₦airaland Forum

12 Apr 2012


CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor

By John Shiklam and Michael Olugbode

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has rejected claims that poverty was responsible for the Boko Haram menace in Northern Nigeria, specifically condemning the statement credited to the United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Mr. Johnnie Carson.

Carson had suggested that “the threat from Boko Haram grows as Nigeria’s standard of living declines”, and that “life in Nigeria may be tough for many, but life in the North is grim for many” and therefore the Boko Haram activity “is a popular narrative up for insurgents to hijack for their own purposes”.

CAN said it rejected the position of the American Government and “some Boko Haram apologists” in the North are peddling that poverty and injustice is the spark for the sect members’ action.

The association argued that “in the first place, the kind of arms and ammunition in the hands of the sect can only be purchased by those with heavy financial power. A fair comparison of any other region with the North shows that the section of the North referred to by Carson has been the greatest beneficiary of the project called Nigeria.

“The North has been in leadership for the greater part of Nigeria’s golden jubilee and its greatest annoyance seems to be the displacement from this position because this same section of the region believes that they are ‘born to rule’.

“We urge the American government to always cross-check their facts before jumping into conclusions in matters concerning foreign countries they know little or nothing about. Adopting what is written for their officials who are outside their shores without verifying the truth would do America no good.

“We would implore the American government officials, if they believe in fairness to arrive Nigeria and undertake an impartial assessment of the situation in Nigeria. We wonder if churches and Christians alone are the cause of the poverty Mr. Carson talked about. How have churches contributed to the injustice in the North?

“We state emphatically that Boko Haram is a product of extreme religious ideology. This is so because there is no explanation for Osama bin Laden and (AbdulFarouk) Mutallab of Nigeria to become a terrorist since they are both of rich background. The American government must, therefore, call Boko Haram what they are - terrorists”.

The CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, spoke on behalf of the organisation Wednesday, asking President Goodluck Jonathan to take a “firm and decisive stand” against Boko Haram “to end the barbarism being meted out to innocent Nigerians”.

The CAN president, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Kenny Ashaka, called on Jonathan not to pamper “death merchants” in order to maintain the secular nature of Nigeria devoid of any manifest religious sentiments.

Oritsejafor condemned the bomb explosions in Kaduna, Kano, Borno and Yobe during the Easter celebrations and called on those behind the dastardly act to see reason and stop the attacks in the interest of the unity of the country.

According to Oritsejafor, what should be paramount in the minds of every Nigerian is the unity of the country.

He recalled that “when the London riots took place in Britain, the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, cut short his holiday and returned to his country. His speech on arrival left no one in doubt that he is in charge.

“He gave a stern warning which was followed immediately and in just a few hours the offenders were apprehended and the streets were sparkling clean.

“President Goodluck Jonathan must stamp his feet on the ground against this cancer of Boko Haram. Coming on the heels of the violent attack on Kaduna during the Easter celebration, Potiskum in Yobe State and Dikwa in Borno State, the signs are ominous for a secular state like Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, five persons were shot dead on Tuesday night at a Nigerian town, Banki, bordering the Republic of Cameroon, as a group of Boko Haram militants attacked the police station, immigration and customs outposts.

It was gathered that when the fundamentalists came into the town, they first shot sporadically into the air to cause panic before moving to attack the security facilities.

Confirming the attack, the Joint Task Force (JTF) spokesman, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, said: "Banki police station, immigration and customs outposts were attacked yesterday (Tuesday) night between 0700 and 0945 hours in Banki town by suspected gunmen.

“They shot sporadically to cause panic before moving to attack the formations.”

He further disclosed that a number of rifles were recovered and private vehicles were damaged by the gunmen.


http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/boko-haram-not-poor-says-can/113556/

cris-ngige:
My question to all the nominees is this: what will you do for Ndigbo if elected?
Your answer to this question may give you the Igbo Nairaland vote, which is a large chunk.

lol Funny guy,

Anyway, I am interested in how the Op handles the kind of pressure 'folks' who claimed "without evidence" that they are more Yoruba than her are mounting on her. Her resilience is remarkable; but I have no doubt that tenisuga will soon buckle, I mean who can withstand this amount of pressure and rejection? Not even PointB!

Will supporters of the process encourage her? Will Musiwa rescind? Will Negro_nts eat his words? Will Dayokanu pass the opportunity to become the first Generalissimo of Nairaland Yoruba? Will tenisuga move on to the next stage? Or will she simple buckle, pack-up, lose face, and melt away from Nairaland?

Observer are watching with keen interest in the cacophony and discordance that is becoming the hallmark of this historic election!

Time ticks, what next?

