The Umbrella body for Christians, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has enjoined its members to vote for candidates and not parties in the forthcoming general elections billed for Saturday, February 25 and March 12 for the presidential, National Assembly, governorship and House of Assembly elections, respectively.

That was even as the body set out criteria/qualities a candidate must possess to be voted for by Christians.

The directive was contained in a document produced by the Political and Strategy Committee of the CAN, which Sunday Telegraph , exclusively obtained.

According to the document, in considering a candidate of their choice, he/ she must have what CAN called, character, capacity, competence and policies or (CCCP).

According to the document, under character, the candidate must have the “fear of God, honesty and truthfulness (in his/ her dealings with others). He must have respect for the rule of law, justice and fairness for all, respect for religious and ethnic diversity.

The document added that anybody to be voted for must have: “Compassion and discipline as well as clean and credible lifestyle, must not be a member of cults, must not be involved in drugs and witchcraft.

“Such a candidate, ”it continued, “must not be a fanatic and must not be associated with Boko Haram or other violent religion.

“Under competence, the candidate must have a record of “quality performance in previous positions, good education sufficient to manage a complex society, effective management of human and natural resources.”

Talking about capacity, CAN wants its members to vote for a candidate who has the “ability to envision transformation and to communicate the vision of the same.

“Must have good health, sound mind and physical fitness for the job (office being sought for). It is not just the three Cs alone, the candidate must also have programmes under what it called policies. And for this, CAN advocates for: “state police, religious neutrality of the Nigerian state, enforcement of fundamental rights of all Nigerians, restructuring to decentralise governance, equitable enforcement sharing of executive positions, ethnic and religious representations in military and security agencies.”

Furthermore, the candidate must be one that has determination for all Nigerian people.

It said: “No to RUGA (Rural Grazing Area), but yes to ranching.”

Continuing, it said that it wants education and free healthcare for all Nigerians (including Almajiri).

Furthermore, the document said: “No to open grazing (rather modernization of animal husbandry, local control of local economy (resource control), including waters, rivers and forests.”

Sunday Telegraph checks revealed that most churches have taken the “gospel” and are running with it.

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), an arm of the CAN, devoted to this, has set up the Directorate of Politics and Good Governance, headed by a National Director, Pastor Femi Emmanuel, a former deputy speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly.

In a previous interview, Pastor Emmanuel, who is also the General Overseer, Living Springs International Church, Lagos, said they were working towards encouraging Christians to set up same, especially, the mega churches such as the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Deeper Life and Mountain of Fire and Miracles (MFM)

He said: “The DPG has established the structure that we have appointed 36 State Directors, 774 Local Government Directors and we are trying to install the 8,080 wards.”

It would be recalled that the RCCG, in March last year, during its Special Holy Ghost Service, announced the formation of its Directorate of Politics and Governance, which has since been driving the process.

Just like the political parties, it has structures in all states, senatorial districts, local governments as well as wards.

At a meeting recently, the church enjoined all to join political parties of their choices and encouraged them to be part of the executive committees and the caucuses as well as be part of the delegates as they are the ones who decide who becomes the standard bearers of the party and eventually run for the elective office.

Sunday Telegraph gathered that although it is late for them to promote or adopt a particular candidate, they would support any member of the church, who decides to contest for an office. But subsequently in 2027, they may form a political party as is done elsewhere.

But the move elicited not a few reactions, especially among their Muslim counterparts, who have also rallied members to vote for their own, especially the same faith ticket.

Sunday Telegraph reported last week of a 2 minutes, 20 seconds viral video in which Governor Umar Ganduje gathered all Muslims in the North West to tell them of the need to vote for the APC, in a meeting with Muslims and Islamic clerics from all the North West.

Ganduje, who in his welcome address, stated the purpose of the meeting, speaking in Hausa language, said: “History will not repeat itself and there will be no annulment this time around (referring to the Muslim/Muslim ticket of Abiola and Babagana Kingibe in 1993).

Dr. Abdulmudaib Muhammad, the Convener of the meeting, stated the purpose of the meeting thus: “The participants are Muslims and Islamic Clerics. We gathered Muslims from all persuasions to enlighten them on ensuring that the Muslim/Muslim ticket succeeds. We invited over 75 Islamic groups from several states, including Yoruba and Igbo Muslims

“We told the Islamic clerics and participants that the issue is not about building infrastructure for the nation but the major issue is who will promote Islam.”

He continued: “We told the participants that a Muslim wherever he is, is better than a Kafir (infidel) or non-Muslim, and if you bring two (2) Muslims together (referring to the Muslim/ Muslim ticket of Tinubu and Shettima), they will give you the victory that one Muslim will not be able to give.”

