The President-General of the Charismatic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Leonard Bature Kawas, has alleged that some individuals are sponsoring banditry, kidnapping and terrorism in Nigeria as part of an attempt to discredit President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Kawas made the allegation while defending the bishops’ recent endorsement of Tinubu for a second term during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday.
The cleric insisted that the endorsement was not influenced by financial benefits, saying the bishops did not receive money in exchange for backing the President.
“Today, this endorsement has not given us any one naira. No one naira has been given to us. We did it because, based on current happenings in our nation, the sabotage of people sponsoring banditry and sponsoring kidnapping and all these things just to give Tinubu a bad name,” he said.
Kawas compared the current situation with what he said occurred during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, claiming similar efforts were allegedly made to damage Jonathan’s reputation.
He said the bishops believed insecurity in the country was being exploited by certain individuals to frustrate and discredit the Tinubu administration.
“That is why we decided that since it is a proven fact and there are international intelligence on this that some people are sponsoring all this banditry and terrorism just to give Tinubu a bad name to frustrate his government and to blackmail him and blacklist him,” Kawas said.
According to the cleric, the alleged activities influenced the bishops’ decision to support Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
“That is why we say no. If that is the case, then it is Tinubu that we are going to support. So we are. We believe that we are being led to do so,” he added.
Kawas also addressed concerns over whether financial considerations should play a role in political endorsements, saying the bishops would support a candidate they believed was suitable regardless of whether they received financial benefits.
“If we participate in politics, and any blessing comes from it, fine and good. But where the blessing does not come financially, it also doesn’t matter so long as we are convinced that that is the right candidate,” he said.
He referenced the 2023 presidential election, recalling that the bishops had supported Peter Obi despite his reported position that he would not distribute money to Nigerians.
“So, that is what happened as at the time when Peter Obi did not give any money to any Nigerian, he said he would give shishi, and that did not stop us,” Kawas said.
Source: Channels Television
