Many in Nigeria today may not remember the name of Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie, but if there was any opposition to the military regimes of the eighties and nineties, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) under him definitely represented a voice of resistance to those governments’ excesses. At a time when many people kept silent in the face of human rights abuses, Okogie faced down the military government and told them some home truths. It didn’t matter if the victims were Muslims or Christians; it didn’t matter whether they were from the north or south; CAN fought for all Nigerians. Okogie had the moral authority to act, and did so with dignity, to the admiration of all of us.

Okogie’s bravery was not unusual for CAN leaders; if anything, in the turbulent history of this country, there is a proud tradition of leaders of CAN who spoke for and stood by the people of this country. They used their moral authority to defend the rights of all Nigerians even during the most brutal military dictatorships or corrupt and inept civilian administrations. The courage of the likes of Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie, Archbishop Peter Jasper Akinola, the Reverend Sunday Mbang and Cardinal John Onaiyekan, for instance, are shining examples of faith in action, with compassion for the oppressed and chastisement for the tyrants.

It is a mark of the sad and uncertain times our country faces that we have to be reminded that previous leaders of CAN have used that platform for nobler purposes than we currently see. In spite of the corruption that blights much discourse these days, it is evident that a clear distinction exists between CAN as a body and the individual that leads it. Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor cannot be allowed to conflate himself with CAN. He bears personal accountability for the conduct and utterances that portray him as a messenger of the powerful, or as an active soldier of the ruling party. Except for the informed, the casual observer may mistake Oritsejafor for a minor protocol official of government, so pathetically has he cheapened the erstwhile integrity of the CAN presidency.

Pastor Oritsejafor’s utterances and behaviour amount to repudiation of the moral authority, fair-mindedness and high standing his predecessors invested in that office. While they spoke truth to power in the exalted prophetic tradition, he cossets and pampers the government of the day. He even champions their politics of ethnic and religious division by making unfounded allegations against opposition leaders. How else can any neutral observer rationalize his two calls for General Buhari’s arrest? In contrast, Oritsejafor was dead silent when persons that are Jonathan’s sidekicks threatened the nation with violence if he is not voted president in 2015! The dissonance between the glorious past and now is rather loud.

While Pastor Oritsejafor chose to be a subaltern to power, other men of faith rose to stem division and help the country achieve peace, efforts for which Cardinal John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan and the Sultan of Sokoto were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Such an esteemed global honour is a measurement of leadership quality and character; as distinct from Oritsejafor who prefers earthly gains and ostentatious lifestyle of private jets! Everyone can recall that November morning in 2012 when Oritsejafor accepted the gift of a private jet in the presence of a smiling President Jonathan.

Observers of Oritsejafor’s record should pause and ponder why the Catholic leaders took the recent unprecedented decision to temporarily opt out of CAN! It is not because Christians in Nigeria today are markedly different from those that lived in the days when Okogie, Akinola and Mbang led CAN honourably, it is because the Oritsejafor style has driven the organisation into the ignominious politics of hatred and division.

Due to how sensitive any discourse about religion has become in Nigeria, many have refrained from pointing out the errant ways of Oritsejafor, but if we are to build the Nigeria of our dreams, we must have the courage to point out transgressions against all Nigerians by people masking themselves in religious toga to create strife in the country. The truth is that Oritsejafor is neither a personalization of CAN, nor an example of the compassion, grace and modesty Christianity teaches.

A case of the descent into toxic politics is evident from the statement purportedly issued in CAN’s name in defence of Oritsejafor. The language of the statement is very similar to the gutter language usually spewed out of the Presidential Villa whenever any citizen expresses the right to question the corruption, impunity and incompetence of the Jonathan administration. The sudden attempt to assume the role of political adviser to General Muhammadu Buhari, a person that Oritsejafor has done everything to malign and smear, amounts to everything a religious organisation should not be. When purportedly religious leaders or organisations become brazenly partisan, they should not complain directly and through surrogates when they are responded to in like manner.

God’s work cannot be reduced to petty electoral calculations. Neither should those who claim to be on the Almighty’s mission indulge in base blackmail and falsehood, or encroach on God’s prerogative to bestow grace, provide final justice and avenge wrong.