Beaf: Guy, puleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease! It is a democratic World.
We have many running in chaotic directions, disowning both the process and the OP. A knight in shining armour is required to save such a dire situation.
So once again, ayam presenting my yumble self, Beaf; leader of unparalled quality; a Yoruba luv'n man with laser like focus; a towering, enemy swatter of gargantuan might.

Here ayam. Tank you.

As from today, oru ko mi ni Alaye Segun Atanda (oni Ekiti ati Osun).

lol,
Who know, you might be just who they need at this cross-road!

ndu_chucks: Coming from you, I am vindicated. Ewu efulefu, ofe mmanu wannabe.

That's a dry joke! Try something else.

ndu_chucks: WTF? what's with the malicious attack? have we met? Flee flea.

lol, your antecedent precedes you!

Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh!
By their fruits, yea shall know them!

Great news for Nigeria. Industries need to spread out. Btw, Lagos is getting choked, moving this companies will help decongest Lagos on company at a time, and help in population redistribution. It's a necessary balancing act! Kudo GEJ!

alj harem: The OP and Arole Odua etc claiming to be yoruba and conducing childish elections are NOT yoruba. I wonder why Nairaland "yoruba claimees" keep disgracing us.

The OP is not Yoruba and yoruba don't need any silly childish stu.pid dumb Aare Ona kakanfo or Oba etc. Stupi.dity to the highest order Ideeiots

Even this chameleon, 'beast of no nation' has mouth. Shape shifter, you are one funny dude!

Gbawe: My friend, I knew this you pretense at new-found maturity was too good to last. You can search all you want, since you are obsessed with and always mentioning Gbawe, but any "double-talk" is in your mind. It is my own personal opinion that this exercise is nonsense and I am within my right to offer that opinion and make a good argument for why I think fellow Yoruba folks should ignore this "nonsense". I am not forcing folks not to do as they please. If you notice I only got involved with this thread when someone actually formally nominated me. otherwise I would have been happy to continue ignoring this "nonsense".

My pretense at maturity? Are you for real? Why do I have to pretend? For you to like me? Or change your opinion of me? How exactly does that work? You are really pretty much full of yourself, for a jackass! And this your tongue-in-the-cheek talk about my obsession with you is exactly what is it is - hilarious! You are a vain Arrow! For your information, your are as inconsequential as a single ant; you are a desperately insecure man looking for attention!

What is this 'election' looking for if not the biggest Yoruba bigot on NL? Is that not how the other election, with pretensions of producing the Igbo leader on NL, churned up the most bigoted Igbo person on Nairaland? In case you don't get it, onlytruth won your silly election because he is a bigot, silly supremacist and a vengeful little man, with a chip on his shoulder,unaware that the war is over. He, like a loser without a fulfilled life or happy life, remains consumed with the notion of 'getting even' with other for their past 'crimes' against him and his folks.

I can see your hatred for OnlyTruth seeping through all your being. Such vile bile is sure to consume you, and pretty soon. I have never seen a hate filled adult such as you in a long while. Anyway, the path of destruction your have choosen in the name of whatever you call it will surely lead you to your doom. It's just a matter time.

This current charade is looking for a similar person and I don't want my name associated with it.

For one, as we are seeing now, it will be a congregation ground for divisive Vultures like you who despise the Yorubas but will now be dancing around gleefully pretending to be helping them seek a 'leader' so you can insidiously satisfy your fondness for mischief motivated by ethnic jingoism. You would be addressing a "double talker" if I once contributed on the thread where you nominated your eze whatever. I am within my rights to warn Yoruba folks to look at this from all angles to see where issues are heading. You only say this because you are an ugly character who wants this 'stage' to remain in place as a play ground for your idiocy. Otherwise what concerns you with this thread or with what I say to fellow Yoruba people? I just hope the clever Yoruba folks see where this is heading so they do not provide a podium of 'merry-making' for your sort.

Another tirade, not different from the first one! But you are a joke! A big joke at that. You claim to know everyone's motive, and inner thoughts, because you are what - a god? lol. Anyway, what I see is one frustrated paranoid little man, who fears change! You fear this 'nonsense' will diminish your influence, and perhaps relegate you to where your actually belong - oblivion.

You are within your right to warn your fellow Yoruba people, indeed! What a laugh! I thought you were folk shouting on top of his voice, that we should express ourselves as Nigerian, implying you don't see tribes. But somehow you manage to see Yoruba, Eze, and by extension - Igbos. But you are not bigoted nor doing 'double talk'? lol. Boy, you are a big hypocrite, the more you ramble, the more bigoted you look! Perhaps, it's time your shut your trap, and go kiss ACN or Aregbesola's a$s! Maybe you can go and oversee his 'historic' road construction exercise in Osun! Silly boy!

kofoshi: You cannot brainwash us, we are smarter than you. Your opinion is shit!

Whatever tickles your fancy!

