Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
Governorship candidate of the Labour party, Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya has describe the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN as an agency under the state government.
He stated this during a media briefing in Jalingo, the Taraba State Capital.
“Well, I know CAN in Taraba State is a government parastatal or agency.
“I am running for this election because I am so concerned and not because I am a Christian but for both Christian and Muslims. I want to work for my people.
He disclose that people are more divided than before.
“We have created more division amongst us, even within the Christian community.
“CAN have gone out of their schedules. We are in Taraba State, some of us feel ashamed to say we are from Taraba State when we meet in a forum.
“For the past eight years, no single project have been commission and pensioners are dying both local and state level.
“We want a home grown Politicians to take over the state, who knows the problem solution of the state. We are not going to be remote control by anybody, but our people.
He assured Tarabans both Muslims and Christians that they are for all adding that all have the right to choose whom to want and not on the basis of religion.
“We are for Tarabans and we remain committed to serve the people.
On his part, the Governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress APC, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha ask CAN a question, ”Did any of you endorse any of us as a Christian candidate?
He counsel the CAN official not to divide the Church and Christians in Taraba State.
According to him, the understanding he have with his colleagues is that they are not candidates of any religion.
“We are candidate of the people and we operate a circular constitution for the people we are aspiring to govern are both Christian, Muslims and pegans.
“Tarabans should disregard CAN endorsement because we are in the twentieth century. Most of those Mallams and Pastors are involved in dubious things or the other. While they are in the Mosque or Church, they tell people what they don’t do. We are interested in building people. Your religion is between you and God. They resolve to blackmail to cover their deeds.
Also on his part, the Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic party, Hon. Danladi Baido Tijos said:
“I am disappointed with Taraba State CAN, for people to call themselves Men of God, but do not represent the people of God.
“If CAN can go and collect N50 million from PDP candidate, and the Chairman share to his members for endorsement, this will be the first and last such will happen, it will not work again, we are all devoted Christians, even more than them.
“If you look at us ( Bwacha, Ikenya and myself), the PDP candidate Kefas Agbu cannot compared himself with any of us, for we have been in Taraba State politics for over thirty years.
“Henceforth nobody would come and play with anybody’s intelligence in the name of Christianity.
“We cannot allow someone to impose people on Tarabans for the state is not a company – he said.