Let the leaders of faith show good example when they step into the public arena. The merchants of religiosity, those who specialise in distorting the sobriety of faith into wares to be traded for political and commercial favours, should not be allowed to divide our country or to derail the diversity of our creeds and tongues into a reason for strife. Above all else, we are all human, sharing the same biology and deserving to be free and secure, whatever our beliefs and ethnic origins. In the final analysis, the needs and wants of a less privileged Christian destitute in Abia is not that much different from that of a Muslim Almajiri in Zamfara.

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/144948-oritsejafor-worst-can-president-years-says-el-rufai.html

Word!
Very obvious oristejafor has turned CAN to the spiritual arm of PDP.

What's this fool el rufians beef? is he a xtian what concerns him with CAN shouldnt he concentrate on his religion if he has one.El ruffian is the worst ruffian in the history of ruffians.

Atouke: What's this fool el rufians beef? is he a xtian what concerns him with CAN shouldnt he concentrate on his religion if he has one.El ruffian is the worst ruffian in the history of ruffians.

Did you even bother to read the essay before insulting the author? What a christian you are. Smh..

kokoA: Did you even bother to read the essay before insulting the author? What a christian you are. Smh..

what made u assume am a christian?

Atouke: What's this fool el rufians beef? is he a xtian what concerns him with CAN shouldnt he concentrate on his religion if he has one.El ruffian is the worst ruffian in the history of ruffians.

Keep quiet foool,you have no brain for thinking.Why didn't you read the article before you comment?Lazy idiota.

Atouke:

what made u assume am a christian?

See this crazy boy, then what is your business with either Christian or Muslim too if you are neither of the two?Ọdé,à lài ni lààkáye

Vintage El-Rufai. Will Never cease to speak the truth to whoever.

I dont know what is this man's headache with CAN. What did he say when an Islamic Cleric threatened that Nigeria will know peace only if Jonathan returns power to the North. Where was he when Boko Haram are bombing innocent christians and churches in the North. What did he say when Northern Muslims are fufiling their promises of making the country ungovernable for GEJ. Please, El-Rufai, mind your business and leave CAN alone.

The earlier we separate religion from politics the better it will be for us all

Atouke: What's this fool el rufians beef? is he a xtian what concerns him with CAN shouldnt he concentrate on his religion if he has one.El ruffian is the worst ruffian in the history of ruffians.

it surprises me when naija xtians spew out insults whenever they are challenged by superior arguements. Read the writeup again n tell us what he wrote is wrong. Its a shame that the CAN president has became a presidential attack hound n a regional spokesman. Kudos 2 the catholics 4 pulling out of the charade called CAN.

Dishonourable 44-Carat BlingMaster, PDP Spokesperson, Corruptible, and Friend of Thiefs Oritsejafor (Orisha Jefo)

Infact am impressed with this piece.CAN is no longer what it use to be!Money and power acquisition is what they now preach.Shameless bunch of hypocrites!!!Private jetsand people are seriously suffering.

CAN is a disgrace. Oritsejafor used to be a professional armed robber before he stumbled into deceiving people professing to be a man of God under late Benson Idahosa.

I hate religion in Nigeria. With deceivers like Oritsejafor, Adeboye, Oyedepo and co, hellfire would be place where y'all can ride private jets with these fraudulent beings!

As the saying goes,end time things.....

What is el rufais business with christian association of nigeria CAN?
If he knows he cannot criticise the sultan and northern emirs,then he should be honourable enough not to criticise christian leaders.
A lot of people especially southwest christians who are been subjected to political domination by yoruba moslems fail to realise that orisejafor presidency of CAN is a blessing to christians in nigeria. Oritsejafor belongs to the fire brand pentecostal group of christiandom which encourages christians to play active roles in politics.as an adage goes,when good men stay away from politics,bad men take over the political space and rule over everyone.
The moslems have always been encouraged to partake seriously in politics and in fact never allow christians to rule over them.the reason these moslems criticise Oritsejafor is that he encourages active participation of christians in politics unlike previous CAN leaders.the fact that they criticise Oritsejafor shows that Oritsejafor is doing something right.
If you see your enemies and those who hate you but pretend to love you ever clapping for you,then you need to check yourself,either you are doing something wrong or something must be wrong with you.
A look at the yorubas can be used to illustrate the impact of different religious ideologies on political life of a people.the yoruba moslems encourage their faithfuls to partake in politics and occupy leadership positions,while the yoruba christians have lackasaidal attitude to politics,some viewing politics as a dirty game meant for dirty people.the result is domination of politics in southwest by the moslems while at thesame time the moslems in the southwest use ethnic affinity to close the eyes of the yoruba christians in order to maintain islamic domination of southwest politics and way of life.There are many appointments and positions in the southwest even among the yorubas which they cannot get unless they are moslems.This is the type of islamic domination which people like el rufai want over all christians in nigeria which is why they are very confortable with the likes of amenable onayekan while they are unconfortable with the likes of Oritsejafor who are into radical pentacostalism.But their plans will never work on the rest of us christians in other regions even if it continues to work in the southwest.With or without Oritsejafor,nigerian christians must play active roles in politics and never see politics as been meant for dirty people but they must see politics as an avenue to impact positive change on the society.

