The President-General of the Charismatic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Leonard Bature Kawas, has alleged that some individuals are sponsoring banditry, kidnapping and terrorism to undermine President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Kawas made the claim on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief while explaining the recent endorsement of Tinubu for a second term in the 2027 presidential election.

The cleric insisted that the endorsement was not influenced by financial considerations, saying the bishops received no money in exchange for backing the President.

He said the bishops took the decision based on their assessment of developments in the country and what he described as attempts by some individuals to sabotage the administration by sponsoring insecurity.

“Today, this endorsement has not given us any one naira. No one naira has been given to us,” Kawas said.

He compared the alleged campaign against Tinubu to what he claimed occurred during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, when, according to him, similar efforts were made to portray the government negatively.

Kawas said the bishops believed that insecurity was being exploited by individuals seeking to frustrate and discredit the Tinubu administration.

“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,” he said.

He said the bishops therefore concluded that Tinubu remained the candidate they should support, adding that they believed their decision was guided by conviction.

Kawas also maintained that financial benefits were not a determining factor in the bishops’ political decisions.

“If we participate in politics, and any blessing comes from it, fine and good. But where the blessing does not come financially, it also doesn’t matter so long as we are convinced that that is the right candidate,” he said.

The cleric cited the 2023 presidential election as an example, recalling that the bishops supported Peter Obi despite his reported position that he would not give 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 said.