Former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasir El-Rufai, who recently just declared his intention of running for the Governorship position in Kaduna, come 2015 has fired back at Pastor Oritsejafor for daring to say himself and APC spokesman, Lai Mohammed were only trying to tarnish his image when they called him out concerning a private jet which was recently impounded in South Africa over suspicion of arms smuggling. El-Rufai described the CAN president as an “irresponsible” leader and asked him to come out and tell Nigerians may be the same impounded jet was the one ‘donated’ to him in 2012. He also said he should clarify if the jet was actually registered as a commercial aircraft or the aircraft serves as both private and commercial one. Lol, I just think El-Rufai is always the wrong person to fight with. Read the full statement here; His words were heavy though.
A former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and senior member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Nasir El-Rufai, on Wednesday described the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Ayo Oritsejafor, as an “irresponsible” leader who has abused his revered office by venturing into politics. Mr. El-Rufai was reacting to a statement by CAN Tuesday berating the former minister and the spokesperson of the APC, Lai Mohammed, over their responses to reports that a private jet recently impounded in South Africa over suspicion of arms smuggling, belongs to the CAN president. In the statement, CAN accused the two APC stalwarts of tarnishing the image of Mr. Ortisejafor. CAN also said Mr. El-Rufai had once said there are three sets of Boko Haram in Nigeria: “Islamic Boko Haram, Politicians’ Boko Haram and Christians’ Boko Haram which he said are being funded by President Goodluck Jonathan and coordinated by CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. He went further to claim that the CAN President has been given N50 billion by the President and a Jet”.
In his response Wednesday, Mr. El Rufai said the CAN president is becoming “jittery” because his private jet was identified as the vessel impounded by the South African authorities for ferrying $9.3m cash into their country. Mr. El-Rufai also said after being unable to shake off his connection to the plane, Mr. Oritsejafor has resorted to abuse and vilification. “Were he more reflective, he would be pondering how, of all the private jets available in Nigeria, it was his that came to be involved in a covert arms purchase scandal. “Would he have managed any objectivity if the plane involved happened to belong to a prominent person of another faith or political persuasion,” a statement signed by Mr. El Rufai’s spokesperson, Muyiwa Adekeye, said. Mr. El-Rufai also said the CAN President should explain if the jet involved in the scandal is the same one that was “donated” to him in 2012.
“Did he register it as a commercial aircraft or is the plane illegally moonlighting as one? Has he ever reflected on the impropriety of mixing his religious role with politics? “Having strayed into politics, and an irresponsible variant at that, can he expect the veneration enjoyed by his predecessors such as Cardinals Olubunmi Okogie and John Onaiyekan? “Why is he the first CAN leader to provoke pitiful mirth and amusement when he is not being derided as a tragedy, a sort of Ichabod, desperate to separate glory from a revered body?” Mr. El-Rufai said.
He also advised Mr. Oritsejafor to “look beyond the bling to ask himself if it was any of the individuals he abused yesterday that asked him to make his aircraft available for monkey business, or get himself involved in the politics of division”.
I have been reporting on latest news from Nigeria for almost 10 years now. I report on every possible news area I come across, but always ensure my reports are compiled with dignity and fact to uphold my personal values and duty as a journalist
Posted: at 17-09-2014 08:12 PM (9 years ago) | Addicted Hero
Hadaywalay at 17-09-2014 08:47 PM (9 years ago) (m)
why don't you guys never cared to know facts. read not to criticize but to know the truth about the situation our noble country is into. those that we rely upon as our spiritual fathers are nothing but bunch of desperate politicians. in fact the well known politicians are far better than our pastors because they are already known and accorded as politician.Can president is a green snake under the green grass.
Posted: at 17-09-2014 08:47 PM (9 years ago) | Newbie
Hadaywalay at 17-09-2014 08:53 PM (9 years ago) (m)
Quote from: dynasty4all on 17-09-2014 08:42 PM
EL RUFAI IS A CRIMINAL, BOKO HARAM SPONSOR. AN ENEMY OF EVERY THING THAT IS GOOD
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. LWKMD. Are u trying to say that el rufai has planned with south africans to impound CAN president's private jet ? what is the reason behind a jet full of fire arms ? fellow Nigerians we shouldnt allow ourselves to be blind folded the name of religous leaders.
