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Tag: Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor

  • Embrace peace, forgiveness, Oritsejafor pleads

    The national president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has urged Nigerians to embrace peace and forgiveness at Easter.

    In a statement he signed yesterday in Abuja, Oritsejafor pointed out that President Goodluck Jonathan’s acceptance of defeat at the presidential poll should be a reference point for national peace.

    According to him: “We ask the risen Jesus, who turns death into life to change hatred into love, vengeance into forgiveness and war into peace.  Yes, Christ is our peace, and through him we implore peace for all of Nigeria.

    “There is nothing greater than peace and love as enunciated by God and demonstrated by our dear president.

    “Peace for Nigeria is what I bring to you at this celebrations, may unity and stability be restored permanently in Nigeria.”

    He also congratulated Gen. Muhammadu Buhari on his victory and expressed optimism that Nigeria will witness peace and progress under his administration.

  • Polls: INEC accredits US, UK embassies, 105 others

    Polls: INEC accredits US, UK embassies, 105 others

    • Foreign missions open special desks for elections
    • How CAN President bungled opportunity to meet with Jega

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has accredited the embassies of the United States, the United Kingdom and 105 others for the March 28 and April 11 elections.

    Most foreign missions in the country have also opened desks for the monitoring of the election, as facts begin to unfold on why the planned meeting between the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, and INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega, failed to materialise.

    Overall, INEC, according to investigation, has accredited 82 domestic and 25 foreign observers.

    Some of those on the list are EU Election Observation Mission;  Commonwealth Observers Mission;  African Union Election Observation Mission;  Germany Embassy; Embassy of France in Nigeria;  Embassy of the Republic of Korea;  Oxford Department of International Development, University of Oxford;  ECOWAS Mission; High Commission of Canada; Australian High Commission; Embassy of Japan; UNDP/ DGD Project; Ghana High Commission; the International Foundation for Electoral Systems(IFES); Embassy of Switzerland; UN Women; International Republican Institute(IRI)  and Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, Kenya.

    The rest include  NEPAD, FIDA, NAWOJ, Justice Development and Peace Commission(Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria); National Human Rights Commission(NHRC); Police Service Commission; Election Monitor; Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room(Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre); Nigerian Bar Association(NBA) Alliance for Credible Election among others.

    A diplomat told The Nation yesterday that foreign interest in the elections stemmed from Nigeria’s “importance to the political and economic development of West Africa.”

    “Apart from being the largest in population in the sub-region, Nigeria has the largest economy in Africa. I think about three to four elections will still hold in Africa this year. If democracy survives in Nigeria, it will serve as a beacon for other parts of the continent,” the diplomat said.

    “Most of the diplomatic missions have opened monitoring desks for Nigerian elections. We do not want violence; we want a free and fair process.”

    Sources said there is no restriction on where the observers may visit while the elections last.

    “All the local and foreign observers are free to go to any part of the country to look at how we are going to conduct elections,” one source said.

    “We do not restrict or censor them in any manner because INEC is determined to ensure free, fair, transparent and credible general elections.”

    The source however said the commission has some monitors on the field to make sure that all the over 600,000 ad hoc staff and other electoral officers live up to expectations.

    The Chief Press Secretary to INEC chairman, Mr. Kayode Robert Idowu, said last night that: “We are ready for the elections. We have accredited 107 observers apart from monitors to be deployed nationwide.

    “As for the training of ad hoc staff, we would be concluding it on Saturday (yesterday) or Sunday (today). All hands are on the deck for hitch-free polls.”

    Meanwhile, it was gathered that Jega could  not meet with the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor  because the Bishop failed to follow up his request for the meeting.

    A National Commissioner told The Nation that a text message was sent to INEC by someone requesting for audience for the CAN President.

    “As the chairman of INEC, any Nigerian can just wake up and send a text to him. Even at that, Jega was cautious and polite in asking for an official letter of request for audience,” the source said.

    “The following day, a letter was sent from CAN booking an appointment with the INEC chairman. Without considering the busy schedule of Jega, the letter was specific on the date and time.

