2023: Babachir, Dogara urged not to drag CAN into dispute

By Adeleye Kunle

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. David Babachir Lawal, and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, have been urged not to drag the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, into a dispute, as this would undermine CAN’s principles of peacekeeping in Nigeria.

Mr. Yakubu Dati, the Plateau state Commissioner of Lands, Survey, and Town Planning, made the call in a statement to newsmen.

Dati claimed that the duo are dividing Christians with CAN, which appeared to support their antics after the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, appointed former Governor of Borno State, Senator Kashim Shettima, as his Vice President.

“However, it is now an open secret that the duo may have influenced the position of CAN, purely out of vendetta against the APC presidential candidate for not looking their way to pick his running mate,” Dati claimed.

The Commissioner emphasized that CAN was established to bring peace to the country by resolving ethnic and religious conflicts, and it has done so effectively over the years.

He noted that, now that CAN has elected a new leadership to steer its affairs, it is appropriate to offer the organization some advice in order to keep it from being used by politicians to achieve their selfish goals, especially “as we are on the cusp of another political season.”

“It is no longer news that immediately after the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, chose former Governor of Borno State, Senator Kashim Shettima, as his running mate, CAN took a position on the matter siding with certain APC members, particularly former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. David Babachir Lawal, and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, who both lost out in the quest to be appointed Tinu

“They forget that Asiwaju Tinubu nominated David Babachir Lawal as the Buhari administration’s Secretary to the Government as a mark of respect for the Adamawa-born politician.” “If it hadn’t been for Tinubu, who was then one of the APC’s national leaders at the time, Babachir would have continued in office and probably even retained the position in the second tenure of the Buhari administration like his kinsman, Boss Mustapha, has done,” he said.

Despite this, Dati stated that “the Jagaba of Borgu, in an attempt to rehabilitate the sacked former SGF, gave him the responsibility of shortlisting potential vice presidential candidates for him.”

“However, even that simple task was twisted to benefit certain local interests.” Babachir advocated for the Northeast and Northwest geopolitical zones over the North Central geopolitical zone, which is the center of Christianity in Northern Nigeria.”

The Commissioner explained that this was done ostensibly to rule out Plateau State, which had the only Christian governor of the APC in Northern Nigeria.

“Intriguingly, the Babachir committee recommended Senator Kashim Shetima as the top candidate on their list, and the APC Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, simply followed suit.” When confronted with these facts on national television, Babachir confirmed them, but only as a draft!

“As evidence that Babachir was not sincere in his recommendation, he immediately exploited religious fault lines with Dogara, the other disgruntled VP candidate who lost out, and unwittingly recruited CAN into the fray,” Dati claimed.

He also stated that Tinubu would not have chosen either Babachir Lawal from Adamawa State or Yakubu Dogara from Bauchi State because of the implications for his electoral fortune, noting that Adamawa, where Babachir is from, and Bauchi, where Dogara is from, are both PDP-controlled states. Despite their positions and vast resources, both men have consistently failed to deliver their respective states to the APC. “This is in contrast to Tinubu, who always delivers.”

“Due to the uproar created by Babachir and Dogara, the Asiwaju has chosen Simon Lalong, the Governor of Plateau State and Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, to lead his campaign as Director General.” Gov. Lalong has an enviable track record of fairness regardless of tribe, religion, or creed. His excellent management of men and resources, which resulted in the restoration of relative peace in the previously restive Plateau State, catapulted him to national prominence.

“As a Knight of the Catholic faith, Gov Simon Lalong speaks to the northern Christians whose fears have been allayed.” Those attempting to upset the apple cart by implying that his appointment is an attempt to mock Christians were the same people who campaigned vehemently against Christian candidates, including an ordained pastor, in the APC primaries.

“The APC’s northern Christians are more energized than ever before to pour their hearts and souls into the campaign,” the Commissioner said.

He also stated that religious organizations should be accommodating to all adherents rather than being led by those who remember the organization only when their selfish interests are at stake.

“Religious leaders should be wary of being reduced to political lap dogs.” “This is the true challenge that the new CAN leadership faces,” he advised.

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