Explosive Claim: Bishop Kawas Alleges Banditry Sponsorship Linked to Tinubu Discrediting Plot!

Archbishop Leonard Kawas, the President-General of the Charismatic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, has leveled serious allegations against certain individuals, claiming they are actively sponsoring banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism within the nation. These activities, according to Kawas, are orchestrated with the specific intent to discredit President Bola Tinubu and hinder the progress of his administration.

The prominent cleric made these assertions during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday. His remarks came as he defended the recent decision by the bishops’ conference to endorse President Tinubu for a second term in the upcoming 2027 presidential election. Archbishop Kawas stated that the prevailing insecurity in the country is being deliberately exploited by undisclosed entities to tarnish Tinubu's reputation, engage in blackmail against his government, and ultimately undermine its authority and effectiveness.

“That is why we decided that since it is a proven fact and there are international intelligence on this that some people are sponsoring all this banditry and terrorism just to give Tinubu a bad name to frustrate his government and to blackmail him and blacklist him,” Kawas emphasized during the interview. He drew a parallel between the current situation and the tenure of former President Goodluck Jonathan, suggesting that similar concerted efforts were made during that period to portray Jonathan’s government in a negative light.

This conviction—that insecurity is being weaponized to weaken President Tinubu’s administration—significantly influenced the bishops’ collective decision to support his re-election bid. Kawas articulated their rationale, stating, “That is why we say no. If that is the case, then it is Tinubu that we are going to support. So we are. We believe that we are being led to do so.”

Furthermore, Archbishop Kawas vehemently refuted any claims suggesting that the endorsement was financially motivated. He insisted that none of the bishops had received any monetary compensation from the President for their support. “Today, this endorsement has not given us any one naira. No one naira has been given to us. We did it because, based on current happenings in our nation, the sabotage of people sponsoring banditry and sponsoring kidnapping and all these things just to give Tinubu a bad name,” he asserted.

He underscored that financial considerations do not dictate the political choices of the bishops. Kawas affirmed that they would back any candidate they deem suitable, irrespective of whether they receive funds. To illustrate this point, he recalled the 2023 presidential election, where the bishops openly supported Peter Obi, despite Obi's public stance against disbursing money to Nigerians. “So, that is what happened as at the time when Peter Obi did not give any money to any Nigerian, he said he would give shishi, and that did not stop us,” Kawas concluded, highlighting their consistent approach to political endorsements based on conviction rather than pecuniary gain.