Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, again took a swipe on the leader of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, by further accusing the preacher of supporting corrupt politicians.

The former Minister who has been in the news lately over his controversial comment on the Christian leader, appears unperturbed by the several attacks on him as a result of his recent remarks, urging Oritsejafor and other CAN leaders to emulate their past leader, Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie, who fought tirelessly for the unity of the nation. He made this latest comment in a communique he issued yesterday.

He said “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.” The minister added, “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.”

El Rufai further recalled that Cardinal Okojie was one of those who fought for democratic governance in Nigeria. “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,” said the former minister.

He hailed past CAN leaders for using “their moral authority to defend the rights of all Nigerians even during the most brutal military dictatorships or corrupt and inept civilian administrations,” using Archbishop Peter Jasper Akinola, the Reverend Sunday Mbang and Cardinal John Onaiyekan,“shining examples of faith in action, with compassion for the oppressed and chastisement for the tyrants.”

The former Minister further accused Oritsejafor of using his office to cover the shame of corrupt politicians.

“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. 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,” He reiterated.

He added, “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.”

El Rufai said Oritsejafor’s “utterances and behavior amount to repudiation of the moral authority, fair-mindedness and high standing his predecessors invested in that office.”

According to him, while CAN’s past leaders “spoke the truth to power in the exalted prophetic tradition,” the current leader “cossets and pampers the government of the day.”

He also accused Pastor Oritsejafor of championing “politics of ethnic and religious division by making unfounded allegations against opposition leaders.” He asked: “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 ex minister accused the cleric of choosing “”to be a subaltern to power,” but praised the efforts by other men of faith “to stem division and help the country achieve peace.” He added that such laudable efforts earned Cardinal John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan and the Sultan of Sokoto a joint nomination for Nobel Peace Prize.”

El Rufai reminded the current CAN leader that nomination for the Nobel, an esteemed global honor, “is a measurement of leadership quality and character,” adding that it was “distinct from Oritsejafor who prefers earthly gains and ostentatious lifestyle of private jets!” He recalled that Pastor Oritsejafor had in November, 2012 accepted the gift of private jet “in the presence of a smiling President Jonathan.”

According to him, religious leaders must not exploit their faith “for political and commercial favors.” He concluded that, “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!”

Source: http://dailypost.com.ng/2013/09/20/el-rufai-blasts-oritsejafor-for-supporting-corrupt-politicians/?wt=2

Well said el-rufai the present CAN president has been nothing but a mouthpiece to president Jonathan,all for vanity upon vanity.

phrancys001: Well said el-rufai the present CAN president has been nothing but a mouthpiece to president Jonathan,all for vanity upon vanity.

Be warned, the likes of sincere 9gerian will soon be on your tail. Lol.

That is our view of Aritsejafor up North. Separate CAN from this man then we can start the process of living peacefully in this country. Have you ever heard his counterpart ( the Sultan) spewing trash like him?
Honestly if this man where to be a Muslim, he will not even be allowed to sweep the mosque.

ok mr el rufai or what do call yourself?

1 you want the can president to speak on behalf of all nigerians irrespective of religion?
2 you want him to keep quiet even when bh and others are trying to annihilate christians, right?
3 you want him to emmulate the legacacies of his predecessors, right?
4 you also want him keep mute when christians are molested?
5 you also want him to........................................... listen carefullly

1 he is not the leader of nigeriann muslims, they have their leader. you want him to "cause trouble" or what?
2 he will not keep quiet as long as there are things to speak about. he is doing what he was choosen to do.
3 as per doing the way his predecessors did, their time was different while his time is different entirely. most of them led nigerian xtians in the 20th century while his tenure is in the 21st century. and during their tenure, there was a serious massacre of xtians in the north and its only a northern xtian who will understand what i'm trying to say.
4 mr Ayo pls speak out when you should we the northern xtians are strongly behind you.


any christian who resides in the south(comfort zone) will never understand the importance of CAN and what Mr Ayo is saying

i therefore call on oga el rufai to make sure he is not partial the next time he speaks about CAN and christians. that's a very dangerous path of politics he's about taking.

oga el rufai, what you arre trying to tell us is that the sultan of sokoto who also visits GEJ some times is doing the right thing i guess.