I spoke for myself, Lagos CAN chairman clarifies statement on Tinubu

Lagos Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop Stephen Adegbite, on Tuesday, said he was quoted out of context on his reported endorsement of the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Adegbite had stirred controversy for reportedly saying ‘God will punish us if we don’t support Tinubu’.

He was heavily criticised by leaders of the apex Christian body who had taken a firm position against any political party fielding same-faith presidential ticket for the 2023 election.

Accdegbite however said mischief makers misrepresented his remarks during the presentation of the stewardship report of 12 years sojourn in the Senate presented by the Senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District in the Upper Legislative Chamber, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, OON.

A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Relations, Very Rev Oladapo Daramola, said he was mindful of his position of trust as the leader of Christians in the Lagos State and would never speak loosely or anything close to invoking God’s curse on those who do not vote for Tinubu.

The statement read in part, “Dearly beloved, it’s quite possible that you have read a story published by Blueprint Newspaper, a national daily, where the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Lagos State, Rt. Rev. Dr. S.T.V Adegbite, was quoted as saying ‘God’ll punish us if we don’t support Tinubu – Lagos CAN.’ I can reliably inform you that this headline is not only misleading but totally out of context. This is not a damage control but setting the records straight.

“As a trained journalist, the first thing I did was to look at the by-line and in doing so, I realised the story was lifted from an online media platform called Trek Africa Media. So it wasn’t a report that came from Blueprint Newspaper, but one they published with some recklessness.

“The name credited to the story is Oki Samson, and at 18:55pm on Monday October 17, 2022, I had a phone conversation with him to know what exactly transpired and what factually was said during the interview. He confirmed to me that he was also shocked when he saw the headline cast by the editor and was amazed at the twist.

“He said the bishop went down memory lane at a programme organised for Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the federal lawmaker representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, somewhere here in Lagos over the weekend and while reminiscing, he spoke about how his personal relationship with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has grown over the last 23 years and what the former Lagos State Governor has done for Christianity in Lagos State.

“At the end of his narrative, he said and Oki Samson quotes ‘God will not forgive me if I do not vote for Tinubu.’

“Clearly, the aforementioned was said in his personal capacity and premised on his wonderful relationship with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. He was not speaking on behalf of Christians or as the chairman of CAN in Lagos. The Bishop is quite mindful of his position of trust as the leader of Christians in the state and would never speak loosely or anything close to that.

“The writer of the original story has promised to tell the story as it was gathered and this will be shared as soon as it is done. But please accept this as the fact and kindly ignore whatever was published in the Blueprint Newspaper or what has been shared so far. Many thanks.”