this man really needs help. Mentally derailed because of loss of political power.

We did elrufai become a member of can?

We the members are very proud of the leadership style of our president. Why do you think we can him another term unopposed?

chima12: What is el rufais business with christian association of nigeria CAN?
If he knows he cannot criticise the sultan and northern emirs,then he should be honourable enough not to criticise christian leaders.
A lot of people especially southwest christians who are been subjected to political domination by yoruba moslems fail to realise that orisejafor presidency of CAN is a blessing to christians in nigeria. Oritsejafor belongs to the fire brand pentecostal group of christiandom which encourages christians to play active roles in politics.as an adage goes,when good men stay away from politics,bad men take over the political space and rule over everyone.
The moslems have always been encouraged to partake seriously in politics and in fact never allow christians to rule over them.the reason these moslems criticise Oritsejafor is that he encourages active participation of christians in politics unlike previous CAN leaders.the fact that they criticise Oritsejafor shows that Oritsejafor is doing something right.
If you see your enemies and those who hate you but pretend to love you ever clapping for you,then you need to check yourself,either you are doing something wrong or something must be wrong with you.
A look at the yorubas can be used to illustrate the impact of different religious ideologies on political life of a people.the yoruba moslems encourage their faithfuls to partake in politics and occupy leadership positions,while the yoruba christians have lackasaidal attitude to politics,some viewing politics as a dirty game meant for dirty people.the result is domination of politics in southwest by the moslems while at thesame time the moslems in the southwest use ethnic affinity to close the eyes of the yoruba christians in order to maintain islamic domination of southwest politics and way of life.There are many appointments and positions in the southwest even among the yorubas which they cannot get unless they are moslems.This is the type of islamic domination which people like el rufai want over all christians in nigeria which is why they are very confortable with the likes of amenable onayekan while they are unconfortable with the likes of Oritsejafor who are into radical pentacostalism.But their plans will never work on the rest of us christians in other regions even if it continues to work in the southwest.With or without Oritsejafor,nigerian christians must play active roles in politics and never see politics as been meant for dirty people but they must see politics as an avenue to impact positive change on the society.

I didn't bother to read this lengthy reply because the poster already started on a biased note.. What has ethnicity got to do with what the mallam said? I am not yoruba but I don't support Oritsejaifor. Do I need to remind catholic church pulled out of CAN under this man? I guess all catholics are yoruba to.

I don't know who to side with. I think a neutral stand would be better,but I just can't help it. I would go with El-Rufai on this. He is obviously right. CAN isn't what it was in the past. Too bad,politics,money,etc,has crept into their midst,hence their moral rectitude have been defiled.

First of all , elrufai as a muslim is not qualified to appraise a christian leader.Allow christians to Judge that by themselves.
Secondly an insult in the president of CAN is an insult on the Christendom in Nigeria.
Thirdly, you have insulted Jesus before, now indirectly insulting Nigerian Christains. The question now is: elrufai why do you have so much towards Christains?
I can bet you the only reason you hate GEJ with a passion js bacause he is a Christian.

"CAN is being dragged into partisan politics thereby compromising its ability to carry out its true role as conscience of the nation and voice of the voiceless."- Catholic bishops


The CAN president is using the umbrella body of the Christians in charting a different aspiration from what we used to know of the organization. CAN has been brought to ridicule and has been denigrated by those who know little or nothing of our religion because of the activities of its present leadership.

