CAN chairman.
The AC officials explained that the organization’s visit to the North- East CAN chairman was not political and had nothing to do with the issue of elections in the country.
They said: “It was about how to achieve a peaceful society in northern Nigeria and how to revive the good relationship that was between the Muslims and Christians youths and the possible solutions to the foreseeable problems the region may experience during and after elections.
“We wish to state categorically that never in the entire discussion that the CAN North-East chairman said he endorsed Buhari or any aspirant or he will canvass votes for Buhari in the general elections.”
The officials pledged the organization’s commitment towards peace and understanding among the youths.
