The President-General of the Charismatic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Archbishop Leonard Bature Kawas, has alleged that certain individuals are funding banditry, kidnapping and terrorism across Nigeria in a bid to tarnish President Bola Tinubu’s image.
Kawas made the claim while defending the CBCN’s recent endorsement of Tinubu for a second term, during an appearance on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday.
He dismissed suggestions that the endorsement was financially motivated, stating that the bishops received no payment in exchange for backing the President.
“Today, this endorsement has not given us any one naira. No one naira has been given to us. We did it because, based on current happenings in our nation, the sabotage of people sponsoring banditry and sponsoring kidnapping and all these things just to give Tinubu a bad name,” he said.
Drawing a parallel with the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Kawas argued that similar tactics were allegedly deployed to cast Jonathan in a negative light while he was in office.
He said the bishops were convinced that Nigeria’s insecurity crisis was being deliberately exploited to undermine and discredit the Tinubu government.
“That is why we decided that since it is a proven fact and there are international intelligence on this that some people are sponsoring all this banditry and terrorism just to give Tinubu a bad name to frustrate his government and to blackmail him and blacklist him,” he said.
According to Kawas, this conviction informed the bishops’ decision to throw their weight behind Tinubu.
“That is why we say no. If that is the case, then it is Tinubu that we are going to support. So we are. We believe that we are being led to do so,” he added.
On whether financial incentives should shape political endorsements, Kawas maintained that the absence of monetary gain would not deter the bishops from supporting a candidate they consider fit for office.
“If we participate in politics, and any blessing comes from it, fine and good. But where the blessing does not come financially, it also doesn’t matter so long as we are convinced that that is the right candidate,” he said.
Citing the 2023 presidential election, Kawas recalled that Peter Obi’s reported refusal to distribute money to voters did not stop the bishops from backing his candidacy at the time.
“So, that is what happened as at the time when Peter Obi did not give any money to any Nigerian, he said he would give shishi, and that did not stop us,” Kawas said.
READ ALSO:
- Terrorism sponsored to blackmail Tinubu as was done to Jonathan — Bishop Kawas
- “Invest ₦100k, Become a Millionaire in Two Years” — Dangote Tells Nigerians on Refinery IPO
- 2027: APC Governors Reject Parallel Structures, Back Tinubu’s Re-election
- Iran Rejects Talks With US, Says Conditions Must Be Met
- China Unveils Sweeping Travel Ban Rules to Guard “National Security,”