Posted: at 17-09-2014 08:53 PM (9 years ago) | Newbie
Se this guy no know say provocative statements like these may negatively affect his party later in an election year? Even if he doesn't know or care not to know, the more experienced party men in the organisation aught to call him to caution.
Posted: at 17-09-2014 09:03 PM (9 years ago) | Newbie
Some people just reason like animals... What's bad in what he's said now... What makes him evil? Saying the truth I guess... The truth is bitter anyway.
Posted: at 17-09-2014 09:39 PM (9 years ago) | Gistmaniac
El rufai may be making a valid point, but the fact remains that, he might be jeopardising his future political ambition to become governor of kaduna state. Let him be wise in his old age.
Posted: at 17-09-2014 09:41 PM (9 years ago) | Upcoming
daveobahon at 17-09-2014 09:55 PM (9 years ago) (m)
EL Rufai be wise election is nxtyr d opposition party is watching u don alredy talk ds one u no fit swallow am again buh make ur Godfathers guide u on how 2 talk buh I feel d problem now is cos d CAN president is so close 2 d president so d tin dey pepper dem 4 body 4 cryin out loud investigatns still goin on buh we Nigerians jst love 2 talk so fast lemme put a caption tat"55 billion dollars found with GEJ"u go see as pple go dey abuse am +him ancestors guyz RELAX
Posted: at 17-09-2014 09:55 PM (9 years ago) | Gistmaniac
I personally sense conspiracy and blackmail in this whole case. Not too long ago some muslim Northerners were specifically pointing out that CAN is responsible for Boko Haram with no hard evidence to justify their claim. It is very glaring and substantial that Boko Haram are Islamic and they are fighting a radical Islamic course. In an attempt to prove this point, the aircraft belonging to CAN president was set up on illegal arms deal. If this is not totally true, I believe I should be 90% close to the truth. No argument about it, Islamic is Boko Haram and Boko Haram is Islamic. Finally, CAN is not dealing in illegal arms business, it is pure fallacy, it is pure lie, it is blackmail of the highest order.
Posted: at 17-09-2014 10:39 PM (9 years ago) | Newbie
Nigerians are a special breed indeed. Consider this, are all Dangote trucks under his watch 24/7? A driver may undertake his own business outside of his official business does that make Dangote culpable if the driver was involved in criminality? Only to the extent that he is the chairman of Dangote and vicariously too. But if he was involved in any criminality why was the jet released and the passenger, an Israeli, held? But the owner of the funds and the business for which he ventured into SA with $9m cash has been made public. Indeed the money would be released or rather the arms. What I see here is that a governet contact hired the jet in order to help the jet owners make some money for maintainance expenses and pilot's salary plus parking charges. These are the real cost of owning a private jet. It is not about Oritsejafor but about the corruption in Nigeria. Why pay cash and why hire private jet when the presidency has many. These are the real issues and not the insults peddled by El Rufai and Lai Mohammed. They should have scored beter points talking about the real thing other than play politics with religion, a no go area in Nigeria's politics.
Posted: at 17-09-2014 11:33 PM (9 years ago) | Upcoming
olygloria at 17-09-2014 11:37 PM (9 years ago) (f)
Quote from: Hadaywalay on 17-09-2014 08:47 PM
why don't you guys never cared to know facts. read not to criticize but to know the truth about the situation our noble country is into. those that we rely upon as our spiritual fathers are nothing but bunch of desperate politicians. in fact the well known politicians are far better than our pastors because they are already known and accorded as politician.Can president is a green snake under the green grass.
yes †̥н̲̣̣̣̥ε̲̣̣̣̥ pastor should concentrate more on †̥н̲̣̣̣̥ε̲̣̣̣̥ spiritual matter and live politics for politicians,I agree with El Rufai in dis
Posted: at 17-09-2014 11:37 PM (9 years ago) | Newbie
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