    “We tried to adjust the schedule of INEC chairman but it was tight. Jega directed INEC’s Secretary to reply CAN President that the time fixed was not convenient because the chairman had a prior commitment. The letter was with a caveat of ‘let us look at another time’ to meet.

    “Since then INEC has been expecting a fresh date from the CAN President. But the INEC chairman woke up to read about snubbing of Oritsejafor. It was unfortunate that only one side of the story was presented to the media.

    Responding to a question, the source added: “Jega had met with all religious leaders last year. Even under the aegis of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), Jega had audience with Oritsejafor and others.”

  • Nigerians should not succumb to Boko Haram, says CAN President

    Nigerians should not succumb to Boko Haram, says CAN President

    *Condemns Central Mosque bombing

    The President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor yesterday described the bomb attacks at the mosque near the Emir’s palace in Kano as unfortunate.

    Oritsejafor who expressed sadness over the incident urged Nigerians not to succumb to the antics of the Boko Haram sect adding that this is the time to remain fearless no matter the situation.

    He advised security operatives to be more proactive.

    In a statement by the CAN President, Oritsejafor said: “This attack on the people of Kano is an attack on all Nigerians and must be addressed as such, this is the time for all to rise up and act.”

    It reads in parts: “Recently an interfaith meeting that had representations from the hierarchy of both faiths in attendance emphasized the need for dialogue, mutual relations, cooperation and unity in the renewed fight against insurgency in the country. The meeting made far reaching decisions that could be important in finding lasting peace to our country and that in itself was supposed to be a step towards the much anticipated peace and security in the country.”

    It added, “The news of the death of one soul by any means whether bomb blast, accident, illness of any form of attack is enough to sadden any human being, but to learn almost on a daily basis about the death of hundreds of the lives of fellow compatriot is tormenting. The entire Christian community in Nigeria received the news of the latest in the series of bomb explosions… with shock and disbelief. This is most unfortunate given the number of people that lost their lives in their bid to offer prayers to their Almighty in the usual Friday worship at the mosque.

    “On behalf of the entire Christians community under the auspices of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), I wish to commiserate with the families of the victims especially those who lost their lives in the attack.”

    He continued, “I appeal to all Nigerians especially residents of the areas most prone to the attacks not to give in or succumb to the antics of the insurgents, this is the time to remain fearless in the face of terror.”

     

  • Jonathan’s secret panel

    Jonathan’s secret panel

    Oritsejafor, Asari-Dokubo should be probed openly over the $9.3m arms deal scandal

    The attempt by President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to surreptitiously clear the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and Alhaji Asari-Dokubo of any wrong doing in the $9.3 million arms deal scandal, through a secret panel, is a mockery of democratic ethos. In what appears an image laundry exercise, there is a report that a secret panel, allegedly set up by the Federal Government, drawn from security agencies to probe the involvement of the CAN President, whose private aircraft was used to ferry the money, and Asari-Dokubo, who was alleged to be among the persons that ferried the money to South-Africa, have cleared the duo of any wrongdoing.

    According to the release by PR Nigeria, a media outfit reportedly close to the military, “a special team, comprising security agents, intelligence experts and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has investigated the $9.3 million cash-for-arms deal and submitted its report to the Presidency”. We view the choice of a secret panel by the presidency which has been accused of collusion in the transaction as offending the legal maxim: Nemo unquam judicet in se – Let no one ever be a judge in his own cause. So, considering that many view with suspicion the relationship between President Jonathan and the indicted persons, it is dubious to clandestinely use executive powers to exonerate them.

    For the majority of Nigerians, the idea of a secret panel in a democracy is a misnomer. Such a procedure is a mockery of the doctrine of the rule of law, which should be the guiding principle for any democratic government. If indeed the Presidency is desirous of coming clean over that murky affair, what is appropriate would be an administrative panel of enquiry constituted in a manner to show its independence and capacity for impartiality. It is the panel that will publicly determine the extent of involvement of the CAN President and Asari-Dokubo, in the cash-for-arms deal.

