The General Overseer of Citadel Global Community Church in Lagos, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has denied reports in some section of the media that he had endorsed the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu for 2023 general elections.
In a statement issued on the twitter account of the The Citadel Global Community Church tilled "Statement on CAN and APC attributed to me is a FABRICATION" the APC presidential aspirat in the 2023 primaris of the ruling party also denied claims that he criticised the Christian Association of Nigeria.
The report said he criticsed CAN for speaking up against the APC’s choice of a Muslim-Muslim ticket for the 2023 presidential election and the controversial appearance of “clergymen” at the unveiling of Kashim Shettima as APC’s vice-presidential candidate.
The pastor called on the public to disregard the alleged statements as there were not his and do not represent his position. Also, he challenged anyone with evidence that he actually made the statements credited to him to make the evidence public.
Here is the Full statement
REFUTAL:THE STATEMENTS CREDITED TO ME ARE OUTRIGHT LIES
My attention has been drawn to the viral but concorted and ridiculous statements credited to me, by some unscrupulous writers and bloggers. Amongst other things, I was quoted to have said that the agitations by the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, were ploys by the opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, to force a weak candidate on APC. In addition to this, I was alleged to have said that CAN wanted to lure APC into presenting a weak candidate. The spurious writers also alleged that I stressed that Christians are righteous people who behave like Christ, and that CAN are politicians who behave like PDP. As if the poorly strewn lies were not enough, I was quoted as saying that Tinubu is my candidate. Isn’t this the same Tinubu that I announced to all and sundry at the APC Presidential Convention that I was not stepping down for? He has suddenly become my candidate!
I wish to state unequivocally that the statements are absolute lies. There was no where I granted anyone any interview, or preached on any platform, where I said the ludicrous statements. I challenge anyone who is in possession of the video or audio file of the statements to please put it in the public space.
For the avoidance of doubt, I am a nation builder who will not in any way create real or imaginary division among the people of our great country, through the medium of political parties or religion.
I therefore use this medium to ask everyone to disregard the alleged statements. The statements are not mine, and do not in any way represent my position. This is part of the lying propaganda of the mischievous ones seeking approval by deceit and at all costs. If the peddlers of this deliberate falsehood don’t desist from their highly condemnable acts, they will definitely have their day in court. Enough is enough.
Pastor Tunde Bakare