Edo CAN Chairman Speaks On Alleged N7billion GEJ’s Bribe

Bishop Peter Imasuen

Bishop Peter Imasuen, has denied sharing in the largesse,

Contrary to claims that President Goodluck Jonathan had disbursed N3 million to each state chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, across the country to canvass for his re-election.

It would be recalled that Borno State-based pastor, Musa-Dikwa, had on 16 February, 2015 ‎alleged that President  Jonathan gave N7billion to the ‎national leadership of CAN to distribute to its state chairmen across the country to canvass for his re-election in the 28 March presidential polls.
While reacting to the allegation on Monday in an interview with P.M NEWS, Imasuen, who is the Bishop of Benin Diocese of the Anglican Communion, ‎said he did not attend the last meeting of the christian body and so was not aware of the money, let alone collecting any money as a state chairman.

He said: “I am not a politician. What we owe the country is prayers. So, I don’t know anything about (the) money. They didn’t give me any money and I was not even there when we had the last CAN meeting. At that time, we were having the standing committee at Ughelli (Delta State). So, how would they have given me money when I was not at the meeting?”
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When asked if he would have accepted the largesse if he had been present, Imasuen replied: “Collect the money for what? What will I use the money for? We are men of God, we are to pray for the peace of the country. At the time you now take money, how will God answer your prayer? I don’t run after riches. I run after blessings; riches come and go but blessings remain.‎” 

The cleric described the allegation as one peddled by persons whom he described as “self-made pastors and bishops” who could say anything to cause disunity.

Bishop Imasuen added that said he was only interested in performing his responsibility as a cleric, rather than engaging in partisan politics.
“Even if you give me money, I would be afraid; I ‎will not sleep because the politicians will be after you, everybody will be after you, the thieves will know that you have money. So, I will rather relax my mind and be okay with whatever God gives me.

“There many people who are self-made pastors or bishops; they can say anything. If you do ‎something I don’t like, for instance, I can go back and do certain things to distabilise you.
“I don’t belong to any party; once I know that you are a credible person, I can vote (for) you; vote for those that can stand and defend this country. We are praying God to give us a leader‎ who will lead us and lead the youths,”  he said.

While reacting to the allegation, the Public Relation Officer, PRO, of the Northern chapter of CAN, Mr. Sunday Oibe, had last week described the allegation as ridiculous, and wondered why mischief makers would cook up such lies to deceive the general public.
He said the allegation is a complete lie and just one of the many evil plots to dent the image of CAN’s leadership as well as to rubbish its integrity and make it morally incapable of leading Christians in these trying times.

According to him, there was no way anyone would collect a kobo on behalf of CAN and start sharing it like booty, pointing out that the clergyman, Musa-Dikwa is totally unknown in CAN cycle.

In a related development, the country’s major opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Edo State chapter has revealed more to the bribery scandal rocking the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
The party in a statement issued on Sunday by its spokesperson, Godwin Erhahon, disclosed that over 400 pastors in the state shared money offered as bribe by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to CAN in order to support President Goodluck Jonathan in the forthcoming presidential election, Premium Times reports.

Musa Dikwe

APC said most of the clergymen are from the Pentecostal bloc of the association, adding that they received between N50, 000 and N2 million from the N7 billion CAN allegedly got from the PDP and President Jonathan.
The party, however, commended the Edo State chairman of CAN, Peter Imasuen, for not participating in the sharing of the money.

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