Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has reacted to the visit by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Baba-Ahmed Datti, to the controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, in Kaduna State.
CAN commended them for the visit which according to the Christian body, is a demonstration of regard for every faith by the duo.
Obi and Datti had Monday, visited Sheikh Gumi when they arrived Kaduna for a meeting with the Arewa Joint Committee.
The Labour Party presidential flag bearer who is the leading candidate in many opinion polls so far conducted, shared pictures of the visit to the Islamic cleric on his verified Twitter handle.
“Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed and I stopped by for a courtesy call on Sheikh Gumi at his official residence in Kaduna,” Obi tweeted.
Speaking with Ikengaonline, the CAN Chairman, Abia State chapter, Apostle Emmanuel Agomuo, said the visit was a demonstration that Obi who is a Christian with a Muslim running mate does not discriminate against any religion.
He said that the former Governor had shown respect for every religion and would not use religion as a tool for political gain.
The cleric noted with detest that some desperate politicians had always exploited the country’s fault lines of religion and ethnicity to achieve their political interests.
He said that any serious-minded person “who wants to be trusted with the leadership of the country” should not joke with the religious sensitivity of Nigeria nor try to use religion to gain political power.
Apostle Agomuo said that Nigeria is a secular state, insisting that anyone who is dreaming to be President of the country should be ready to accommodate people of all faith.
He said that Nigeria should not allow a religious or ethnic bigot to come to power again as the country belongs to no particular religious group but to everybody.
