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Tag: Oritsejafor

  • Oritsejafor mourns Igwe

    Oritsejafor mourns Igwe

    The National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has condoled with the management and workers of The Sun over the tragic death of the Vice- Chairman, Pastor Dimgba Igwe, last Saturday.

    He said his death had robbed journalism of a  role model.

    Oritsejafor, in a statement, expressed shock and sadness at the tragic death of such a consummate journalist and asked God to give his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

    He urged the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, to compel the Lagos State Police Commissioner to fish out the driver of the alleged hit-and-run car, which killed Igwe while jogging in his neighborhood.

    The CAN President said: “This is one case that must not be swept under the carpet because Pastor Igwe, through his writings, positively affected lives across the country. The police must fish out the killer of the gentleman and find out the motives for the dastardly act.”

  • Uduaghan, Oritsejafor advise on proper child training

    Uduaghan, Oritsejafor advise on proper child training

    •Judge turns 90

    Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor have urged parents to pay attention to the upbringing of their children.

    They said the failure of parents to inculcate good values in their children was responsible for many societal ills.

    Uduaghan and Pastor Oritsejafor spoke at the weekend in Warri at the 90th birthday thanksgiving service for Justice Silvanus Ajuyah, father of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Charles Ajuyah (SAN).

    Uduaghan said: “I urge parents to bring up their children in a way that when they leave you, people can give positive testimonies about them. In life, three things are important: God first, your family second and your work third. Don’t let your work overshadow your family; don’t be too busy that you have no time for your family.

    “It is true that most of the criminals we see today are people who have challenges at home. Such deviant children, in the long run, harm and hurt their parents.”

    The governor hailed Justice Ajuyah for instilling discipline in his children, adding: “You can know the character of a man or a woman through his children. I have noticed three things about Justice Ajuyah’s children: discipline, serious mindedness and thoroughness. His children portray the discipline that was imbibed in them by their parents. You can see the importance of upbringing in his children.

    “Charles reflects the virtues of hard work, thoroughness and punctuality of his father. I have a feeling that the children, in all their endeavours, see their parents watching  them. They are propelled to be dedicated and disciplined.”

    Pastor Orisejafor said Justice Ajuyah and his wife played a significant role in his upbringing, describing the celebrator as “my pride and that of so many people”.

    The CAN President said parents must play a major role in the moulding of their children, lamenting that this God-assigned role has been neglected by many, resulting in the increasing number of criminals in the society.

    The officiating minister, Ven. Best Agbolayah, described Justice Ajuyah as “integrity, punctuality and dedication personified”, urging people to build lasting legacies.

    One of the celebrator’s  sons, Lawrence; former Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) President Thompson Okpoko and others, in their remarks, described Justice Ajuyah as “a man of integrity, hard work, dedication, thoroughness and forthrightness”.

  • CAN condemns Kaduna, Kano explosions

    CAN condemns Kaduna, Kano explosions

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has expressed sadness over last Wednesday’s explosions in Kaduna State and the one that rocked Kano on Thursday.

    The body described the development as shocking.

    CAN said it is regretful that such incidents are happening in our communities at this time especially when all faithful are in search for genuine reconciliation with their God and seek peaceful coexistence with their neighbors.

    It, however praised God for saving the lives of two prominent Nigerians – former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and an Islamic Cleric, Dahiru Bauchi, in the bomb attacks.

    The President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, in a statement issued in Abuja said: “The attack, coming almost at the climax of the holy month of Ramadan is a clear indication of the perpetrators’ inclination to evil and disregard for the true God and all that are linked to him.

    “CAN condemns in strong terms the continuation of attacks targeted at high profile Nigerians and revered clerics, who hitherto should be the moral compass for society’s transformation

    “On behalf of the Christian community in Nigeria, I wish to commiserate with all those who lost loved ones or suffered one form of mishap or the other in the incidents.

    “This again, is evidence that God is greater than the perpetrators of these acts and a confirmation that the bombers and their sponsors have a twisted understanding of religion. I urge all Nigerians never to be dissuaded by these acts of evil and terror on our people, no doubt the impact created by these acts are painful but giving in at this time will even be more dreadful for our people. Please I urge all Nigerians in the spirit of the season (Ramadan) to keep faith with the relevant authorities.”

  • Oritsejafor to herdsmen: Forget grazing reserves

    Oritsejafor to herdsmen: Forget grazing reserves

    The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has advised those clamoring for grazing reserves to forget the idea and embrace modern ranches.

    He also revealed that 80 percent of the people killed by Boko Haram are Christians, saying the sect is advocating a jihad in Nigeria.

    In his key note address at the CAN National Executive Committee meeting held in Makurdi, Benue State, Oritsejafor said the cattle rearers , especially the Fulani herdsmen should embrace modern ranches which would be created for meat processing .

