Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says he refused to spend public funds on Christian Association in Nigeria (CAN) projects despite being a Christian.
Gatekeepers News reports that Obasanjo says he refused to finance Ecumenical Centre better known as National Christian Centre in Abuja with government funds despite being a Christian.
The former President who made this known at a book launch to mark the 85th birthday of the prelate of the Methodist Church, Nigeria – Sunday Mbang in Lagos on Friday, said instead he set up a fundraising event for the completion of the building.
The Ecumenical centre is located in the heart of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Obasanjo noted that if he had used government funds to complete the centre, he would be forced to do the same for other religions.
The former President said, “He (prelate) asked me in his capacity as the head of the Christian Association in Nigeria that I should bring money to complete the Ecumenical Centre as they called it then, now it is known as National Christian Centre.
“I said, ‘No, I don’t have; I won’t put government money into that type of thing because if I do it for Christians, I have to do it for Muslims, I have to do it for Babalawo (traditionalist), I have to do it for Sango worshippers. No.
“He insisted. Again, persistence. I had no choice to agree to now become a fundraiser for the completion of the National Christian Centre and I did.
“I got people together –the rich, the not-so-rich, the poor, the not-so poor and we raised money to complete the National Christian Centre. I don’t believe he has been given credit for that work because if he had not gone the way he did, maybe that centre will still remain uncompleted till today.”
He noted that his work with the celebrant during his tenure as president was “out of necessity”.
Gatekeepers News earlier reported that Obasanjo while speaking on the same occasion, ruled out the secessionist groups in the country – Yoruba Nation and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The former head of state stressed that Nigeria will continue to exist no matter what happens.
