The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ayo Oritsejafor

  • CAN seeks probe of Lagos air mishap

    CAN seeks probe of Lagos air mishap

    The Christian Association of Nigeria on Friday advised the Federal Government to conduct proper investigation into what led to the crash of a chartered Embraer 120 marked 5NBJY, belonging to Associated Airlines Limited.

    In a statement issued in Abuja by the President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the body offered its deepest condolences to the victims’ families, the government and people of Ondo State and prayed that God should give them the fortitude to bear the loss.

    The statement reads: “Our thought go to the bereaved Agagu’s family as we continue prayers for protection of those the late former governor left behind.

    “Again, CAN restate that the frequent air crashes in the Nigerian aviation sector is the result of the Nigerian factor which receives strident denunciation in policies, passionate homilies of the clergy and tirades of well-meaning Nigerians, yet nothing works. It shows that take-off and landing remains the most dangerous aspects of flying in Nigeria’s aviation industry.

    “We call on the Federal Government to come up with practical measures that would reduce the margin of errors in traffic air signals, mechanical faults and bad weather. It should also undertake periodic investigations of the financial base and repair history of the airlines operating in Nigeria in order to ensure that they do not adopt short-cut policies that would endanger air travelers.”

     

  • Oritsejafor re-elected CAN President, doubts ceasefire

    President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor on Wednesday  dismissed the purported ceasefire announced by the Boko Haram sect warning  that Nigerians should not be carried away by the antics of the terrorist groups.
    Speaking  in Abuja at the 9th National Assembly of CAN where he was re-elected for another three year term, Oritsejafor  maintained that the terrorists can not be  taken seriously because  the groups had been factionalised.
    Reacting to the development that the Federal Government has signed a ceasefire pact with the Boko Haram leaders, the CAN boss said it will be good news if the sect drops their weapon adding that Christians and the entire Nigerians will be happy.
    According to reports, the Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Committee on Dialogue and Peace Resolution of the Security Challenges in the North, Alhaji Kabiru Turaki, last Monday announced that the Federal Government had signed a ceasefire agreement with the sect.
    Turaki, on Tuesday amid growing criticism over the weekend with the killing of 30 boarding students and two others by the suspected Boko Haram members defended the agreement saying government interacted with authentic members of the Islamic militia.
    Responding to questions on whether the purported declaration of truce portends peaceful resolution, Oritsejafor  said “Which Boko Haram? There have been all kinds of people that claim to be Boko Haram, now there are two groups, the Shekau group and Asaro group, have you heard from them?
    “Even if one person says, I want peace, I drop my weapons, we will be happy, but I still continue to ask which Boko Haram because we have seen situations in the past where they told us that some people said they now want to reach truce and the next day we saw people being killed there.
    “We are a people of hope and we cannot lose hope. God will not forsake Nigeria and Nigerians. I believe my re-election is part of God’s plan to make sure that we have a strong nation. Because we have hope we will continue to dialogue with those we need to dialogue with. But we will continue to speak out because if we have a voice, your voice is stronger than a bullet. We will continue to speak out about politicians who do not care about the people who elected them.
    “Let us build Nigeria together. Let us have respect for each other. Peace will continue to elude us if we do not understand that we are one,” the CAN President stated.
    Oritsejafor who promised to commit the fresh mandate giving to him by the Christian union to pursue peace in the land, also extended his hands of fellowship to the adherents of other faiths.
  • CAN condemns killing of students in Adamawa

    CAN condemns killing of students in Adamawa

    Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has condemned the killing of over 40 students of the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, and the School of Health Technology in Adamawa.

    Oritsejafor, in a statement on Thursday said CAN rejected the theory of election dispute as responsible for the massacre of over 40 students, having regards to the manner it was reportedly carried out.

    “It believes that the reason is phoney and that such a theory, arrived at in haste, can only serve to shield the real culprits and cover up their motives.

    “We are, however, consoled by the directive of President Goodluck Jonathan that security agencies should promptly arrest the killers of the students.

    “CAN is of the view that the Federal Government should go beyond this directive and ensure that those caught are made to face the full weight of the laws of our land.

    “It is unacceptable to CAN that students whose parents have spent fortunes on their education, would be cut down by some elements in the society whose trade-mark is blood and sorrow.”

    Oritsejafor noted that it was gratifying that some arrests had been made by the Police.

    “We call on the authorities of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure that those arrested are the real culprits, so that the innocent would not suffer for the sins of villains like the gunmen.

    “The Police should not arrest those fleeing in the name of making a breakthrough.

    “Security agencies must fish out the gunmen and there should be no cover up,” he added.

    The cleric said CAN believed in the oneness of Nigeria– in accordance with her secular status– and would, therefore, kick against any divisive actions of groups or individuals.

    “ It is for this reason that we call on all men and women of goodwill in Nigeria to join the government to fight what may snowball into a religious or ethnic war on account of the siege on her.

    “We plead with the National Assembly to speed up the bill on anti-terrorism and to introduce clauses that would discourage those with penchant for murder, bombing and other terrorist activities.

    “CAN vehemently condemns the barbaric act of the gunmen,” he said.

    Oritsejafor said CAN commiserated with families who lost their loved ones, students and the authorities of the affected institutions.(NAN)