A member of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Gideon Para-Mallam has decried what he described as :”the smuggling” of his name and that of his wife, Prof. Funmi Para-Mallam into the Presidential Campaign Council of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Campaign Council.
Rev. Para-Mallam pointedly said that he and his wife were not aware of their nomination as members of the Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress as their consent was not never sought.
Para-Mallam, who is known for social justice peace advocacy, pointedly said that he is not a card-carrying member of any political party in the country, stressing that accepting to serve in the APC’s Presidential Campaign Council will negate the fundamental reality of Nigeria being a multi-religious country in which politics of inclusiveness should override politics of exclusion not just in 2023 but beyond.
He therefore said that since the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), had taken a position against the Muslim-Muslim ticket adopted by the APC and its presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, stressing that he respects the decision of the Christian umbrella body.
These were contained in a statement while reacting to the Tinubu’s campaign list in which he noted that his name was smuggled into the list by APC.
Rev. Para-Mallam specifically said that he is not a partisan politician but, a clergyman and a social justice peace advocate thus, non-partisan and also not a card-carrying member of any political party in Nigeria today (not that it would be wrong, but I am not at moment).
The statement stated; “My attention has been drawn to a list in circulation which indicates that I (or my wife – Prof. (Funmi) Para-Mallam) have been nominated to serve in the APC’s Presidential Campaign Council. Neither of us is aware of this nomination and our consent was not sorted.
“Nigeria is a great country; our present setbacks notwithstanding. But I believe that Nigeria will be great again. I love this country. I am not a partisan politician. I am a clergyman and a social justice peace advocate. I am non-partisan. I am also not a card-carrying member of any political party in Nigeria today (not that it would be wrong, but I am not at moment).
“Besides, CAN has taken a position against any Muslim-Muslim ticket and any Christian-Christian ticket. I respect that decision. Nigeria is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious country. This contextual reality needs to show in the way our political parties play their politics through fair internal party politics.
“Accepting to serve in the APC’s Presidential Campaign Council will negate this fundamental reality of what we are as a multi-religious country. Politics of inclusiveness should override politics of exclusion not just in 2023 but beyond.
“I, therefore, wish to distance myself from membership of any campaign team of any political party in the forthcoming 2023 elections.
“I have some respected and close friends in all the major political parties. I will continue to work to promote political harmony and peaceful co-existence in Nigeria. “May God give Nigeria peaceful 2023 elections. God bless Nigeria and guide both the parties and Nigerians as the campaign season commences,” he said.
There has been generated tension and controversy in CAN following the surprise listing of about eight of its members opposed to the Muslim-Muslim ticket on the list of the APC campaign council which is perceived as a deliberate attempt to divide the ranks of the Christian body in Nigeria by Tinubu following opposition against his insistence on Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Those listed on the Tinubu’s campaign list include; Victor Ivoke, who is the Personal Assistant to current CAN President, Rev. Daniel Okoh as member); CAN former Director of Legal and Public Affairs, Kwamkur Samuel member, Prof. Para-Mallam as member and the Assistant General Secretary of CAN, Apostle Biodun Sanyaolu as Assistant Coordinator.
The list also include CAN chairman in Lagos State, Stephen Adegbite as member, Director of Legal and Public Affairs, Comfort Chigbue as member, Testimony Onifade, who was Personal Assistant to the immediate past CAN President also as member of the Campaign Council.
