Shettima: Borno CAN Boss Denies Alleged Endorsement Of Tinubu’s Choice

The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Borno State, Bishop Mohammed Willians Naga, has reacted to a story featuring him as endorsing  the selection of Sen. Kashim Shettima, the former Borno state governor, as running mate by Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress, APC presidential flagbearer in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.
Bishop Naga is the founder/Head  of the Pentecostal Belivers Covenant Church (PBCC) in Borno state.
Our source reports that the said story which was reported in some national dailies, and also went viral on social media space, had it that Bishop Naga had applauded the choice of Sen. Shettima by the APC presidential candidate.
The statement added that Bishop Naga said the state had never had a better deal than it had under Shettima when he was at the helm of affairs in the state between 2011 and 2019.
Part of the alleged statement from Naga read, “ My brothers, those who are not from Borno State may not know, but you and I know better. In the history of Borno State, there is no Governor that has been fair to the Christian Community in this State as much as Governor Kashim Shettima.
“I am saying this in the presence of God Almighty and this is nothing but the truth. Governor Shettima, in the history of Borno, is the only Governor that has sponsored highest number of Christian Pilgrims every year since 2011.
”I am speaking boldly without fear or favour because as CAN Chairman I do not receive salary or kobo from Government or any institution, but the facts need to be told. This Governor has shown compassion to the Christian Community.”
But reacting to the story making the rounds on Monday in Maiduguri, the CAN Chairman said the alleged statement was an interview he granted to some journalists on 3rd April, 2017 while Senator Kashim Shettima was still in office as Governor of the State.
He expressed shock that a supposed professional journalist would mischievously lift such a material and make it look like it was granted on Monday being 11th of July, 2022.
Consequently, Bishop Naga said he has summoned a meeting of all the CAN representatives in the state as well as the National body to hold on Tuesday 12th July 2022 after which CAN will issue a statement regarding the story.
“I granted no interview to anybody on Monday 11th July 2022. It was a mischievous propaganda, seeking cheap popularity on my character,” Bishop Naga said.