1shortblackboy: XMr man are some people not targeting d church? Are u not aware of All d churches being bombed, set ablaze, Christians being killed and young christain girls abducted and forcebly converted to Islam ? Yes d church is being targetd. And wen he says d church he doesn't mean his own church he means d whole christain community in Nigeria. So stop showing shallowness by asking whether he has branches of his church in maiduguri etc

Oga abeg no vex
I never disputed d fact dat d church is being attacked but that was not d issue at hand. Our pastorprenuer shld av stuck to the clearing the allegations before him he rather chose to invoke sympathy.

Who is being Shallow minded here? Dnt make me trade insults with a daddy like u.

Despite the fact it is obvious that our CAN president assumes a partisan role in his dispensation, i have always been neutral on the CAN president's acts and statements. However, am not sure he can wash himself totally clean from the Jet / laundering saga. My questions

1. Why is he obviously partisan?. I think he would do better checking government excesses.
2. Is he fulfilling his role as a president of CAN or he his busy performing other none mandated roles
3. I know lot of CAN presidents in the past, they have done their tenure without controversy, why is his own different
4. Why did he lease out a jet that is for mission. can he really do that successfully without being on the opposite side of the law?
5. Of all private jets, lot of pastors and churches have private jets why is it his own that was patronized?. is there any connection between him and the government?

Am beginning to think that the jet maybe used to smuggle those funds simply because its a pastors jet and can easily by pass protocol based on privileges and perceived integrity.

For me he cannot completely exonerate himself. cheap explanation would not just do it. He is a leader and by virtue of tha role he is supposed to be more cautious and straight in his dealings. Anything controversial or "not so right" should be far for him.

If truly he is clean as he claims. he should just stay out of trouble or atleast far from likely trouble situations.

And if he is not, he should re discover himself and realign himself with the original mandate.

farem: MUST READ: Pastor Oritsejafor Finally Speaks Out On $9.3m arms deal

The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, on Monday said he knew nothing about the controversial $9.3m smuggled into South Africa by two Nigerians and an Israeli, using his private jet.

Oritsejafor broke his silence during the National Executive Council meeting of CAN at the National Christian Centre, Abuja.

The CAN leader regretted that there had been attempts in the media to link him with the incident by mischievous elements, adding that he had kept quiet all the while, because he needed to explain his position to the church which is his primary constituency.

Oritsekafor, in his address, a copy which was emailed to one of our correspondents ‎ in Kaduna State, declared that he was never a party to the movement of the $9.3m from Nigeria to South Africa to purchase arms and ammunition.

He said, “I want to assure you that I will not do anything to tarnish the image of Jesus Christ or compromise the divine standard of the church.

“As you are all aware, the media has been awashed in the past few days about an unfortunate incident involving the movement of funds from Nigeria to South Africa. In the unfortunate news reports, attempts have been made to link me directly with the transaction.

“So far I have refrained from making any direct public response pending the time that I would have brief the leaders if the church and explain my position on the issues to them.

“I believe that the primary institution that I owe any explanation to is the church.”

‎Oritsejafor added: “At the risk of being seen to be defending myself, I wish to confirm to the distinguished leaders of the church that the Bombardier Challenger 601 aircraft in question is mine. The aircraft was presented to me as a gift by members of our congregation and ministry partners worldwide at my 40th anniversary of my call into the ministry.

“May I be permitted to stress that the aircraft was not given to me by the President of Nigeria, neither was it a settlement for any political favour or patronage.

“With the benefit of hindsight, the President of the country was a guest in our church during the anniversary celebration when the jet was presented to me.”

The CAN leader explained further that “the President of Nigeria has nothing to do with the gift of the aircraft. By the way I still wonder why all those saying this, still cannot come out to show proof so that the matter can be put to rest once and for all. Let me say that this might be an issue for the courts in the near future.”

Oritsejafor who also explained the circumstances that led to the involvement of his aircraft, said “in order to ameliorate the cost of maintenance of the aircraft, I sought and got permit to allow the aircraft fly in and out of Nigeria.

“Based on this, I leased the aircraft on August 2, 2014 to a company to run it. It was the leasee that entered into an agreement with the people who carried out the transfer of funds. Having leased the aircraft to the Green Coast Produce Company Limited, any transaction undertaken with the aircraft can no longer be attached to me.

“Inasmuch as I am shocked and distressed by the incident, I wish to appeal to Christians in Nigeria to remember that a war has been waged against the Nigerian church. This war is being fought on many fronts and this unfortunate incident is another dimension in the assault against the church.

“It is clear that those who manipulated this conspiracy desire to create a schism in the church.”

According to him, “the media hype and the deliberate distortion of information that followed it confirmed that forces that desperately desire to cause division and disunity in the church are at work. Even the devil knows that a house that is divided cannot stand.