The message in El-Rufai's piece is clear. If you have a problem with an individual, sort it out. Stop using CAN to blackmail and chop nkwobi in Aso Rock. Stop posing as the "leader of Christians" to blackmail. Speak for yourself, you do not represent me and many others as Nigerian Christians. How is that difficult for Orisha to understand.

The man Orisha is a disgrace to anything called Christian leadership. He is a thug and is not to be taken serious. Meekness is Christian leadership behaviour, can we say same about Orisha who threatens and issues war ultimatums? If this man had not seen the avenue to dupe the gullible of their hard earned money via Christianity, he would probably have been kidnapping for ransom today.

Reason why the Catholic Bishops pulled out of Orisha's fraud, they have refused to be drawn into the mess CAN has become today. The Catholic Bishops are intellectuals, some are PhDs and Professors. A J V Obina for example was a lecturer and Chaplain for years at Alvan Ikoku College of Education.

What is Orisha's background? It is a criminal background and he is struggling real hard to leave it behind.

That a man like Orisha is the President of CAN today is truly END TIME THINGS as they say.

Is that him lying on the floor?This man needs aboki koboko. Kai

chima12: What is el rufais business with christian association of nigeria CAN?
If he knows he cannot criticise the sultan and northern emirs,then he should be honourable enough not to criticise christian leaders.
A lot of people especially southwest christians who are been subjected to political domination by yoruba moslems fail to realise that orisejafor presidency of CAN is a blessing to christians in nigeria. Oritsejafor belongs to the fire brand pentecostal group of christiandom which encourages christians to play active roles in politics.as an adage goes,when good men stay away from politics,bad men take over the political space and rule over everyone.
The moslems have always been encouraged to partake seriously in politics and in fact never allow christians to rule over them.the reason these moslems criticise Oritsejafor is that he encourages active participation of christians in politics unlike previous CAN leaders.the fact that they criticise Oritsejafor shows that Oritsejafor is doing something right.
If you see your enemies and those who hate you but pretend to love you ever clapping for you,then you need to check yourself,either you are doing something wrong or something must be wrong with you.
A look at the yorubas can be used to illustrate the impact of different religious ideologies on political life of a people.the yoruba moslems encourage their faithfuls to partake in politics and occupy leadership positions,while the yoruba christians have lackasaidal attitude to politics,some viewing politics as a dirty game meant for dirty people.the result is domination of politics in southwest by the moslems while at thesame time the moslems in the southwest use ethnic affinity to close the eyes of the yoruba christians in order to maintain islamic domination of southwest politics and way of life.There are many appointments and positions in the southwest even among the yorubas which they cannot get unless they are moslems.This is the type of islamic domination which people like el rufai want over all christians in nigeria which is why they are very confortable with the likes of amenable onayekan while they are unconfortable with the likes of Oritsejafor who are into radical pentacostalism.But their plans will never work on the rest of us christians in other regions even if it continues to work in the southwest.With or without Oritsejafor,nigerian christians must play active roles in politics and never see politics as been meant for dirty people but they must see politics as an avenue to impact positive change on the society.

what gave you the idea that yoruba muslims dominate yoruba xtains?

where did you get this idea??

pastor Ayo is by far better than Dr sa'ad Abubakar the sultan of sokoto who is breeding terrorist group. Than God can is nw political organization what have muslim umma became a terrorist Organization. El rufai will soon enter street with madness.

Orisa wen
You mean that bling-bling wearing private jet owning PDP loyalist?

El Rufai is a confused politician that made himself available in places his presence is not even noticed, these days he chew and spit whatever that comes his way like an infant whether Oritsejafor is a true CAN president or not is not for him to judge trying to be relevant in Nigeria by fire by force by involving himself in issues that he knows little or nothing about. Seriously, El Rufai need deliverance from a Celestial Pastor.

