The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) says it has no affiliation with the Pentecostal Bishops Forum of Northern Nigeria.

Clergymen belonging to the group met with Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Friday in Abuja.

Tinubu and Kashim Shettima, his running mate, are both Muslims — a development that has elicited mixed reactions from Nigerians.

Groups such as the PFN and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) have also condemned it.

According to the TheCable, David Bakare, deputy national secretary of the PFN, said: “There is nothing in PFN that is regional based like southern or northern pentecostal bishops.”

The PFN, according to Bakare, is a branch of CAN, adding that the opposition to the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket has not changed.

“The meeting between Tinubu and the Pentecostal Bishops Forum of Northern Nigeria has nothing to do with the PFN,” he said.

“I am speaking to you officially and authoritatively that the ranks of the Christian community, and of course, the PFN which I represent is not broken at all.

“The Pentecostal Bishops Forum of Northern Nigeria is not known to the PFN. The forum does not have any affiliation or relationship with the PFN that is registered with the government of this nation.

“The position of the PFN on same faith ticket still stands as it was in the beginning and we have not, for any reason, shifted our position on that matter.

“The PFN is not a part of the meeting with the presidential candidate that was highly politicised. We are however aware of the ripples in the public domain about this matter.

“I am speaking officially to clarify that the PFN has nothing to do with that organisation. We didn’t take such a decision, we have not met that political party and whatever we will do would be in the public domain.

“That group is on their own and has nothing to do with the real incorporated PFN. I looked at the photos (from the meeting) and the names. I could recognise about two people who are our members, but they speak for themselves.”

Bakare added that all pentecostal leaders in Nigeria speak with one voice.

“As a matter of fact, the PFN does not have any settings for bishops. What we have is PFN, we do not separate bishops of pentecostal from other clergies of pentecostal,” he said.

“Individuals can form an association but when it comes to the body called PFN, there is no change in our position and we have not authorised anybody to hold a meeting.

Former Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal who is at the head of the stiff opposition against the controversial Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has berated the presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu for using his desperation to divide the Church.

Babachir Lawal declared that in his desperation to justify the deliberate relegation of Christianity to the background in the scheme of the political leadership of the country, the APC presidential candidate has now resorted to procuring fake Christian Groups to divide the Church.

The former SGF made the assertion in a statement he personally signed and made available to Journalists in Bauchi through his media team.

According to him, “It seems that Bola/Kashima’s preferred approach is to attempt to counter our position through insults and sponsored fake Christian organizations in order to create the impression that there is a division within the Christendom on this matter”.

Babachir Lawal stated that “Needless to say, this tactic has failed woefully. They are now the but of jokes in Church gatherings all over the country. Unknown to them Church history emphatically records that Christians are more united in terms of adversity and persecution as now being propelled by this Muslim – Muslim presidential ticket of the APC”.

The former SGF added that, “This approach has also portrayed the duo as arrogant and pitiable people whilst also exposing them to the public as people with unimaginable deficiencies of noble character”.

“The reality is that, for each minute that this same-faith ticket duo have spent on their goebellsian propaganda, they have ended up spending several hours more trying to rebut the controversies that they themselves create in the process”, he added.

He stressed that, “Everyone, including some notable Christian haters, are now inviting false “Bishops” and “CAN” Leaders to meetings. They are busy fabricating overnight “Christian” organizations that churn out falsehood to the public. It is such a pity that people who intend to lead our country could descend to such low levels of morality and deficiency of conscience”.

Babachir Lawal however said that, “But belying this posture is the reality of their true intentions not to have any roles for Northern Christians in their government. The unarguable fact is that they intend to offer nothing of significance to any Northern Christian in an APC government anticipated to be led by Bola and Kashim”.

He stressed that, “The reality of their zoning arrangement is that the North East subregion is already out of the equation for any other posts because it has the Vice Presidency while the North Central too is out because they have the party’s National Chairmanship”.

The former SGF analyzed that, “The other key positions, The Senate President, the Speaker, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chief of Staff to the President have been zoned to the North-West, South-South, South-East and South-West regions respectively”.

He further posited that, “Besides, we all know that there is and will be no ranking Christian Senator or House of Representatives member from the North-West that could occupy the seats of Senate President, Speaker or even their Deputies. In any case, it is an open secret that they never allow Christians to occupy such positions in the North-West Zone even if there is a qualified Christian”.

He asked, “Who then do they think they are fooling with this their “there are other positions in government that could go to the Northern Christians” mantra?

Babachir Lawal stressed that “If Kashim Shetima worked determinedly with Bola Tinubu’s acquiescence to deny the Northern Christians the Deputy National Chairman (North) position during the party’s National Convention, what magic will then compel them to give a Northern Christian any significant posts in their government? Let us make no mistake about it; these guys will persecute us to no end. They are very well practised in this”.

He also said that, “My dear Christians, it has been clear to us from the onset that APC, Bola and Kashim never had the intention or plan that offers the Northern Christians any sense of inclusion through any tangible roles in their government”.

“Those with major political influence on them are mostly religious bigots of the hegemonist flavour and some self-centred sycophants of the evil kind. So instead of reconciliation which would involve offering some important positions to Northern Christians, they have decided to go for broke and ignore the interests of Christians of the North”, he emphasized.

He further stressed that, “And, broken they will be indeed. We noticed this trend in APC right from its registration in 2014 up to the 2022 convention where the overriding goal seemed to have been to exclude northern Christians from all the organs of the party”.

“How anyone expects APC to win the 2023 presidential election under this climate befuddles the mind. I do not know why this saying keeps coming to mind: “those whom the gods want to destroy, they first make mad” but it bears restating. It is a pity that Bola has chosen to throw away the Presidency which was within his easy reach to grab”, he added.