MASSOB has no history of violence against the people or security agents. They dont kidnap for ransom nor engage in economic sabotage. Above all, they don't engage Army in shoot-outs, nor carry out suicide bombing!

If you are an unbiased observer, the difference is CLEAR!

After reading Gbawe's knows-it-all tirade, one can only laugh at his double talk!
On one hand, he claim we are all equal and no one's voice should be more important than the other; on the other hand he is asking Yorubas to 'stop this nonsense' implying that he knows better than the rest of his kinsmen who saw the merit in this process, and that his voice carries more importance. It's is refreshing to note that his 'authority' is being ignored by discerning folks.

@tenisuga, well done for saving the processing from ridicule by starting a new and much improved thread. I can assure you that the MODs meant every word they said when the offered you support. As you can observe, this thread is on the front page; it has a life now, and you MUST not fail your people. You must listen to constructive criticism but destructive ones; most importantly you must listen to your conscience and your heart!


As per nomination, well I don't think I am qualified to nominate, but if I do qualify, I'll like to nominate.

1. Jarus - He is well grounded, and capable. He is also very well 'positioned' for your people to leverage on. His Hausa 'leaning' might also be of strategic advantage.
2. Negro_nts - He has stated his desire to serve. He is quite 'troublesome' and very dogged in his fight for Yoruba interest. Though he may not readily admit it, he is a capable bridge builder.

It's really a shame that our Northern brothers have refused to move forward. In an era where everyone is angling for further western education, our brothers from the North are still insisting on having Almajiri schools.

Don't get me wrong, I praise government of GEJ for responding to the 'need' of the good people Northern Nigeria, but the question is - are they asking for the right solution? Is refusal of Western Education by the almajiri school advocate not akin to refusing polio vaccine by the same core North? The refusal of polio vaccine has the implication of crippling a generation of people. The crippling effect of lack of Western Education is even more pronounced judging from type of 'product' manufactured by the current almajiri system.

Almajiri education system is a failed system; it is anachronistic and their products are definitely suited for the 18th century. North (core North these days) should be forward looking, and should quit dragging themselves backward! They need to quit promoting Almajiri System, it will not help them today or tomorrow! But if they insist, then by all means Govt should build more Almajiri Schools for them!

It's time for dogs to eat dogs.
Let the Army dogs feast on the boko sons-of-bitches haram. (No pun intended)

A source knowledgeable about the groups plot said the group had recently distributed copies of Mr. Jonathan's speech in Hausa to its various cells to enable the various units prepare for massive attacks on security agencies, party offices and political figures around the northern region.

In particular, the group plans to attack governors Isah Yuguda of Bauchi, Jonah Jang of Plateau; Babangida Aliyu of Niger State; Ibrahim Yakowa of Kaduna State, as well as the former governor of Borno, Modu Sherriff, all of whom it believes are collaborating with security agencies to arrest and kill their members. Also reportedly marked for attack is the Defence Minister, Mohammed Bello.

The source also revealed that due to the sect's desire for more political acceptance in the region it plans various attacks on the political offices of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) nationwide.

SaharaReporters has also learned that the sect is planning to do an internal cleansing by killing those believed to have sold out on other members. Interestingly the sect source also revealed that Boko Haram has now set up an Internet monitoring platform to monitor discussions of their activities.

Something is seriously wrong with this report. Either Sahara Reporters work with this group (Boko Haram) or the reports is total bullocks made up from the imagination of SR. I'll go with the latter though!

It's a shoddy reportage aimed at feeding the purveyors of gloom and doom, and the anti- GEJ rabid dogs!

alj harem: LOL, if the north does not take Abuja, I wonder who would

Middle Belt of course, who else are the natural owner?

haka_nai: Thank you Mr presidnet for setting a standard and i hope the state governors can take it from there.

Well meaning state governors should 'rescue' this children from this Almajiri system and put them in better school - western standards.

Nevertheless, let's thank the FG. They have done what your people myopically asked for - a new improved Almajiri Factory!

Desola: Then the op must be one of your mischievous brothers, then.

You are blaming ME for your brother's failings? lol
I think he (Op)worked for IBB; he probably learnt the tactics of never ending election from him (IBB). lol

Desola: so, ta la fi joye o?

Chillax, you have to wait 11 months more.

ndu_chucks: You, as a Igbo man who is well brought up, should not be referring to Dr. Junaid Mohammed as a Arrow. Respect yourself before I send you to the corner for time-out. mumu

Aboki shattaap there with that silly comment and answer this simple question. Again:

PointB: Since you are devoid of bigotry, can you explain what that Arrow is saying, other than laying claim to middle belt land?

Almajiro School? Better the North dump this archaic educational system for something more progressive!
I hope they won't wake up 20 year to regret settling still for this model!

