September 28, 2014

By Rt. Rev. Dr. David Bakare

The persistent attacks on the person of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), by opposition politicians suggest a calculated campaign to discredit him.


Since none of these politicians intend to run for his job, one must ask what agenda they are pursuing and why. Politicians seldom act without calculation and premeditation, so we must look beneath and beyond the deluge of criticisms to understand what forces are at play.

The latest to join in the gratuitous attacks is the Senate Minority Leader and former Governor of Benue State, Senator George Akume. The bone they will not let go of is the cash-for-arms aircraft that landed in South Africa. Despite the fact that the parties involved have stated their roles and, the acceptance by both the Nigerian and South African governments that no blame or guilt can be attached to Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the campaign of calumny against the CAN President has been relentless.

When one hears politicians speak of their propriety in matters religious, it is best to run for cover. George Akume has sought to present himself (by implication in contrast to Pastor Ayo) as righteous in his guardianship and promotion of “the tenets of the teachings of Jesus the Christ”.

The rancour accompanying the cries suggests that the opposition want their pound of flesh. On the face of it, their intentions are clear to see, to discredit Pastor Ayo; their motives deserve closer scrutiny. Since they cannot have Pastor Ayo’s flesh, whose flesh are they clamouring after?

George Akume has chosen to disregard the legal and legitimate and instead resort to an exploration of what he describes as a “case of criminality involved in the questionable misadventure”. His language is deliberately mischievous, bordering on the slanderous. He plays fast and loose with the idea of “vicarious liability” and clearly only has a passing familiarity with the concept.

Pastor Oritsejafor is not and has never in any way, shape or form been involved in the “murky waters of international arms trafficking”. For George Akume to insinuate without substantiation is the kind of language that should not emanate from a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, let alone the Senate Minority Leader.

Indeed, given Akume’s exalted position in our upper legislative house, rather than indulging in idle speculation, he has a duty to bring to the attention of the nation’s law officers any information he has on the flouting of the laws of the land. If he has no such evidence, he should learn to keep a civil tongue in his mouth. People who live in glass houses ought not to throw stones.

If, as we suspect, the object of the thinly veiled attacks by the political opposition is not Pastor Oritsejafor, then his reference to vicariousness takes on added meaning. If the political opposition wish to lay into the President, they should not go by way of the President of CAN. CAN has been vociferous and volubly engaged in the security affairs of the country of recent because those affairs have directly and continue to directly impact CAN’s primary constituency, the body of Christians in Nigeria.

The Body of Christ should not shirk from that duty and responsibility merely because those that are not in office would rather we not support efforts to restore a semblance of justice and normality to the North of the country.
Long live Nigeria!
God bless Nigeria!
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/09/playing-politics-pastor-oritsejafor/#sthash.LponE5n4.dpuf

They've tried but they continue to fail.

what about bakare's own dirty politic as buhari's run nate, last few yrs?

Obascoetubi: what about bakare's own dirty politic as buhari's run nate, last few yrs?

1idiot, this is David bakare and when did it become dirty for a pastor to contest for public office

Well if the opposition is doing all that, it questions the neutrality of CAN leadership. Considering opposition parties never took swipe at the religious bodies.When you have religious elders make it a duty to turn one way and remain bias in national matters and seem to offer solutions that suggest endorsement of a political group regardless then you are simply saying you have vested political goals. Meaning you are also open for political slander and a suspect to/ for manipulations. Above all, we as a people know how and what religious entities have become. For me , I remain vigilant and scrutinize there opinions. As time continue to show being elders or leaders really has no thing to do with being saints.
One troubling part of it all , this leaders are not humble one tiny bit.

hakanai: Well if the opposition is doing all that, it questions the neutrality of CAN leadership.

Its APC/Boko haram who're roping him on PDP. As long as he's not hostile to GEJ the opposition goes crying to there media houses.

They should leave this MOG now before devil end their own ambition.

grafikii:
1idiot, this is David bakare and when did it become dirty for a pastor to contest for public office

if u dont know tunde bakare, u must go to hell instead of insuklring me

Well articulated sir.....

The author of this article Bishop David Bakare should not be confused with Pastor Tunde Bakare of latter rain assembly in Lagos. Bishop Bakare is the founding pastor of JAWOM in Zaria.

The reason for the oppositions' ranting is simply to score political point from the saga. Its elementary principle of Law that "a Company is different from its owner". The fact that the jet belongs to a Company establishes the fact that Pastor Oritsejafor has no blame whatsoever. Furthermore,it is a well known fact that the jet has been commercialized and leased to a Company,is it the responsibily of Pastor Oritsejafor to choose customers for the Leasing Company? Certainly NO!!!!!!!!!! Conclusively,my advice to all well meaning Nigerians particularly bretheren in Christendom is to disregard the barrage of criticisms emanating from APC elements. We know that they and their Leaders are the most corrupt set of people. Their problem with Pastor Oritsejafor is CAN Leadership support for President Goodluck Jonathan but they missed the point because it is the Bible that says "men of God must support the people at the helms of affairs of a Nation because it is God who put them in Power" Long live Nigeria!!!! Long live CAN!!!!!!!! Long live Pastor Oritsejafor!!!!!!!!!!!!

isrecole: The reason for the oppositions' ranting is simply to score political point from the saga. Its elementary principle of Law that "a Company is different from its owner". The fact that the jet belongs to a Company establishes the fact that Pastor Oritsejafor has no blame whatsoever. Furthermore,it is a well known fact that the jet has been commercialized and leased to a Company,is it the responsibily of Pastor Oritsejafor to choose customers for the Leasing Company? Certainly NO!!!!!!!!!! Conclusively,my advice to all well meaning Nigerians particularly bretheren in Christendom is to disregard the barrage of criticisms emanating from APC elements. We know that they and their Leaders are the most corrupt set of people. Their problem with Pastor Oritsejafor is CAN Leadership support for President Goodluck Jonathan but they missed the point because it is the Bible that says "men of God must support the people at the helms of affairs of a Nation because it is God who put them in Power" Long live Nigeria!!!! Long live CAN!!!!!!!! Long live Pastor Oritsejafor!!!!!!!!!!!!

