Archbishop Leonard Bature Kawas has defended his decision to support President Bola Tinubu, saying he was previously criticised for changing his political support despite having supported Peter Obi without receiving financial assistance.

Speaking on Arise News, Kawas said he travelled across Nigeria to support Obi’s presidential ambition, often funding his own trips and those of other clergymen who joined him.

“When I was supporting Peter Obi initially, he never gave me one naira. Now that I am supporting Tinubu, people are calling me fake,” he said.

Kawas explained that he attended Obi’s campaign events, prayed for him, and supported his ambition without ever being asked how he funded his trips or where he stayed.

“He would just see me at the campaign. We would pray for him. I would pay the transportation of six clergymen. We would come there and support him. He never asked me, ‘How did I come? Which hotel did I sleep in?’ Yet I did it, and nobody called me fake,” he said.

He also recalled his support for former President Goodluck Jonathan, saying he was involved in Jonathan’s political journey from his days as Bayelsa State Deputy Governor and later served on his Presidential Campaign Council.

“I was the only bishop in Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential campaign council. And I took the campaign everywhere. Nobody called me fake,” he added.

Kawas questioned why his decision to support Tinubu should now make people label him as fake.

“Is it now, because I have prayed and God has led me that it is Tinubu, that I suddenly now become fake?” he asked.