    Anything short of a public enquiry would, as in the present circumstance, merely increase the level of suspicion among Nigerians, as to the real intention of the Presidency in the matter. As many have argued when the news broke, the CAN president whose plane was used to ferry the cash and Asari-Dokubo who was alleged to be on the plane, are notable supporters of the President, and who in their vociferous support for him, have threatened fire and brimstone against any perceived opponent of his. So, could it be that in his desperation to reciprocate their support for him, President Jonathan hurriedly forgot his constitutional oath to always act without fear or favour, in the discharge of his responsibilities?

    Also worrisome is why the names of the members of the panel should be a secret matter. In the current circumstance of secrecy, how do Nigerians know whether those who sat on the panel are not surrogates or relations of the investigated persons? Indeed, is it not possible that with the use of secret panel members, the actual findings of the panel could be supplanted with a false report or even the members clearly exhibiting bias, knowing that their identities are hidden from the public?

    With the report in the media that the panel has turned in its report to the Presidency, one can legitimately conclude that it was the President that set it up. But what is not clear is what rules and regulations the panel used to arrive at its advertised findings. Since its members were allegedly drawn from the security agencies, is it possible that they applied military standards in arriving at the decision? Or, could such a body apply the basic tenets of fair hearing, which implies the right of the accusers to be allowed to put their case against the accused and the need to offer an accused the opportunity to clear oneself in a circumstance devoid of any form of intimidation.

    To show that the panel may not have the requisite capacity to properly conduct such an enquiry, the media release said: “It was true that the CAN President’s jet was used, but we found out that it was without his knowledge … And you may be aware that the lease trend is peculiar to private jet owners in the country”. A simple question that this assertion failed to answer is whether even if it is a trend, is such a trend lawful, considering that the plane in question was purchased for private use, and for which taxes from such dubious income will not be paid? The report did not also explain why a private plane should be hired by the National Security Adviser and used for a military assignment. What is needed for all the parties concerned to come clean is an open and transparent enquiry, to allay the concerns of the general public.

    As far as we are concerned, those suspected of involvement in the scandal still have questions to answer, to exonerate themselves. That is not the duty of a secret panel.

  • ‘Why C&S University is yet to take off’

    The General Overseer of The Sacred Cherubim and Seraphim Church of Nigeria & Overseas, His Eminence, Dr Solomon Ajao, spoke with reporters on the church, the nation and sundry matters. Tosin Adesile was there. Excerpts:  

    Home of the stigmatisation of your members results from practices such as wearing garments and walking bare-footed. Is there a divine mandate to some of these things you do?

    God in His own wisdom humbles the powerful. Before you pass the security checks, you will have to put off your shoes.  It is because we don’t educate people. I can categorically tell you it is not possible for anybody to sleep with shoes. Likewise in the olden days, when you paid a visit to the Obi or Emirs, you didn’t wear shoes to meet them. It’s simply a sin or disrespect.

    There are two major reasons why we don’t wear shoes. We don’t wear shoes because the church is the symbol of the throne of God. In the Bible, when Moses was approaching the burning bush, God told him to stop and remove his shoes because the place he was going was a holy ground. To be frank with you, it is only the Celestial members that don’t wear shoes; we wear shoes but off them at the church entrance.

    The second reason why we don’t wear shoes is because it is a lot more hygienic. The house of God is sacred and we don’t carry any filthy thing inside.

    How about wearing of white garments?

    White garment is a leveller and it is also economical in order to belong to our sect. It is a lot more cost-saving. If you attend the C&S church, it saves you lot of cost on buying clothes.

    What is your reaction to acquisition of private jets by preachers?

    First of all, acquisition of private jets, if the General Overseers are fund managers, if they know economics, they won’t engage in it. It is easier to make use of a chartered aircraft, but the major problem is they are not fund managers.

    But let me point out something. I can say with little doubt that most of the aircraft in question owned by men of God were donated by the people in power. If I happen to be in that position, I will refuse it. If we want to trace history, it was the day President Jonathan visited the CAN President that Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor was handed over the key to join the league of private jet owners.

