Name induced pastors, NOSCEF appeals to Amaechi

Northern State Christian Elders Forum (NOS­CEF) has ap­pealed to Rivers State Gov­ernor, Rotimi Amaechi, to name the church leaders who he alleged collected N6 billion to support an unnamed presidential can­didate.

The elders promised to os­tracize such leaders if Amae­chi could mention them.

The group’s Chairman, Elder Olaiya Phillips, in a statement at the weekend, also condemned any agenda to induce voters based on reli­gious sentiments.
Phillips said: “The alleged inducement is of the gravest kind. What he alleges, if it is true, will be a serious indict­ment of our brethren and he has a duty to reveal what he knows.
“We believe that the choice the country’s elections pres­ent must be about the best person for the job in every case, rather than about a can­didate’s religion.”
He added that it would be ‘unconscionable’ for pastors to receive such alleged in­ducement “at a time in which the needs of our brethren, es­pecially the many displaced and dispossessed in the North, requires every kobo that can be deployed in ame­lioration.”
Urging Amaechi to name the alleged pastors, Phillips argued: “He must conclude what he has begun. He is duty and honour-bound to substan­tiate his allegation by naming the persons he refers to.
“We are anxious to know who these offenders are, so that we may avoid them. It would then be incumbent on the umbrella bodies, under whose auspices these pastors collected the alleged N6 bil­lion, to investigate such acts of which prima facie evi­dence is provided.”