‘I’m not aware of N7bn bribe’

CHAIRMAN of the Christians Association of Nigeria in Edo State, Bishop Peter Imasuen, has denied involvement in the sharing of the N7bn bribe allegedly paid CAN at the national level by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Imasuen, who is the Bishop of Benin Diocese of the Anglican Communion, stated this on Monday in Benin, the Edo State capital, while reacting to the allegation by a Borno-based pastor, Kallam Musa-Dikwa, that the sum of N3m each from the alleged bribe was disbursed to chairmen in the state chapters of CAN.

Musa-Dikwa had on February 16 claimed that CAN got the money on January 26, 2015 and distributed N3m to each state chairman across the country to enable them support the re-election bid of Jonathan.

But Imasuen told The PUNCH that he was not aware of the money, as he did not attend the last meeting of the Christians body and did not collect any money as a state chairman.

He said, “I am not a politician; what we owe the country is prayer. So, I don’t know anything about (the) money.

“They didn’t give me any money and I was not even there when we had the last CAN meeting; at that time, we were having the standing committee at Ughelli (Delta State). So, how would they have given me money when I was not at the meeting?”

Asked if he would have benefited from the alleged bribe if he had been present at the meeting, Imasuen said, “Collected the money for what? What will I use the money for? We are men of God; we are to pray for the peace of the country.

“At the time you now take money, how will God answer your prayer? I don’t run after riches. I run after blessing; riches come and go but blessings remain.”

He added, “Even if you give me money, I would be afraid; I will not sleep because the politicians will be after you, everybody will be after you, the thieves will know that you have money. So, I will rather relax my mind and be okay with whatever God gives me.

“There are many people who are self-made pastors or bishops; they can say anything. If you do something I don’t like, for instance, I can go back and do certain things to destabilise you.

“I don’t belong to any party; once I know that you are a credible person, I can vote (for) you; vote for those that can stand and defend this country. We are praying God to give us a leader who will lead us and lead the youths.”