According to Babachir Lawal, “As for us northern Christians and other Nigerians who share in our vision of a united and peaceful Nigeria devoid of tribal and religious exclusion, we will continue with our struggle and are very very confident of victory. After all, the God who allowed Nigeria to be inhabited by a multi-religious and multi-ethnic society intended that we all should live in peace and harmony as brothers and sisters all created in the image of God”.

He declared that, “We are on a mission from God and are confident of victory. So, we fear no one and can be intimidated by no one. We are confident that Nigerians, especially sensible Northern Nigerians, will come to appreciate this fight for justice, equality and peaceful co-existence”.

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The former SGF explained that, “Quite a number of Nigerians have reached out to Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara and I and to some of the leaders in our eminent group of Northern Christian politicians to sheath our swords and instead go for negotiations with the APC. I now want to respond to this” .

According to him, “We have so far not taken the road to reconciliation because in the first instance, neither the APC as a party nor its presidential candidate has bothered to seek us out for reconciliation even though early on, our doors were left open for such. We only get to learn of their views through vile propaganda in the media courtesy of their rabid attack hogs whom they have procured in abundance”.

“There are of course some “Christian” turncoats and “Judases” who, driven either by moral turpitude, poverty or greed, have hired themselves out as agents and spoilers of this noble Christian course. To this group, I wish to recommend the study of the biographies of Judas Iscariot and Ahithophel in the Bible. Be careful to note how their lives ended”, he added.

He then expressed determination saying, “We are buoyed by Psalm 2:1-4 which reads thus: “Why do the nations rage and the peoples’ plot in vain? The Kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take council together against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying ‘let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us’. He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derisions” (ESV). “Aluta continua victoria ascerta” (FRELIMO).

Mr. Festus Keyamo, the Spokesperson of the Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has talked about why Yemi Osinbajo was missing from the party’s campaign council list.

He said that the name of Osinbajo, Nigeria’s Vice President was missing from the campaign council list due to the directive given by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Keyamo, in a statement issued on Saturday, said Buhari had directed that the names of Osinbajo and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha be excluded to allow them to concentrate on governance.

He said all the key functionaries of government cannot abandon their positions for electioneering campaigns.

The spokesperson stressed that the ruling APC had the mandate of the Nigerian people to administer the country on their behalf at least till May 29, 2023, and that the party intends to do so with all sense of responsibility.

He said: “Our attention has been drawn to some stories making the rounds that there may be something amiss within the family of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the name of our own revered and respected Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON, is not included in the list of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council.

“Nothing can be farther from the facts. For the avoidance of doubt, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, is the Chairman of the Campaign Council. As a result, Mr. President has SPECIFICALLY directed that the Vice-President and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha should be left out of the Campaign Council to concentrate on the governance of the country and administration of Government.

“As a responsible Party and Government, all the key functionaries of government cannot abandon their positions for electioneering campaigns. The APC has the mandate of the Nigerian people to administer the country on their behalf at least till May, 29, 2023, and this we intend to do with all sense of responsibility.

“We will not toe the path of those who governed the country in an irresponsible manner before us and our Party is not in total disarray like those who wish to ‘rescue’ the country, but cannot simply manage their own internal affairs.”

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has called on the Federal Government to ensure proper funding of security agencies for the protection of lives and property in the country.

Governor Ortom stated this Friday, September 23rd, 2022 while partaking in the Nigerian Air Force range shooting classification exercise at the military range, Ayati, near Ikpayongo in Gwer East Local Government Area.

The Governor emphasised that security of lives and property is the paramount thing that any responsible government will accord priority, stating that without security there would be no peace or socio-economic development.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Benue State, Nathaniel Ikyur made available to Peionews in Abuja.

According to the Governor, “issues of capacity building, manpower, training, funding and providing equipment for security agencies should be considered very key.

“If we can suspend every other thing and concentrate on restoring security in our country, I believe that we will gain more than allowing insecurity to consume us,” he stressed.

The Governor said that adequate funding of security agencies should be a priority, insisting that “no reason should be given for inadequacy of funding.” 

He maintained that “If the funding will require all the three tiers of government to collaborate as we have done so before by jointly providing 1 Billion Dollars for the procurement of weapons, which has not been accounted for, they should let us know.”

Governor Ortom further pointed out that the manpower of the security agencies is grossly inadequate, and called on the Federal Government to give serious attention to recruiting more security personnel “so that they will be enough to handle any form of security challenges,” he stated.

The Governor also acknowledged the sacrifices the security agencies are making in securing the state noting that “I am aware that from the year 2017 to date, more than 120 security men and women have paid the supreme prize, but I am happy you are not discouraged.”

While commending the security agencies for their efforts, Governor Ortom charged Benue people to continue to support the security agencies in the discharge of their duties rather than being hostile to them.

Governor Ortom on behalf of Government and people of the State, lauded the Nigerian Air Force for locating its Tactical Air Command, TAC in Makurdi and peacefully coexisting with people of the State, pledging to always support the NAF to complement their work.

The Governor who participated in the ceremonial shooting exercise along with some top government officials, thanked the Nigerian Air Force for inviting him to the ceremony, which he said had exposed him to the real challenge the security men face in the battlefield.

Earlier, the Air Officer Commanding, Tactical Air Command, TAC, Air Vice Marshal, Precious Amadi represented by his Chief of Staff, Air Commodore MC Ekwueme told the Governor that the shooting range exercise is meant to update the Air Force personnel on modern ways of handling weapons as well as arms and ammunitions.

He presented a plaque to the Governor and congratulated him for hitting the bullseye target in the range shooting exercise.

Nathaniel Ikyur
Chief Press Secretary
September 23rd, 2022