God bless you......you see it is very unfortunate that Christians are myopic in their thinking some are even celebrating crucify him "PSt Ayo" some shallow Christians are using the opportunity to prove superiority of doctrine oh Catholics are better than protestants very pathetic. I wonder why we cannot think and see that this is a calculated attempt to silence the church in Nigeria, after Oritsejafor won't there be another CAN president would he command the respect of the opposition if we continue to falsely Continue to malign the current Leadership of CAN.

For d fact that even the educated Nigerians can't use their Brain worries me. hw can u accuse a man that lease his jet to a company which d said company has Publicly acknowledged of wrong doing, did he lease it directly to d Arms dealer? if the Answer is No then we shld stop accusing this man Wrongly.

Obascoetubi: what about bakare's own dirty politic as buhari's run nate, last few yrs?

If you had atleast tried to read the first line of this post, you would have known that the person being interviewed was not Tunde Bakare, but Rt. Rev. David Bakare.

#istandfororitsejafor
Reverend good talk jor.

It would have been better for Bakare to keep silent.

Oh David Bakare? Another inconsequential dimwit!! A NincompOop to the highest order and a nematode undisputed.
Who cares about "another" Bakare that is not the Amiable Pastor Tunder Bakare?
Who cares about a wannbe commentator and Ayo blink blink Oritsejafool butt-licker?
We have the likes of Cardinal Olubunmi Okojie, a social critic and activist per excellent to listen to. We have the likes of Femi Falana and others.

Whoever David bakare is, he should Go and die

It is about time, the likes of David Bakare stand up and tell these almajiris to Go and Die.

barcanista: Oh David Bakare? Another inconsequential dimwit!! A NincompOop to the highest order and a nematode undisputed.
Who cares about "another" Bakare that is not the Amiable Pastor Tunder Bakare?
Who cares about a wannbe commentator and Ayo blink blink Oritsejafool butt-licker?
We have the likes of Cardinal Olubunmi Okojie, a social critic and activist per excellent to listen to. We have the likes of Femi Falana and others.

Whoever David bakare is, he should Go and die

Carry on,you do not even deseve a retort.The scriptures says "there is a way that seemet right unto a man but the end result of it is destruction".

Someone put up a reasonable argument stating why the attacks on Pastor Ayo are misguided but you just go full insult on him.No wahala.

Kundagarten:

Its APC/Boko haram who're roping him on PDP. As long as he's not hostile to GEJ the opposition goes crying to there media houses.

Well I strongly doubt that ! Rather he is the one roping BH on the opposition same way PDP is acting. You see if you follow the nations events, then to a large extent CAN leadership is resentful of the opposition on one hand and tolerant of the ruling party. Anyway one is left with one thing in mind.probably they can't bite the hand that feed them. Coming to the plane matter. I see out right business matter there. We never hear the amount the plane was chartered if truly that's all they were in for! We also know the PDP at present is doing all it can to enrich all her PEPs and deprive any element they perceive as anti PDP. Chartering his plane is not by mistake!

Muslims will suffer for this campaign of calumny against the person of Tinder bakari

EMANY01:

Carry on,you do not even deseve a retort.The scriptures says "there is a way that seemet right unto a man but the end result of it is destruction".

Someone put up a reasonable argument stating why the attacks on Pastor Ayo are misguided but you just go full insult on him.No wahala.

He's one of the paid posters, he has been disgraced several times. Just leave barcanister to sell his Ijaw people for #10,000 a month.

barcanista: Oh David Bakare? Another inconsequential dimwit!! A NincompOop to the highest order and a nematode undisputed.
Who cares about "another" Bakare that is not the Amiable Pastor Tunder Bakare?
Who cares about a wannbe commentator and Ayo blink blink Oritsejafool butt-licker?
We have the likes of Cardinal Olubunmi Okojie, a social critic and activist per excellent to listen to. We have the likes of Femi Falana and others.

Whoever David bakare is, he should Go and die

It is unfortunate that your mediocity has deteriorated beyond what can be revamped and your stupid myopicism makes it so dificult to 'allign' you.

I'm sorry but I refuse to take your word for it.

my kingdom is not of this world

true men of God should run away from politics and politicians

because in the end, they will get burnt, and burnt very badly

TANoids will be having a field day on this thread

hakanai: Well if the opposition is doing all that, it questions the neutrality of CAN leadership. Considering opposition parties never took swipe at the religious bodies.When you have religious elders make it a duty to turn one way and remain bias in national matters and seem to offer solutions that suggest endorsement of a political group regardless then you are simply saying you have vested political goals. Meaning you are also open for political slander and a suspect to/ for manipulations. Above all, we as a people know how and what religious entities have become. For me , I remain vigilant and scrutinize there opinions. As time continue to show being elders or leaders really has no thing to do with being saints.
One troubling part of it all , this leaders are not humble one tiny bit.

Well-written post. Welcome to the Den of Philosophers.