Wonders will never end!
Today it's El Rufai commenting on christian issues, next it will be the Sarduana's turn to comment.

chima12: What is el rufais business with christian association of nigeria CAN?
If he knows he cannot criticise the sultan and northern emirs,then he should be honourable enough not to criticise christian leaders.
A lot of people especially southwest christians who are been subjected to political domination by yoruba moslems fail to realise that orisejafor presidency of CAN is a blessing to christians in nigeria. Oritsejafor belongs to the fire brand pentecostal group of christiandom which encourages christians to play active roles in politics.as an adage goes,when good men stay away from politics,bad men take over the political space and rule over everyone.
The moslems have always been encouraged to partake seriously in politics and in fact never allow christians to rule over them.the reason these moslems criticise Oritsejafor is that he encourages active participation of christians in politics unlike previous CAN leaders.the fact that they criticise Oritsejafor shows that Oritsejafor is doing something right.
If you see your enemies and those who hate you but pretend to love you ever clapping for you,then you need to check yourself,either you are doing something wrong or something must be wrong with you.
A look at the yorubas can be used to illustrate the impact of different religious ideologies on political life of a people.the yoruba moslems encourage their faithfuls to partake in politics and occupy leadership positions,while the yoruba christians have lackasaidal attitude to politics,some viewing politics as a dirty game meant for dirty people.the result is domination of politics in southwest by the moslems while at thesame time the moslems in the southwest use ethnic affinity to close the eyes of the yoruba christians in order to maintain islamic domination of southwest politics and way of life.There are many appointments and positions in the southwest even among the yorubas which they cannot get unless they are moslems.This is the type of islamic domination which people like el rufai want over all christians in nigeria which is why they are very confortable with the likes of amenable onayekan while they are unconfortable with the likes of Oritsejafor who are into radical pentacostalism.But their plans will never work on the rest of us christians in other regions even if it continues to work in the southwest.With or without Oritsejafor,nigerian christians must play active roles in politics and never see politics as been meant for dirty people but they must see politics as an avenue to impact positive change on the society.

Stop this wate of time. There's nothing like Yoruba Cristian or Yoruba Muslim. We're all Yoruba. Don't create any divisions where there aren't any.

chima12:

A lot of people especially southwest christians who are been subjected to political domination by yoruba moslems fail to realise that orisejafor presidency of CAN is a blessing to christians in nigeria. Oritsejafor belongs to the fire brand pentecostal group of christiandom which encourages christians to play active roles in politics.as an adage goes,when good men stay away from politics,bad men take over the political space and rule over everyone.
The moslems have always been encouraged to partake seriously in politics and in fact never allow christians to rule over them.the reason these moslems criticise Oritsejafor is that he encourages active participation of christians in politics unlike previous CAN leaders.the fact that they criticise Oritsejafor shows that Oritsejafor is doing something right.
If you see your enemies and those who hate you but pretend to love you ever clapping for you,then you need to check yourself,either you are doing something wrong or something must be wrong with you.
A look at the yorubas can be used to illustrate the impact of different religious ideologies on political life of a people.the yoruba moslems encourage their faithfuls to partake in politics and occupy leadership positions,while the yoruba christians have lackasaidal attitude to politics,some viewing politics as a dirty game meant for dirty people.the result is domination of politics in southwest by the moslems while at thesame time the moslems in the southwest use ethnic affinity to close the eyes of the yoruba christians in order to maintain islamic domination of southwest politics and way of life.There are many appointments and positions in the southwest even among the yorubas which they cannot get unless they are moslems.This is the type of islamic domination which people like el rufai want over all christians in nigeria which is why they are very confortable with the likes of amenable onayekan while they are unconfortable with the likes of Oritsejafor who are into radical pentacostalism.But their plans will never work on the rest of us christians in other regions even if it continues to work in the southwest.With or without Oritsejafor,nigerian christians must play active roles in politics and never see politics as been meant for dirty people but they must see politics as an avenue to impact positive change on the society.

You must be very pleased with this rhetoric of nonsense and infantile propaganda. Agents of falsehood rehashing poorly fabricated lies conjured from their diseased minds. Yoruba politicians who held elective political offices such as OBJ, Gbenga Daniel, Fayose, Akala, Niyi Adebayo, Agagu, Segun Oni, Oyinlola, Adefarati, Osoba were all Igbo Christians while Mimiko and Fayemi are Hausa Christians Those who steered the wheels of Yoruba politics starting from Awolowo, Akintola, Ajasin, Bola Ige to Adesanya were all Christians.

Pastor Ayo and radical pentecostalism Very unusual, prolly you meant bling-bling Pentecostalism.