Northerner WILL NOT rule Nigeria by 2015, let Nigeria divide. Infact, let it divide NOW!

ndu_chucks: Sadly, most posters did not hear what Dr. Junaid Mohammed was actually saying because their ears have been deafened by bigotry, tribalism, and hatred. SMH

Since you are devoid of bigotry, can you explain what that Arrow is saying, other than laying claim to middle belt land?

Pardon me, but why do I perceive this vibe of gloom and doom is er- er - sectional. Well, maybe because it is.

Anyway, as a reminder Obj stated he needed more time for his international commitment hence the need to resign as BOT chairman. Every and any other reason is conjecture - baseless or not.

If and when issues arise due to Obj resignation, it will be dealt with. Not all of us are bought into the GEJ is a big bad wolf projection, and we are certainly watching things unfold - for the better!

All these postulations and conjectures about where GEJ is heading is too early in the day. Picture should get clearer by 2014.

^^^
You still have not shown me where the main actors claimed the were acting out an Igbo agenda. Like I said the coup failed and opportunistic politicians reacted perhaps naively.

The ethnicising of the Jan 15 coup was done simply to pave the way for the counter coup. Nzeogwu and co had altruistic motive, their failure unfortunately created the room for this misrepresentation of their intention.

'Failure indeed is an orphan.'

ndu_chucks: Let me help Katsumoto out:


.

The key argument is that submission was that the coup failed and opportunistic Nigerian politicians hijacked the impasse!

Katsumoto: Are you for real? You want it broken down again?

Did the Jan 15 coup plotter explicitly declare they were acting on behalf of Igbo ethnic group or Nigeria?

Katsumoto: Haka nai is right in that some Igbo folks are on a revenge mission; you can't pretend not to have read posts from Onlylies, Dede1, Chino, etc who talk about settling scores, etc.

Although you are mostly mature in your outlook, responding to negative remarks/comments in a negative manner isn't mature. You have spent some time on this forum to know who to respond to. Responding to posters who are only for making incendiary comments is a waste of time. There will always be those, from every tribe, who are looking to forment trouble.

Another problem with your post is the comment about what Nigeria did to you. Remember that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. You can't talk about what Nigeria did to you without talking about what some Igbos did to other Nigerians. It doesn't quite work in that way you are alluding to. Evereyone in Nigeria has wronged every other person in Nigeria; everyone is innocent and guilty at the same time.

Don't worry, my 'region' was not insulted.

This is just what I don't quite understand. Were the Jan 15 coup plotters acting on behalf of Igbos or on behalf on Nigeria? Did they view themselves and conducts as advancing Igbo cause? Or were they simply trying to clean the Nigerian augean stable at that time with perhaps a naïve sort of action? Clarifying this will perhaps help one appreciate what exactly Igbos did to Nigerians?

edoyad: It's this Kind of reasoning that creates the circumstance that killed those innocent souls.

Care to explain why those doing the shooting (security operatives) or those selling small arms (for self defense) created Boko Haram (which they are obviously reacting to)?

One_Naira: Let’s compare and contrast shall we:

The North has been in power since the end of Biafra war yet the region is still one of the most impoverished regions in Africa talk less Nigeria.
The West has been in power, not as long as north, but they have tasted power yet apart from Lagos, there is nothing proactive in that region.
SS recently got GEJ and even though GEJ been in power for over a year, he hasn't improved nor done anything for SS.

To put in words, getting power would not change anything as long as we have someone running the country in the background. When North had the power, what did they gain? When SW had the power what did they gain? Now that SS is in power, what are we gaining?

The reality is, power or no power, nothing would change for that region. The only people that would benefit are the Igbo politicians simple as that. Plus, that taste of power does nothing but create desperate politicians whom will sweat blood or do anything, even endanger their own people, just to regain that power when lost. Yes I agree, SE is marginalized but SE is also improving, has less poverty than the region that tasted power for years, etc. You guys obtained this without tasting power...There's no guarantee that SE will get everything they wish once a SE or even SS Igbo obtain power and I'm analyzing this based on past president and their region. IMHO, I think SE should focus on what they are already doing right now.

I agree with some of what you wrote. But you will agree with me that the bolded are assumption.In which case experience will be the best judge. It just might be different with the Igboman, you never can say!

Perhaps it has to be the "lai" (Lie) in his name. Or maybe it is the "Alhaji" appendage, or even more glaring - the "Mohammed"! Whichever one it is, I agree that the clown called Lair Mohammed in indeed satanic! It has to be!!

I wonder what my people are still doing in war zone? If they are not doing the shooting, or trading in arms, they should get out of those places! Now 9 more full blooded Igbo sons and daughter have paid the ultimate prize for core north lack of foresight!

May they rest in peace!