Christian Group Cries out 'We’re Under Threat For Endorsing Buhari'

A Christian group, Northern Christian Leaders Eagle Eyes Forum, which endorsed the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.), said the members now live under threat.

Specifically, the group on Friday raised the alarm that its leaders’ lives were under serious threat following its endorsement of Buhari.

Addressing journalists in Kaduna, Chairman of the Forum, Pastor Aminchi Habu, simply described the tenure of President Goodluck Jonathan as a disappointment.

Habu said in 2011, the Christian community overwhelmingly voted for Jonathan but regretted that the President had failed the entire nation, adding that Jonathan’s “poor performance” informed the body’s decision to support Buhari.He said the Forum could not be intimidated in any way to vote for Jonathan on the basis of religion or ethnicity.

The Christian body argued that they believed that Buhari could rid the country of insecurity and underdevelopment.

Habu said, “Our decision to endorse Buhari was informed by our patriotic commitment to build a free, fair and a secular society, where the inheritance should be justice to all.

“After the endorsement, our members, especially the Chairman of this Forum, have continued to receive threats through phone calls and text messages, labelling them a sell-out, who have abandoned a Christian candidate in the person of President Goodluck Jonathan.

“We supported the present government in 2003, 2007 and 2011. However, after critical analysis, the Forum decided to endorse General Muhammadu Buhari, based on the abysmal performance, the security challenges, outrageous corruption in public places, coupled with economic downturn in the country today.

“Our enemies accused us of collecting N500m from General Buhari. This accusation is not only wrong, but a blatant lie from the pit of hell. We charged anybody with concrete evidence of any money, collected by anybody on behalf of the Forum, to come forward with such evidence.

“The endorsement of Buhari was done publicly, and not secretly like our accusers will do; yet a segment of corrupt minds is employed to water down the good intention of the Forum, which is to build bridges and promote peaceful co-existence within our complex diversity.

“We shall not betray our trust as religious leaders for any monetary consideration. We shall do everything humanly possible, within our calling, to protect the interest of our image.

“We are therefore calling on Christians not to be deceived by these religious bigots and shun sentiment by voting the right candidate in the forthcoming general elections.”