Barely three days after the presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Tinubu visited some Bishops, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has disowned the “Pentecostal Bishops Forum of Northern Nigeria.
Tinubu and his running mate Kashim Shettima, are both Muslims which PFN and the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN, have strongly condemned it.
The Deputy National Secretary of the PFN, Bishop David Bakare, said, “PFN was not part of the meeting with the presidential candidate that was highly politicised. We are, however, aware of the ripples in the public domain about this matter. I am speaking officially to clarify that the PFN has nothing to do with that.
Bishop Bakare who spoke in an interview said “the forum is not known to the PFN. There is nothing in PFN that is regional-based like Southern or Northern Pentecostal Bishops.
“The PFN is an arm of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN. The position of the fellowship on same-faith presidential ticket of the APC has not changed. The meeting between Tinubu and the Pentecostal Bishops Forum of Northern Nigeria has nothing to do with the PFN.
“I am speaking to you officially and authoritatively that the ranks of the Christian community and of course, the PFN, which I represent is not broken at all.
“The Pentecostal Bishops Forum of Northern Nigeria is not known to the PFN. The forum does not have any affiliation or relationship with the PFN that is registered with the government of this nation.
“We are, however, aware of the ripples in the public domain about this matter. I am speaking officially to clarify that the PFN has nothing to do with that organisation.
“We didn’t take such a decision, we have not met that political party and whatever we will do will be in the public domain. That group is on its own and has nothing to do with the real incorporated PFN.
Continuing Bishop Bakare said: “I looked at the photos and the names. I could recognise about two people who are our members, but they speak for themselves. All Pentecostal leaders in Nigeria, from the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Living Faith, Mountain of Fire, and House on the Rock, among others speak with one voice.
“Finally, I wish to let you know that there is nothing in PFN that is regional-based, like Southern or Northern Pentecostal Bishops.
“As a matter of fact, the PFN does not have any settings for Bishops. What we have is PFN, we do not separate Bishops of Pentecostal from other clergies of Pentecostal. PFN is just one body under which all Bishops, Pastors and members are lined up behind Bishop Francis Oke, the President. We stand by our decision; we have not and will not bend to the dictate of any political group.”
