The Archbishop Emeritus of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, has reacted to the call on Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), to resign from his exalted position.Recall that following the involvement of Oritsejafor’s private jet in a $9.3 million deal that went sour in South Africa, many people including Pastor Chris Okotie have called for his resignation.But speaking with Daily Sun, Okogie, a former CAN president, said Oritsejafor also has his own conscience, saying that God is the best judge.
“As the CAN president therefore, he should know like most people are saying today, that he has done something wrong. And if he is a real good Christian, he owns the people an apology. And once he apologises, he should change for good. That is my own belief of what a good person should do,” Okogie said.
He, however, took a swipe at the Federal Government for exonerating Oritsejafor over the matter, wondering the kind of leadership in the country.
“I read in the papers that the presidency is even exonerating him from the crime. I don’t know the kind of leadership we have in the country. The way things are, I am afraid they are bringing in politics and religion and everything together just to remain in power. That is what I see people are now doing.
“If I am a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) man, even if I steal and I am a stalwart of the PDP, the PDP will still tell me, ‘ah! don’t worry or they will tell me, ‘don’t talk again; don’t talk again until a particular time.’ And they will come out again and reward you.
“That is not right. All is not right at all. We are just rolling in the nation. And since we are rolling in the nation, what kind of generation are we preparing to take over from us? It pains me a lot to see the way things are in the country.
“Look at what happened in Ekiti. The next thing you are going to hear, is that they will say, well, the man has been elected by the people, so let him continue. And how can you have such a person to govern a state?
“If you put this issue on the same parameter with Oritsejafor’s, what have they done? They should come out with the truth, plain truth. I don’t know what is happening in this nation anymore,” Okogie stated.
He also frowned on the recent endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan as the PDP sole candidate for the 2015 presidential election, saying the development was against democratic tenets.
Okogie noted that with such development, any candidate that musters courage to declare his intention in the party would be in trouble.
“They say we are democratic. How can, you get up and kill the conscience of others? Because 2015 is coming, you stand up and say that we have decided that this one is the only candidate we have. Can that be true?
“Look at other parties also. It is happening. People are hailing and clamouring Buhari, Buhari, Buhari! Look at those who have conscience among the APC people. They came out and like Fela Anikulapo would say, they said you can’t gag our conscience, you can’t gag our mouths and whether we win or not, we are coming out. That is how it should be.”
“And I can tell you this: if anybody comes out and says he is challenging the authority of whoever says Jonathan should be the only person, he is in trouble. That is Nigeria for you. The world is laughing at us, the world is laughing at us,” Okogie concluded.
For more scintillating and juicy stories, follow the official Naijapals accounts On Twitter- @Naijapals and Facebook -www.facebook.com/naijapals
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 17-10-2014 06:35 AM (10 years ago) | Addicted Hero
daveobahon at 17-10-2014 08:02 AM (10 years ago) (m)
Whch Daddy?evn Okojie is playin politics dey nva wntd Ayo there so theyy lukin 4 evry opportunity,I tot investigations re goin on,let's jst wait till d investigation is over then if Ayo is guilty,he shud face d law buh sayin he shud apologize now makes no sense abeg no use us play politics
Posted: at 17-10-2014 08:02 AM (10 years ago) | Gistmaniac
chidi4reala at 17-10-2014 08:42 AM (10 years ago) (m)
Quote from: daveobahon on 17-10-2014 08:02 AM
Whch Daddy?evn Okojie is playin politics dey nva wntd Ayo there so theyy lukin 4 evry opportunity,I tot investigations re goin on,let's jst wait till d investigation is over then if Ayo is guilty,he shud face d law buh sayin he shud apologize now makes no sense abeg no use us play politics
u be idiot
Posted: at 17-10-2014 08:42 AM (10 years ago) | Upcoming
pstsilasokon at 17-10-2014 09:21 AM (10 years ago) (m)
Whch Daddy?evn Okojie is playin politics dey nva wntd Ayo there so theyy lukin 4 evry opportunity,I tot investigations re goin on,let's jst wait till d investigation is over then if Ayo is guilty,he shud face d law buh sayin he shud apologize now makes no sense abeg no use us play politics MY BROTHER THAT IS THE TRUTH
Posted: at 17-10-2014 09:21 AM (10 years ago) | Newbie
allenspike at 17-10-2014 10:10 AM (10 years ago) (m)
Quote from: daveobahon on 17-10-2014 08:02 AM
Whch Daddy?evn Okojie is playin politics dey nva wntd Ayo there so theyy lukin 4 evry opportunity,I tot investigations re goin on,let's jst wait till d investigation is over then if Ayo is guilty,he shud face d law buh sayin he shud apologize now makes no sense abeg no use us play politics
Doziefelix at 17-10-2014 11:16 AM (10 years ago) (m)
His Eminence speaks like his brother OBJ. When you were CAN President what did you do? IBB sold this nation to the Islamic world during your era and what did you do? Please leave Ayo alone. He who has called you and created all things shall also judge all things. Ayo has taken CAN to the next level and all well meaning Christians should stand up for him. If you think he has committed any crime please go to court.
Posted: at 17-10-2014 11:16 AM (10 years ago) | Upcoming
Originalsly at 17-10-2014 11:57 AM (10 years ago) (m)
Politicians do what they do.....why do MoG wrap up with them? I blame the MoG. How can a Christian leader be involved in gun runnings?...who knows if he is using his property as arms/ammo depot.He should be kicked out.
Posted: at 17-10-2014 11:57 AM (10 years ago) | Upcoming
His Eminence speaks like his brother OBJ. When you were CAN President what did you do? IBB sold this nation to the Islamic world during your era and what did you do? Please leave Ayo alone. He who has called you and created all things shall also judge all things. Ayo has taken CAN to the next level and all well meaning Christians should stand up for him. If you think he has committed any crime please go to court.
Don't be parochial. the man is making sense, Ayo cannot totally claim ignorance of the whole saga. He may not be involved, but believe me he's very much aware. A simple apology will do. Don't compare the two men.... Okojie's was during a military regime and CAN was still in its infancy stage.#concernchristian.
Posted: at 17-10-2014 05:58 PM (10 years ago) | Upcoming
Whch Daddy?evn Okojie is playin politics dey nva wntd Ayo there so theyy lukin 4 evry opportunity,I tot investigations re goin on,let's jst wait till d investigation is over then if Ayo is guilty,he shud face d law buh sayin he shud apologize now makes no sense abeg no use us play politics MY BROTHER THAT IS THE TRUTH
Please, go back to bed and continue sleeping till the investigation is over and the guilty punished. That means you will NEVER wake up.
IN ZAKA FADI, FADI GASKIYA, KOMAI TA JA MA A YI MAKA
Posted: at 17-10-2014 07:39 PM (10 years ago) | Hero