According to a report by Punch on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, the President-General of the Charismatic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Leonard Bature Kawas, has alleged that some individuals are sponsoring terrorism, banditry and kidnapping in an attempt to blackmail President Bola Tinubu and frustrate his administration.
Kawas made the allegation while explaining the decision of the bishops to endorse Tinubu for a second term in office.
The cleric said the bishops’ position was based on what they described as developments in the country and their assessment of the current administration.
He maintained that the endorsement was not intended to serve any personal financial interest of the bishops, but was made because of their concerns about the direction of the country and the challenges confronting the government.
Kawas made the allegation during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday, where he discussed the bishops’ recent endorsement of Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The cleric defended the decision of the group to publicly support the President for another term, saying the endorsement was based on their assessment of developments in Nigeria.
He said the bishops had considered the circumstances surrounding the country and the activities of individuals who, according to him, were working against the administration.
Kawas alleged that some people were sponsoring acts of insecurity as part of efforts to create negative perceptions of the President and undermine his government.
The President-General of the Charismatic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria also rejected suggestions that the endorsement of Tinubu was influenced by financial considerations.
Kawas stressed that the bishops did not receive payment from the President or his administration in exchange for their support.
He said the endorsement was made independently and was not the result of any financial arrangement between the bishops and the government.
According to him, the bishops’ decision was based on their understanding of the current situation in the country and their assessment of the issues affecting the administration.
Kawas maintained that the group had not been financially compensated for its decision to support Tinubu’s second-term bid.
The cleric further alleged that the activities of people sponsoring terrorism, banditry and kidnapping were aimed at giving the President a bad name and creating difficulties for his administration.
He said such activities could be viewed as part of broader efforts to frustrate the government and undermine its ability to address the security challenges facing the country.
Kawas referred to the alleged sponsorship of criminal activities while explaining why the bishops decided to support Tinubu.
He maintained that the bishops had taken note of what he described as sabotage and believed that the situation needed to be addressed.
According to him, their endorsement was connected to their assessment of the current happenings in Nigeria and the need to support the President.
Kawas also insisted that the bishops’ position was not motivated by personal gain.
He said the members of the conference were not seeking financial rewards for publicly backing Tinubu’s re-election.
The cleric maintained that the group had taken its position based on what it considered the prevailing circumstances in the country.
He said the bishops believed that the alleged activities of those sponsoring insecurity were intended to undermine the President and make his administration appear ineffective.
Kawas therefore defended the endorsement as a position taken by the bishops after considering developments in the country and the challenges confronting the government.
He maintained that no payment was made to the bishops in connection with their support for the President.
The President-General reiterated that the endorsement was based on the bishops’ assessment of what was happening in Nigeria rather than any financial inducement.
He maintained that the group had not received money from the government or any other source in exchange for supporting Tinubu’s second-term bid.
Kawas said the bishops’ decision was influenced by what he described as efforts by some individuals to sabotage the administration through insecurity and create a negative impression of the President.
He said, “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.”
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