Unfortunately, despite Nasir El Rufai's state of mind, he is the National General Secretary of All Progressives Congress and some people listen to him. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) cannot and should not ignore El Rufai's outbursts because lies have a way of being perceived as truth when often repeated.
El Rufai has taken up a crusade against Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and has said several damaging things. He claims he knows the person who bought the jet which members of Word of Life Bible Church, Warri, contributed money to buy as a gift for Pastor Oritsejafor to celebrate his birthday and his 40th Year in Ministry. CAN has challenged El Rufai to disclose who he says actually provided the funds. How can such an issue be ignored by CAN when it calls to question the integrity of the official leader of Christians in Nigeria? Would Muslims ignore a conspiracy to ridicule and malign the Sultan of Sokoto, the President of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and the leader of Muslims in Nigeria?
How can El Rufai say the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria is the "Propaganda spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party" and some people cannot see the agenda at play? Is the CAN President a politician? Is he a member of any political party?
As the head of an organisation established as an umbrella body for all Christians in Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor cannot but speak on issues which have political implications. Does that make him a "politician" or a "PDP propaganda spokesman"? What insult!! Have past Presidents of the Christian Association of Nigeria been apolitical? Did past CAN Presidents like Cardinal Okogie, Bishop Mbang, Bishop Makinde, Bishop Akinola and Cardinal Onaiyekan not comment on issues in our polity? Were they then politicians?
The CAN President must speak on any matter that concerns the Church and Christians in Nigeria. But he is non-partisan and cannot even be since his people, Christians, are from all tribes and geo-political zones in the country and there are Christian politicians in all political parties.
El Rufai is not just speaking for himself; he speaks for the APC and the feudal northern Islamists (as distinct from ordinary Muslims) who see the unity of Christians nationwide as a threat to their political interests particularly with regard to the 2015 Presidential Election. They believe President Goodluck Jonathan became President in 2011 because Christians in all six geo-political zones voted for him. They fear that if the Church is united behind President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, then his re-election would be a walk-over. So their strategy is simple: divide the Church by discrediting its national leader: Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, OFR. But, as always, they have failed as Jesus said "it is hard to kick against the pricks". Selah!
Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor is not perfect. Who is? But he is a genuine man of God. Those of us who know have had the honour and privilege of knowing him personally can attest to his humility, Kingdom-mindedness and integrity. He does not play games. He does not manipulate people for filthy lucre. Unlike some, he serves GOD not mammon.
Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor won a second term as the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria unanimously because all the blocs that make up CAN appreciate the great work God has used him to do in the Church in Nigeria. Even the Catholic Church, which had left CAN, returned to full membership of CAN at its last National Executive Committee meeting held sometime in August in Abuja and has submitted itself once more under the leadership of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. But for Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor"s outspokenness, Boko Haram would have succeeded in its genocide against Christians in Borno and Yobe States and Sanusi Lamido Sanusi would have gotten away with his Islamist agenda of imposing Malaysia-style Islamic Banking (which Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has since declared as illegal and unconstitutional) by abusing his office as the CBN Governor.
Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor is not just a Christian Hero who is celebrated globally by believers but he is a National Hero. El Rufai cannot and must not be allowed to rubbish this great Nigerian through his flippancy.
I wrote sometime ago that one of my friends called the All Progressives Congress the "Allahu Akbah Progressives Congress" when it emerged that the key strategic positions in its National Executive Committee (including National Chairman, National General Secretary, National Publicity Secretary, and even the National Youth Leader and National Women's Leader) were held by Muslims while the 16 Christians in the 23-member National Executive Committee were only assigned as "Deputies" and "Ex-officio" members. I am no more in doubt that my friend was right. The main national leaders of the APC have proved to be Islamists however the disguise this reality. The APC's National General Secretary, Alhaji Mallam Nasir Ahmed El Rufai's insults on the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria underscore this fact. And the refusal or negligence of the leadership of the APC to distance itself from El Rufai's statement till date (Thursday, 19th September, 2012), over one week after Sun newspaper published the offensive interview, confirms that the APC is insensitive to the sensibilities of Nigerian Christians and obviously does not need their votes. This is instructive!
