The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), on Sunday, disowned the “Pentecostal Bishops Forum of Northern Nigeria” which met with the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in Abuja on Friday.
Deputy National Secretary of the PFN, Bishop David Bakare, who stated the position of the Christian body, pointedly said that such an amorphous group does not exist within the PFN, stressing that there is nothing in the PFN that is regional based like “Southern or Northern Pentecostal Bishops”.
Bishop Bakare said that the PFN is an arm of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), stressing that the position of the fellowship on same faith Presidential ticket of the APC has not changed.
In the words of Bishop Bakare; “The meeting between Tinubu and the Pentecostal Bishops Forum of Northern Nigeria has nothing to do with the PFN. I am speaking to you officially and authoritatively that the ranks of the Christian community and of course, the PFN which I represent is not broken at all.
“The Pentecostal Bishops Forum of Northern Nigeria is not known to the PFN. The forum does not have any affiliation or relationship with the PFN that is registered with the government of this nation,” he said.
Bakare particularly said that the position of the PFN on same faith ticket still stands as it was in the beginning, adding that as it was from the beginning, the PFN has not for any reason, shifted its position on that matter of Muslim-Muslim ticket.
He further said; “The PFN was not a part of the meeting with the APC presidential candidate. We are however aware of the ripples in the public domain about this matter. I am speaking officially to clarify that the PFN has nothing to do with such an organisation.
“The PFN didn’t take such a decision. We have not met that political party and whatever we will do would be in the public domain.
“That group is on their own and has nothing to do with the real incorporated PFN. I looked at the photos (from the meeting) and the names. I could recognised about two people who are our members, but they speak for themselves.”
Bishop Bakare said all Pentecostal leaders in Nigeria, from the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Living Faith, Mountain of Fire, House on the Rock, Family Worship Centre, Dunami, among others speak with one voice .
“As a matter of fact, the PFN does not have any settings for Bishops. What we have is PFN. We do not separate Bishops of Pentecostal from other clergies of Pentecostal. PFN is just one body under which all Bishops, Pastors and members are lined up behind Bishop Francis Wale, the President.
“We stand by our decision, we have not and will not bend to the dictate of any political group. It doesn’t matter what politicians will want to do, the truth and the joy is that the PFN is not divided on its position.
“Individuals can form an association but when it comes to the body call PFN, there is no change in our position and we have not authorised anybody to hold a meeting,” he said.