    On Boko Haram, he said, “Who gave them AK 47, who trained them on how to handle the weapons and I wonder why they are not arrested and prosecuted?

  • Oritsejafor, Mohammed pray for abducted girls’ release

    The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and the Chief Imam of Abuja National Mosque, Alhaji Isah Mohammed, on Wednesday led thousands of Nigerian Women, religious faithfuls as well as secondary school children to pray for the release of the abducted schoolgirls.

    The prayer session was organised by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

    The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Zainab Maina, in her welcome address at the prayer session, said it was organised to compliment government’s efforts to secure the girls’ release.

    “The prayer session aims to galvanise national support for peace and security as well as sustain the momentum and continued support for the release of the girls.

    “We are also gathering to pray for all men and women in uniform who toil daily and at all times pay the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that peace reigns in the country,” she said.

    The minister also said there is the need for Nigerians to intercede in prayer so as to encourage the government to remain steadfast in efforts to restore peace to every parts of the country.

    While denouncing the activities of terrorists in the country, Hajia Maina said the activities of Boko Haram have destabilized the country.

    “They have brutalized our people, many of them women and children, “she said.

  • Oritsejafor, Okoh back emergency rule in Yobe, Adamawa, Borno

    Oritsejafor, Okoh back emergency rule in Yobe, Adamawa, Borno

    THE President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, yesterday, threw his weight behind the extension of state of emergency in three state of north-east zone of the country. Also, the Primate of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most Rev. Nicolas Okoh, said the problems in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states had not been solved, adding that emergency rule should be extended. The duo, who were speaking on separate occasions in Abuja, noted that the emergency rule is important to the peace process in the northern region. In a letter to the Senate, President Jonathan had urged the upper chamber to approve the extension of emergency rule in the three states by six months. The President informed the upper chamber that even though the security situation in the region has improved, there is still much to be done to end the security challenges in the affected states. Oritsejafor, who spoke at a one-day national prayer for Nigeria tagged: “Recover Nigeria” in Abuja, said the situation would have been worst if solders were not deployed to the states. He urged Nigerians not to condemn the action of the military, but to support and pray for the security operatives. CAN President called on politicians to put personal interest aside and fight terrorism to a logical conclusion in Nigeria. Oritsejafor advised the federal government not trade the abducted girls with sect members in detention, while pledging that churches would continue to pray for peace in Nigeria. “I disagree completely because those girls are not prisoners that should be exchanged. The churches will continue to pray and speak against terrorism in Nigeria,” he said. Oritsejafor explained that the essence of the one-day prayer was for the safe release of the abducted girls and the end of Boko Haram insurgency in the country. Primate Okoh, in an interview with newsmen shortly after his presidential charge at the first session of the Ninth Synod of the Abuja Diocese Anglican Communion, said: “It will be wrong to say we should not extend the emergency rule when our problem is yet to be solved.” The cleric maintained that “people should consider how much help the emergency rule will help to solve the problem if it stays.” Speaking on the presence of foreign forces in Nigeria, the Primate said their assistance should not be just to recover the abducted girls in Chibok, Borno State, but it should be extended to fighting the insurgency in the country

  • Nyanya explosion evil – CAN

    Nyanya explosion evil – CAN

    The Christian Association of Nigeria on Friday condemned Thursday’s Nyanya bomb blast that killed 19 people and left 60 injured, describing it as evil.
    Thursday night attack in Nyanya, the second in 15 days, according to CAN, is a clear indication of the terrorists’ motive which is to demoralize and destabilize the Nigerian work force by putting fear in their minds.
    A statement signed by the Secretary General of CAN, Rev Musa Asake, quoted the body’s President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, as saying “it is an act that must be condemned by all. No sane person will seek to destroy the lives of fellow compatriot in the name of an `ungodly ideology’ of a so called `religious belief’.”
    The statement continued: “It is with shock and dismay that I received the news of last night bomb attack at the Nyanya motor park barely 15 days after the first attack on April 14. The news of the second attack is not only devastating but a sad day for our nation.
    “Like I have reiterated in recent times, terrorists or their sponsors must not be given the opportunity to prevail and I state categorically again, `evil cannot overwhelm good and darkness cannot prevail over light’. This is a known fact that I want all Nigerians to take to heart in these trying times.
    “The forces of evil may have made inroads in one or two places but the collective good of the majority of Nigerians must and will always rise above the goal of the terrorists.
    “At this moment I want to commiserate with the families of those who lost their lives and pray for speedy recovery for those injured, in the attack. This calls for more vigilance and caution by all citizens, let us not allow these acts of inhumanity to dampen our spirit of patriotism for our country, let us all rise against this monster.
    “I once again call on those in charge of security to work harder to contain the situation while I call on relief organizations to see to the welfare of the victims.
    “CAN on its part, will commit the country in the hands of God through prayers, to ensure that the situation is put under control, ours is to take this petition to God, we cannot carry guns and bombs to fight this battle but through prayers we shall win this battle.”