“As Christians, we need unity in the church now more than ever. We are witnessing inhuman attacks by religious extremists against Christians in the northern part of the country, while christian infrastructure is being destroyed in hundreds.

“If we permit the enemy divide us, our chances of corporate survival shall be severely threatened.

“Distinguished leaders of the church, please permit me to state clearly before God and before all of you here present today, that I am not a party to the movement of $9.3m from Nigeria to South Africa to purchase arms and ammunition. I am not part of the deal. I know nothing about it.”

‎The CAN President commended the Catholic Church for its support, particularly in refuting a distorted news item by mischievous elements in the media.

He appealed to heads of blocks that constitute CAN and head of denominations and Christian leaders at different levels and spheres of influence to use their good offices to caution and control their subordinates and followers from making public statements that will further polarise the church and strengthen the arms of the enemies of the church.

Quoting Matthew Chapter 18 verses 15 to 20, Oritsejafor said, “If I offend you or you offend me, instead of talking to media, let us talk to each other within the house of God.”

- See more at: http://247nigerianewsupdate.co/must-read-pastor-oritsejafor-finally-speaks-out-on-9-3m-arms-deal/#sthash.g76VnDrb.dpuf

Oritsejafor has been masterminding the killing of ordinary Nigerians in the north. We can now see the link between the Christian boko haram in the north and the chieftain of CAN to create imbroglio in the north.
Oritsejafor and Dokubo had a good link and it shall be exposed soon .

deucelaw: Despite the fact it is obvious that our CAN president assumes a partisan role in his dispensation, i have always been neutral on the CAN president's acts and statements. However, am not sure he can wash himself totally clean from the Jet / laundering saga. My questions

1. Why is he obviously partisan?. I think he would do better checking government excesses.
2. Is he fulfilling his role as a president of CAN or he his busy performing other none mandated roles
3. I know lot of CAN presidents in the past, they have done their tenure without controversy, why is his own different
4. Why did he lease out a jet that is for mission. can he really do that successfully without being on the opposite side of the law?
5. Of all private jets, lot of pastors and churches have private jets why is it his own that was patronized?. is there any connection between him and the government?

Am beginning to think that the jet maybe used to smuggle those funds simply because its a pastors jet and can easily by pass protocol based on privileges and perceived integrity.

For me he cannot completely exonerate himself. cheap explanation would not just do it. He is a leader and by virtue of tha role he is supposed to be more cautious and straight in his dealings. Anything controversial or "not so right" should be far for him.

If truly he is clean as he claims. he should just stay out of trouble or atleast far from likely trouble situations.

And if he is not, he should re discover himself and realign himself with the original mandate.

This man really deserve bottles of gulder beer. Barman nak am 10 bottles... Kudos... The problem with us in nigeria is that we don't ask questions. We deal issue with sentiments.

if that is what happened i reserve my comment...

jibbish: Oritsejafor is out of d question nau, TB Joshua n Chris Oyakhilome,make una sef wash una sef away frm d stains ooo. Nobody is too big to be sincere

I see..

Akinsz: This man really deserve bottles of gulder beer. Barman nak am 10 bottles... Kudos... The problem with us in nigeria is that we don't ask questions. We deal issue with sentiments.

Thanks boss....a Pint of Beer would do....

hardywaltz: Bling Bling OritseJETfor I would have called u an 1dio.T but after 7years on this forum dis is my 1000th post on Nairaland so I will skip till further notice.

Just 1000th comments since 2008?

The winner of nairaland dullest member award is..........................
.

PhockPhockMan: Just 1000th comments since 2008?

The winner of nairaland dullest member award is..........................
.

Unlike you I have a well paid job that requires my apt attention.
If I were as jobless as u or if I could convert the number of post to gold or cash believe I will 10x ahead of u.

farem:

“I believe that the primary institution that I owe any explanation to is the church.”

No, Mr Oritsejafor. You owe your explanations to the tens of millions of Christians in Nigeria. Not a gathering of Church leaders.

farem:
Oritsejafor who also explained the circumstances that led to the involvement of his aircraft, said “in order to ameliorate the cost of maintenance of the aircraft, I sought and got permit to allow the aircraft fly in and out of Nigeria.

Sorry, mr Oritsejafor, you have NOT RIGHT to use 'cost of maintenance' as an excuse. You forget that one of the biggest arguments you used to justify owning a private jet was the sheer expense in chartering private helicopters to ferry you around for urgent issues. At the time you got the jet, you claimed it would be cheaper in the long run. Why this complaint about the 'cost of maintenance'?

Are you GOD

gratieao: Why should you own an
aircraft in the first place
whether it was given to you
by Dangote or Bill Gates
while the people you claim
to lead die of hunger and
curable and treatable
diseases. Mr man, you dont
need an aircraft for any
reason. Sell it and use the
money to cater for the poor
and the needy . That’s your
job for mankind on this
earth.