    I once said it that the presentation was made at a wrong place and wrong time. Some of these General Overseers, I would say something is wrong with them. The cost of acquiring a private jet can be used to help members through setting up of an industry. It is wrong for men of God to live affluent lives. I’m not saying they shouldn’t live well but I mean extravagantly. A priest is not expected to live a life that will disconnect him from God.

    How about men of God going into politics?

    Some men of God are really called but they have lost the injunction, according to Romans, that we should not conform to this world. We should be the conscience of the nation, but if you have been spoilt with the largesse of office, I cannot criticise you. I don’t mix up with any of these leaders because I have nothing to gain from them.

     What is the stand of your church on marital failures among preachers?

    This happens because we are in a society without social value. It is not in the interest of the church for us to close our eyes to it but something that we should strongly discourage, but in discouraging it, you have to be a role model.

    But then again, it depends on individual priest; my children, for example, know that if you marry there is no divorce.

     How many same-sex marriages have been conducted in the C&S?

    None and none will be conducted. When you say same-sex marriage, you should ask those promoting it if we are reading the same bible. Is there anywhere in the bible where same-sex marriage is encouraged? You know what the end of Sodom and Gomorrah was. In C &S church, it won’t happen.

    How far have you gone with the unification process in the church? 

    I won’t say we are not making progress but it has been slow. Rome was not built in a day, I quite agree, but Rome should not be built for 100 years. We are now a little closer to forming a United Church because each of us is now sinking our dependence in one church. But then again, we should not run too fast because if we do, there may be a crash.

    Is the church planning to have a tertiary institution?

    We already have a project called Moses Orimolade University (MOU) and the church has acquired an expanse of land in Omu Aran, Kwara State. I can say with pride that I am the chairman of the supervising authority of that project. We have not started our university because we don’t have the “misfortune” of other churches. Why do I say misfortune?  When you say you are a church and you are not building morality into it, you are not a church but a church of Satan and therefore the money that comes our way is not as massive.

    There are 17 conditions that MOU has to meet and we have met 14. What is delaying us is the infrastructure. For us, the university is not a money spinner and so the fees we are going to charge is affordable. We have a focus to tell others that university education is necessary and it should not be an elitist thing.

    Many of these universities charge exorbitant prices and that is beyond the rate of the common man. In other words, that university is not meant for their members but for the children of the elites. We won’t do that at MOU, I can assure you that.

  • Photo: Jonathan, Oritsejafor, Oyedepo praying for Nigeria

    Photo: Jonathan, Oritsejafor, Oyedepo praying for Nigeria

  • Softly, softly, Oritsejafor, Okoh

    Softly, softly, Oritsejafor, Okoh

    Leaders of the Christian fold in the country should not turn the body to a partisan platform

    Every time analysts and scholars dissect the Nigerian crisis of development, they are unanimous in returning the verdict that leadership is the bane. It appears that that same challenge has crept into the Christian fold as leaders of treasured moral platforms now take advantage of their positions to feed primordial predilections.

    It is unfortunate that a platform as formidable as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is being transformed into an organ of the presidency. Since Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor took the leadership of the umbrella Christian association, the Nigerian people, Christian and non-Christian alike, have observed that the relationship he cultivated with President Goodluck Jonathan and so flaunted has generally eroded the dignity of the office. Observers are sometimes tempted to see CAN as a parastatal of the Federal Government.

    This is a far cry from the standards set by Christ for all those who would follow and serve him and derogates from the vision of the founding fathers of the body. The recent scandal regarding the use of an aircraft owned by the CAN President to ferry $9.3 million to South Africa in circumstances that are yet shady is a blight on the organisation and suggests that many such things might have been on unknown to Nigerians. While it is taken that the CAN President merely owns the aircraft so used, there are still questions as to the role he might have played in getting the contract for the lessee. Besides, Pastor Orisejafor would not have been enmeshed in the moral crisis if he had not strayed from his primary calling – preaching the gospel. The rate at which pastors chase material things has become so alarming that Church leaders should call themselves to order.

