Pastor Bakare Faults CAN Over El-Rufai

The convener of the Save Nigeria Group (SNG), Pastor Tunde Bakare, has faulted the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) over its position on recent controversial tweets from former Minister of the Federal Carpital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasiru el-Rufai.
Bakare spoke in Lagos at a press conference in Lagos on the state of the nation.
Faulting the position of the Christian umbrella body, who castigated the former Minister, Bakare said it (CAN) was only diverting attention from grave issues affecting the country.
Also, the preacher urged the Federal Government to make a coherent and convincing response to the allegations against it by a former minister for Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili who had accused the government of profligacy in the management of the nation’s resources.
Bakare’s position was  just as he gave conditional support to the current merger arrangement being worked out by opposition political parties, and stated that he remained committed to it, only if the motive behind it was altruistic and aimed towards meeting the problems afflicting the country.
According to Bakare, “It is rather unfortunate that the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) that should bring understanding to simple matters like this have chosen to confirm its description by the Catholic Church as an arm of the government in power.
“CAN also decided to fan the propaganda of agents of the administration that el-Rufai is a bigot for a statement that did not originate from him and whose meaning should be clear to non-mischievous persons.”
He urged the body to always use its influence to provide the right advise to those in power rather than using same to unwittingly give the impression that it was in tandem with some of the policies of government that have impacted negatively on the people.
He also urged the government to put up a more coherent and acceptable response to the allegation levied against it by Ezekwesili rather than resorting to name calling and said that the former minister by her status and pedigree would not make any statement that could not be substantiated.
“Rather than giving a lucid, reasoned and matured response to Dr. Ezekwesili, the Federal Government through its spokespersons went into all manner of tirades against her person, virulently attacking the messanger while ignoring the message,” he said.