God bless Nigeria!
Nigeria di fure!!
El Rufai has taken up a crusade against Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and has said several damaging things. He claims he knows the person who bought the jet which members of Word of Life Bible Church, Warri, contributed money to buy as a gift for Pastor Oritsejafor to celebrate his birthday and his 40th Year in Ministry. CAN has challenged El Rufai to disclose who he says actually provided the funds. How can such an issue be ignored by CAN when it calls to question the integrity of the official leader of Christians in Nigeria? Would Muslims ignore a conspiracy to ridicule and malign the Sultan of Sokoto, the President of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and the leader of Muslims in Nigeria?
How can El Rufai say the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria is the "Propaganda spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party" and some people cannot see the agenda at play? Is the CAN President a politician? Is he a member of any political party?
As the head of an organisation established as an umbrella body for all Christians in Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor cannot but speak on issues which have political implications. Does that make him a "politician" or a "PDP propaganda spokesman"? What insult!! Have past Presidents of the Christian Association of Nigeria been apolitical? Did past CAN Presidents like Cardinal Okogie, Bishop Mbang, Bishop Makinde, Bishop Akinola and Cardinal Onaiyekan not comment on issues in our polity? Were they then politicians?
The CAN President must speak on any matter that concerns the Church and Christians in Nigeria. But he is non-partisan and cannot even be since his people, Christians, are from all tribes and geo-political zones in the country and there are Christian politicians in all political parties.
El Rufai is not just speaking for himself; he speaks for the APC and the feudal northern Islamists (as distinct from ordinary Muslims) who see the unity of Christians nationwide as a threat to their political interests particularly with regard to the 2015 Presidential Election. They believe President Goodluck Jonathan became President in 2011 because Christians in all six geo-political zones voted for him. They fear that if the Church is united behind President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, then his re-election would be a walk-over. So their strategy is simple: divide the Church by discrediting its national leader: Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, OFR. But, as always, they have failed as Jesus said "it is hard to kick against the pricks". Selah!
Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor is not perfect. Who is? But he is a genuine man of God. Those of us who know have had the honour and privilege of knowing him personally can attest to his humility, Kingdom-mindedness and integrity. He does not play games. He does not manipulate people for filthy lucre. Unlike some, he serves GOD not mammon.
Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor won a second term as the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria unanimously because all the blocs that make up CAN appreciate the great work God has used him to do in the Church in Nigeria. Even the Catholic Church, which had left CAN, returned to full membership of CAN at its last National Executive Committee meeting held sometime in August in Abuja and has submitted itself once more under the leadership of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. But for Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor"s outspokenness, Boko Haram would have succeeded in its genocide against Christians in Borno and Yobe States and Sanusi Lamido Sanusi would have gotten away with his Islamist agenda of imposing Malaysia-style Islamic Banking (which Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has since declared as illegal and unconstitutional) by abusing his office as the CBN Governor.
Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor is not just a Christian Hero who is celebrated globally by believers but he is a National Hero. El Rufai cannot and must not be allowed to rubbish this great Nigerian through his flippancy.
I wrote sometime ago that one of my friends called the All Progressives Congress the "Allahu Akbah Progressives Congress" when it emerged that the key strategic positions in its National Executive Committee (including National Chairman, National General Secretary, National Publicity Secretary, and even the National Youth Leader and National Women's Leader) were held by Muslims while the 16 Christians in the 23-member National Executive Committee were only assigned as "Deputies" and "Ex-officio" members. I am no more in doubt that my friend was right. The main national leaders of the APC have proved to be Islamists however the disguise this reality. The APC's National General Secretary, Alhaji Mallam Nasir Ahmed El Rufai's insults on the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria underscore this fact. And the refusal or negligence of the leadership of the APC to distance itself from El Rufai's statement till date (Thursday, 19th September, 2012), over one week after Sun newspaper published the offensive interview, confirms that the APC is insensitive to the sensibilities of Nigerian Christians and obviously does not need their votes. This is instructive!
God bless Nigeria!
Nigeria di fure!!
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