    As if that was not enough, the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) chose to give a Primatial award to the President last week. Everything about the award was wrong. First, why was it created? There is no record that anything like a Primatial award was ever given anyone before. Besides, the Church, beaming the light of the gospel ought to have acted above worldly standards. In Nigeria today, there are all sorts of awards worth nothing. They promote vanity and are designed to extract financial support from those in power. The Anglican Church failed to tell Nigerians the criteria for the award.

    Second, we feel uncomfortable by the timing of the award. There are so many questions that Nigerians are asking of their President. Insecurity has never been this bad, the Chibok girls are still in captivity, nothing has changed in critical sectors like education, health and employment. How then did the Church arrive at the decision? We can only imagine that the Church, wittingly or otherwise, has been dragged into the President’s re-election bid. The coincidence is too striking to go unnoticed – Primate Nicholas Okoh is Oritsejafor’s deputy in CAN and he is from Delta State, too.

    This time calls for discernment. Leaders of the Church should realise that they are meant to be ambassadors of Christ and shine the light to dispel darkness. We call on leaders of CAN to return to standards set by Prophets of old who spoke truth to power and were not fazed by the grandeur of the office of the monarchs.

    This is a critical time in the life of our country. It calls for true men of God to rise to the occasion and ensure that leaders are kept on their toes. The churches are non-partisan platforms and should not be dragged in the mud. Christians are of different political persuasions and should not be willy-nilly herded into narrow partisan choices. Primate Okoh and Pastor Oritsejafor should beware as we move closer to the next general elections.

    The reason this comment is necessary is not Christianity per se. But a huge chunk of the Nigerian population professes the faith and it has become a template of conduct and human relations in societies where they prosper. Its mores and values have permeated our society. Therefore, those who are charged to fend for the spiritual health of that critical cultural group must understand that their burden goes beyond the faith but it is also about faith in the sense of justice and wellbeing of Nigerians, whether Christians or non-Christians.

    For the leadership of one of the oldest Christian bodies in the country, even the world, to enmesh itself in a partisan stake is to demean what religion applauds in its highest form.

    Oritsejafor and Okoh ought to realise that faith belongs in the realm of the spiritual and not in the murky waters of the temporal. As the good book itself says, “to whom much is given, much is required”.

  • CAN’s troubling/troubled house

    CAN’s troubling/troubled house

    Having largely fallen into the toxic seduction of infallibility, the church Nigeria must consider itself lucky that it still retains the few in its rank, individuals with sufficient moral stature to confront the antics of thec-led Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). Believe me; I believe the body of Christ owes a debt of gratitude to the revered Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, for his interjection on the state of the nation and by extension, the church in Nigeria, as published by New Telegraph of Saturday September 27.

    Hear the revered Cardinal deliver his point-blank verdict: “CAN leadership today is zero. CAN has no leader”. His main charge was that body has fallen short of the expectations of its founding fathers with the current leadership reducing the body to an appendage of power. Related to this is that CAN has succumbed to the Nigerian malaise of corruption.

    By the way, I have heard countless scores of discerning Christians render the same verdict in their quiet corners, in addition to their silent prayers for true Christian leaders to emerge for a time like this! Nigeria obviously needs leaders who will resist the urge to prey on people’s psychology at difficult times; leaders with compassion for the poor and the weak – and who, for their transient comfort, will not shy from speaking truth to power!

    Given what one perceptive analyst aptly described as “politicisation of religion and the religionisation of politics”, trust the bare-knuckle censure by Okogie to rub on raw nerves and with it torrents of excoriation in the days and weeks ahead. After all, the grand old man has dared to pass judgment on a man perceived by many as incapable of wrong-doing. However, in the face of possible seduction to the doctrine of Balaam to which a section of the church in Nigeria is increasingly prone, what matters is that the uncomfortable truth has been delivered with such forthrightness and by an elder from ‘within’.

    For starters, it must be troubling for Christians to watch the body which purports to speak in their name being dragged into brazen partisanship by its leadership (just imagine the self-promotion it begets). From merely gawking in horror at Pastor Oritsejafor’s reduction of the once vibrant body to a chaplaincy of both the PDP and the Jonathan administration, yours truly can say without any fear of contradiction that things have gotten to such a point that the body’s threadbare pretence to being a “Christian” organisation and the questionable claims of the current crop of its leadership as a force for the general good can no longer go unchallenged.

