Shock, confusion as ‘Bishops’ attend unveiling of Shettima

From: Romanus Ugwu, Abuja

A coalition of Nigerian Bishops, numbering over 50, had stormed the unveiling of the All Progressives Congress (APC) vice presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima, in Abuja, despite the antagonistic position of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), over Muslim-Muslim joint ticket.
Dressed in different shapes and sizes of skullcap and cassocks, they had occupied a vantage position inside the main hall of the Musa Yar’adua Centre, venue of the official unveiling, on arrival, but had to be relocated faraway in the gallery upstairs.
Interestingly, despite being present, they were not given any spiritual role to play throughout the duration of the event including the traditional function of conducting the prayers.

Their presence seemed to cause a stir as onlookers and guests stared hard at them as they walked into the reception of the Musa Yar’Adua Centre dressed in their cassocks and habits, amid heavy security at the venue.

Earlier, the media had been awash with reports from religious bodies urging Christian leaders to boycott the unveiling to drive home the point of their grievances.

Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria has dissociated itself from Bishops who attended the unveiling of the vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Kashim Shettima, saying they were desperados who went there for themselves.

The organisation said that although the presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was free to “hire mechanics and other artisans and sew clerical garments for them”, that effort would only add to their many ropes but would not change the need for fairness and justice.

The Vice President of CAN (19 Northern States and Abuja) and its chairman in Kaduna State, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, said this in an interview with journalists in Abuja.

He said, “The people we saw at the unveiling of Shettima paraded as Bishops are people who did not have enough time to learn how to wear Bishop garments. Take a closer look at their photo and you will see another Nollywood movie.”