The Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, has replied Governor of Rivers State and the Director-General, Buhari Presidential Campaign organisation, Rotimi Amaechi, on his recent claim that the president bribed some clerics with N6bn to campaign against Buhari.
The presidential aide advised Amaechi to repent and ‘change’ his ways of lying against God’s annointed.
Abati posted on his Facebook page that “This is APC Propaganda, Yes. But I don’t think Christians will accept this grievous allegation that their pastors are being bribed without proof… these guys need to repent and their ways!”.
The writer called reports that Amaechi, had on Tuesday, at Rivers State Governorship campaign rally, in Emohua Local Government Area, accused some church leaders of taking N6 billion bribe from PDP to campaign against Buhari.
He said: “Some pastors collected N6 billion and they are circulating documents and telling you not to vote for an Hausa man; not to vote for a Muslim; that they want to Islamize Nigeria. Tell them to return our N6 billion.
“They gave them N6 billion. They should return it to the Federal Government coffers. They will tell you that Buhari wants to Islamize Nigeria; tell them we are too educated. I am a Catholic, but no Catholic priest has told me that story right now in the Catholic Church because, I will ask him how.
“If any pastor tells you that, tell him to return the money. Nobody can Islamize Nigeria. They have commercialised Jesus Christ. They should stop commercialising Jesus Christ. He is our Lord and Saviour.
“You know what Jesus Christ did in the temple, he chased them away. We shall chase away those pastors who have collected money from PDP to tell us lies. We shall chase them away on behalf of our Lord Jesus Christ”.
In a similar development the General Evangelist of the Christ Apostolic Church, Prophet Kayode Abiara, has challenged the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, to publish the names of pastors who allegedly collected N6bn bribery from the Presidency.
Abiara said the governor should be specific and name those involved in the case so as to substantiate his allegation.
Amaechi had alleged that the Presidency gave N6bn to some clerics in the country to support President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid and discredit the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd).
Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God was one of the first pastors to react to the allegation on social media, saying if the allegation was true, those who collected the money risked the wrath of God.
Abiara, who urged Amaechi to publish the names of those involved in the newspapers, reacted during the CAC worldwide annual programme tagged, All Nations Holy Pilgrimage, in Odo Owa, Kwara State, a statement said on Sunday.
He said, “The executive Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi is a good, intelligent, honourable and well educated man. He is a man of integrity who is loved by many people.
“I don’t think Amaechi will make any derogatory statement about ministers of God.
“I want to believe that the governor was misquoted by the press, because this is not the first time a Muslim is contesting for the presidency in Nigeria. Moreover, we have had Muslims as presidents before, so why the bribery allegation now?
“However, if the allegation is true, I encourage him to clarify issues and be more specific.
“The names of such people should be mentioned and published in the newspapers. Nigerians will like to know so as to avoid speculations.”
Abiara said clerics made a lot of sacrifice and prayers for the country and their efforts should not be dragged in the mud of politics.
He added that the CAC had never been motivated by monetary benefits to pray for peaceful co-existence in the country.
He said, “Ministers of God sacrifice a lot to pray for peace and stability of Nigeria. Christians are praying fervently for free and fair elections. God commands us to pray for the peace of Nigeria.”
