Tinubu's campaign organization speaks out over cassocked men controversy at Shettima unveiling
The Tinubu campaign organization has called the viral photos and videos of some Christian clerics at the Wednesday inauguration of All Progressives Congress (APC) vice-presidential candidate Kashim Shettima "undue distractions" in Abuja.
Bayo Onanuga, Director of Media and Communications, Tinubu Campaign Organization, in a statement on Thursday said the clergy were not fake as speculated on social media.
"The APC officially introduced Senator Shettima to the public and its various bodies as the running mate of its 2023 presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in a well-attended ceremony," Mr. Onanuga said. .
He added that during the unveiling, Messrs. Tinubu and Shettima, and former Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti and Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi and National Chairman of the Party, Abdullahi Adamu in their speeches addressed fundamental issues of nation building.
This, he said, was the goal of the APC and its candidates to ensure a progressive and prosperous nation where all citizens could find joy and fulfillment.
Mr. Onanuga explained that the event was a public affair, which allowed members of the public to attend, "including clergy and others now ridiculed by opposition mercenaries".
>“We want to say that these clergymen were not fakes nor mechanics or yam sellers like the purveyors of hate made Nigerians believe on social media.
"These are not yet big names in Christianity, they are gradually building their missions.
“These are church leaders who sincerely believe that Nigerians should shun the policies of hatred and religious bigotry and instead embrace the policies of peace and nation building.
“We therefore deplore the hysterical twist of the presence of these men and women in cassocks and the false accusation against our candidates, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Sen. Shettima,” Mr. Onanuga said.
ControversialPREMIUM TIMES reported how some men in cassocks attended the inauguration of Mr. Shettima as the APC vice-presidential candidate on Wednesday.
The affiliations of the men, dressed in different outfits representing various Christian denominations, remained unclear.
The presence of the cassock-wearing attendees suggested that some Christian leaders support APC's Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket despite opposition from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
CAN disavowed the men, saying they were imposters hired by the APC to feign support from the Christian community for the Tinubu-Shettima ticket.
Mr. Tinubu had on July 10 in Daura, Katsina State, appointed Mr. Shettima, a former Governor of Borno State and a sitting senator, as his running mate.
The former governor's choice has drawn criticism from those who believe Mr Tinubu, a southern Muslim, should have chosen a Christian as his running mate.
The CAN said the unidentified Christian "clerics" at Mr Shettima's inauguration on Wednesday were not its members.
A spokesperson for the association, Bayo Oladeji, told PREMIUM TIMES that the priests at the scene were "fake". He didn't say how he determined the men weren't genuine.
He accused the Tinubu campaign organization of constantly peddling lies to justify Mr. Shettima's choice.
But the APC spokesman said the orchestrated social media sensation about the presence of clergy members was unnecessary and calculated to detract from the huge success recorded at the unveiling held at Yar'Adua center.
He expressed his belief that Nigerians were too wise and shrewd to see through this scheme.
He assured that MM. Tinubu, Shettima and the APC were working very hard to provide determined leadership and good progressive governance that would improve the quality of life for Nigerians.
"We are well aware that opposition parties and social media charade sponsors are nervous and threatened by the intimidating political credentials of our candidates.
"The only way they hope to draw public attention away from their uninspiring contestants and credentials is to create a distraction on social media.
“Our campaign is determined to focus on the major governance issues affecting Nigerians with a view to tackling them and bringing about the desired improvements in the standard of living of our people,” Mr. Onanuga said.
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The Tinubu campaign organization has called the viral photos and videos of some Christian clerics at the Wednesday inauguration of All Progressives Congress (APC) vice-presidential candidate Kashim Shettima "undue distractions" in Abuja.
Bayo Onanuga, Director of Media and Communications, Tinubu Campaign Organization, in a statement on Thursday said the clergy were not fake as speculated on social media.
"The APC officially introduced Senator Shettima to the public and its various bodies as the running mate of its 2023 presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in a well-attended ceremony," Mr. Onanuga said. .
He added that during the unveiling, Messrs. Tinubu and Shettima, and former Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti and Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi and National Chairman of the Party, Abdullahi Adamu in their speeches addressed fundamental issues of nation building.
This, he said, was the goal of the APC and its candidates to ensure a progressive and prosperous nation where all citizens could find joy and fulfillment.
Mr. Onanuga explained that the event was a public affair, which allowed members of the public to attend, "including clergy and others now ridiculed by opposition mercenaries".
>“We want to say that these clergymen were not fakes nor mechanics or yam sellers like the purveyors of hate made Nigerians believe on social media.
"These are not yet big names in Christianity, they are gradually building their missions.
“These are church leaders who sincerely believe that Nigerians should shun the policies of hatred and religious bigotry and instead embrace the policies of peace and nation building.
“We therefore deplore the hysterical twist of the presence of these men and women in cassocks and the false accusation against our candidates, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Sen. Shettima,” Mr. Onanuga said.
ControversialPREMIUM TIMES reported how some men in cassocks attended the inauguration of Mr. Shettima as the APC vice-presidential candidate on Wednesday.
The affiliations of the men, dressed in different outfits representing various Christian denominations, remained unclear.
The presence of the cassock-wearing attendees suggested that some Christian leaders support APC's Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket despite opposition from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
CAN disavowed the men, saying they were imposters hired by the APC to feign support from the Christian community for the Tinubu-Shettima ticket.
Mr. Tinubu had on July 10 in Daura, Katsina State, appointed Mr. Shettima, a former Governor of Borno State and a sitting senator, as his running mate.
The former governor's choice has drawn criticism from those who believe Mr Tinubu, a southern Muslim, should have chosen a Christian as his running mate.
The CAN said the unidentified Christian "clerics" at Mr Shettima's inauguration on Wednesday were not its members.
A spokesperson for the association, Bayo Oladeji, told PREMIUM TIMES that the priests at the scene were "fake". He didn't say how he determined the men weren't genuine.
He accused the Tinubu campaign organization of constantly peddling lies to justify Mr. Shettima's choice.
But the APC spokesman said the orchestrated social media sensation about the presence of clergy members was unnecessary and calculated to detract from the huge success recorded at the unveiling held at Yar'Adua center.
He expressed his belief that Nigerians were too wise and shrewd to see through this scheme.
He assured that MM. Tinubu, Shettima and the APC were working very hard to provide determined leadership and good progressive governance that would improve the quality of life for Nigerians.
"We are well aware that opposition parties and social media charade sponsors are nervous and threatened by the intimidating political credentials of our candidates.
"The only way they hope to draw public attention away from their uninspiring contestants and credentials is to create a distraction on social media.
“Our campaign is determined to focus on the major governance issues affecting Nigerians with a view to tackling them and bringing about the desired improvements in the standard of living of our people,” Mr. Onanuga said.
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