Stating what the same faith ticket means to them, he said: “This is the reason why we are enlightening people to understand that the main objective is that Muslim/Muslim ticket is a Jihad to us.”

Speaking in the same vein, leader of Izala Kano State, Sheikh Abdallah Saleh Pakistan, said: “We traced the history of how the candidate (referring to Tinubu) has always desired for as well as worked for a Muslim/Muslim ticket.

“He ensured Muslim/Muslim ticket between Ribadu and a Yoruba Muslim. He also heavily supported the Abiola /Kingibe Muslim Muslim ticket.

“Compassion and discipline as well as clean and credible lifestyle, must not be a member of cults, must not be involved in drugs and witchcraft.

“Such a candidate, ”it continued, “must not be a fanatic and must not be associated with Boko Haram or other violent religion.

“Under competence, the candidate must have a record of “quality performance in previous positions, good education sufficient to manage a complex society, effective management of human and natural resources.”

UnusualEmissary:
Abeg make this date come quick make everything end self

alsudan:
Ok

Obidientyoruba:
Only Obi ticks the whole requirement, we can’t afford to miss this golden opportunity and waste another 8 years. Yoruba Muslim and Christian supports obidatti . Fùn ìtèsíwájú àti ìgbéga orílè’dè wa Naìjírìa

You had to impersonate Yoruba all cuz una need Yoruba votes.

This is what happens when you don’t have a sellable & credible candidate. Somebody that didn’t bring in any significant development to his state all through 8years as a Governor..

Instead of you to be impersonating yoruba, why not just tell Yoruba people the significant things Peter Obi did for Anambra people when he was a Governor? Don’t forget to mention the 13months Doctor’s strike cuz it was a significant unfortunate development..

Moh247:
Tinubu lokan

PandoraObi:
God bless jagaban the incoming president of the federal republic of Nigeria

GeneralPula:
Very good..

Competency over everything..

Coolsperm:
Even at that, Yoruba Christian's will never ever vote for Muslim Muslim ticket, is a big insult to us

zeuss:

Coverted the whole Lagos.

GeneralPula:

You had to impersonate Yoruba all cuz una need Yoruba votes.

This is what happens when you don’t have a sellable & credible candidate. Somebody that didn’t bring in any significant development to his state all through 8years as a Governor..

Instead of you to be impersonating yoruba, why not just tell Yoruba people the significant things Peter Obi did for Anambra people when he was a Governor? Don’t forget to mention the 13months Doctor’s strike cuz it was a significant unfortunate development..

zeuss:

Coverted the whole Lagos.

GeneralPula:

Converted Lagos to a super rich independent state..

Mention one significant development Obi bring in to anambra that can be compared with Lekki free trade zone tinubu ochestrated?

Jogs1900:

Someone that even divided Christians in Anambra will divide this country along religious line if given the opportunity...We Nigeria Christians say NO to Obis aspiration.

zeuss:


Give any SE state half the privilege of being Nation capital or seat of the headquarters of the oil multinationals or a functional seaport then you will know that the igbo has what it takes to dominate the global economy.

alsudan:
CAN have spoken, it’s left for Christians to listen.

Southern Kaduna and Plateau once said religion didn’t matter, but today, they know better after being victims of the worst kind of Jihad.

A Fulani cannot take over from another Fulani, neither is a Muslim Muslim Ticket acceptable.

That leaves Nigerian Christians with the only option of an Obi Presidency, anything short of that, then Christians will have themselves to blame.

This picture is that of heads of Security Agency’s Under Buhari, now imagine what will happen under another Muslim taking over (Christians wake up).

GeneralPula:

Not interested in Nzogbu Nzogbu discussion..

Thanks for affirming Peter Obi couldn’t bring in any significant development in Anambra..

GeneralPula:

Which Christain’s?

The same Christians Peter Obi tormented while he was a Governor?

Christain’s are going to reward Peter Obi for what he did to them, Don’t worry..

zeuss:


You just a heartless
Enforcer of a fraudulent criminal enterptise.
Immoral school of shamelss criminal minds, capable of any thing now matter how low.

FYI
Obi worked hard, within the limits of his resource. And had the moral integrity to avoid appropriation of state assets nor did he abuse his office for person gain. He was big enough to leave the stage for other actors and not plant stooges to furher any ambition.
He has never been accused talk more of being dockd for corruption.
He is a God fearing, Healthy and whistle clean man.

Exactly what Nigeria Needs most.

Jogs1900:

Someone that even divided Christians in Anambra will divide this country along religious line if given the opportunity...We Nigeria Christians say NO to Obis aspiration.