     

  • Boko Haram: FG to file fresh evidence against Ndume

    Boko Haram: FG to file fresh evidence against Ndume

    The Federal Government has indicated its intention to call additional witnesses and produce fresh evidence in support of its case against a serving Senator from Borno State, Aliyu Ndume.
    Ndume is standing trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja on allegation that he has a link with the Boko Haram sect.
    The federal government’s plan to add fresh evidence and call more witnesses was contained in a motion filed by the office of Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
    On Tuesday, a lawyer from the office of the AGF, E. Orji, moved the motion and urged the court to allow him file additional proof of evidence against Ndume.
    “The application is intended to give the accused person a fair hearing and also the right to cross-examine the witness and contradict the evidence that shall be given.
    “We urge this court to grant this motion and dismiss the counter affidavit of the accused because it is intended to cause a clog in the wheel of justice,” he said.
    Ndume opposed the government’s plan and urged the court to turn down the request to file additional proof of evidence and call additional witnesses against him.
    His lawyer, I. A. Kaigama, told the court that the motion will overreach the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which set aside the admission, by the trial court, of some evidence, including compact discs (CDs) and call log, earlier tendered by the prosecution.
    “The motion constitutes a gross abuse of the process of the court and should be refused. The application has no fact to convince the court to grant it.
    “Bringing additional evidence will amount to unfair trial for the accused person,” Kaigama said.
    The trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, has fixed May 27 for ruling.

     

  • Insecurity: Jonathan meets governors, security chiefs

    Insecurity: Jonathan meets governors, security chiefs

    … Oritsejafor,  Sultan also at the parley

    As part of ongoing efforts to find lasting solution to security challenges in the country, President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday met with state governors and security chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Also at the meeting which started at 12.10pm were – the President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ayo Oritsajafor and the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar III.

    The governors at the meeting include – Sariake Dickson (Bayelsa), Wille Obiano (Anambra), Theodore Orji (Abia), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara) and Gabriel Suswam (Benue).

    Others were – Martin Elechi (Ebonyi) Abdufatai Ahmed (Kwara), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Liyel Imoke (Cross Rivers) and Ramalan Yero (Kaduna).

    Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Tanko Almakura (Nasarawa), Saidu Dakingari (Kebbi), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe) Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), and Idris Wada(Kogi) were in attendance.

    The acting governor of Taraba State, Umar Garba, also attended the meeting, while Oyo, Kano, Rivers, Imo, Edo, Yobe, Ogun, Plateau and Jigawa States were  represented by their deputy governors.

    Others at the meeting are – Vice President Namadi Sambo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; Service chiefs, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar; the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki and the Minister of Defence, Aliyu Gusau.

    Heads of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Nigeria Immigration Service represented their various agencies  at the meeting.

     

  • Oritsejafor meets CAN leaders

    Oritsejafor meets CAN leaders

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has expressed concern over its perceived tsystematic elimination of its members on a daily basis by Islamic fundamentalists in their bid to turn Nigeria into an Islamic nation.

    Addressing key Christian leaders in the South West in Lagos, the National President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, said that Christians were being murdered in thousands all over the nation.

    He asked the Christian leaders rhetorically: ‘’Brethren, shall we continue to watch, until it gets to us? Should we not be proactive and prayerfully begin to take preventive measures?’’

    Oritsejafor asked if there was nobody that could be held accountable for alleged inhuman treatment of Nigerian citizens all over the North. He therefore called on the Federal Government to act fast to avoid a religious war in Nigeria.

    The CAN President blamed the Christian leaders for alleged disunity in their rank, saying: “Doctrinally, we have become over-excited about messages of comfort and prosperity to the detriment of raising genuine disciples. It is time for us to establish balance in our doctrines and resume moral and integrity sermons in our churches.’’

    Also speaking in the same vein, the South West Chairman of CAN, Archbishop (Prof.) Magnus Adeyemi Atilade, listed a number of incidents in which Christians were killed in the past four years.

    He said those perpetrating the evil in the North were bent on “eradication of Christianity in all its forms and ramifications.”

    He stated: ‘’Our responses as ministers of the gospel and key leaders in the church will determine whether the church in Nigeria shall survive and continue to thrive and flourish to fulfill the purpose of the Almighty God or the Church in Nigeria shall be exterminated.’’

    Atilade emphasised that the agenda against Christianity was patterned after what occurred to the church in the nations like Egypt, Algeria, Libya and others

    Atilade too emphasised lack of unity among church leaders, while denominations, ministries, and ministers of the gospel were at loggerheads.

    “Jesus Christ warned us that a house that is divided shall not stand,” he added.