    By now, the story of how the personal jet of CAN President got entangled in cash smuggling mess is already well-known to be retold here. Trust Nigerians to procure controversies where none exists, there have since emerged several theories and interpretations there from – all depending on who is telling. Howbeit, the only thing still not in dispute is that $9.3 million cash was ferried to South Africa – using a jet belonging to the head of a body that purports to represent the Christians – and wait for it, to procure arms!

    I have since followed the attempt by CAN leadership to rationalise the scam. Ordinarily, if you ask me, I would say that CAN has no business in the mess. After all, Nigerians have not been told of CAN’s “residual interest” in the controversial jet neither is the body in any way known to be linked to the scandal. CAN unfortunately thinks it has more than ordinary watching interest which it must protect even when it risks alienating discerning Christians! Aside defending one of its own who has in fact admitted to a dalliance with the god of mammon, CAN has taken to the overdrive, seeking – not to stave off – but to appropriate the potentially embarrassing scandal involving its principal functionary. While that is galling enough, the body is at once saying that their principal not only could do no wrong, but that it stands ready at all times to defend him no matter the circumstances and irrespective of what he does even in his private capacity! That is how bad things have become.

    No doubt, these are interesting times.

    If Nigerians saw the signs of the potential rot on the horizon, they probably paid little heed – hence the monstrosity on our hands! Although the problem did not begin last year, something happened to the body then that was not only significant but marked what appears to be its turning point. That was when the Catholic Church – arguably the most vibrant bloc in CAN – ‘temporarily’ withdrew its membership, citing among many reasons, “the polarizing statements of some Christian leaders; use of money in CAN elections; and several court cases involving state chapters of CAN” for its decision. Its spokesman, Rev. Fr. Dr. Cornelius Omonokhua would aver:  “Catholic leaders have quietly brought these concerns to CAN leadership but that their advice was shunted aside as the CAN leadership repeatedly accused them of ‘intellectual arrogance.’

    Let me be clear: I cannot claim to have understand the details of the power play that eventuated in the schism of the body. And I am not one to judge which party is right and wrong. What is important is that the Catholic bloc has since been proven right by the one-sided dalliance of CAN with a section of the political class. And while the result of that dalliance goes beyond the division in the house, the body’s standing as a moral force stands imperilled just as the diminution of its rationale as a force for good is guaranteed.

    Again, I am told that the opportunistic appropriation of organs of CAN for private political ends comes with rich rewards. That, in my view, hardly qualifies as a flattering legacy for the current team at CAN just as the striving to serve God and mammon at the same time is delusional. Didn’t the avatar of our faith teach that one cannot serve two masters?

    Have I taken liberty against God’s anointed? Let God be the judge.  As for those eager to pronounce sacrilege or fatwa for venturing a comment, let them have the humility to accept that the doctrine of human infallibility has no place in Christendom.

  • I am not party to $9.3m deal-Oritsejafor

    I am not party to $9.3m deal-Oritsejafor

    The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, ( CAN) Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor has said he knew nothing about the controversial $9.3m smuggled into South Africa by two Nigerians and an Israeli, using his private jet.

    Oritsejafor broke his silence during the National Executive Council meeting of CAN on Monday at the National Christian Centre, Abuja.

    The CAN leader said there had been attempts in the media to link him with the incident by mischievous elements, adding that he had kept quiet all the while, because he needed to explain his position to the church which is his primary constituency.

    Oritsekafor, in his address declared that he was never a party to the movement of the $9.3m from Nigeria to South Africa to purchase arms and ammunition.

    “I want to assure you that I will not do anything to tarnish the image of Jesus Christ or compromise the divine standard of the church.

    “As you are all aware, the media has been awashed in the past few days about an unfortunate incident involving the movement of funds from Nigeria to South Africa. In the unfortunate news reports, attempts have been made to link me directly with the transaction.

    “So far I have refrained from making any direct public response pending the time that I would have brief the leaders if the church and explain my position on the issues to them.

    “I believe that the primary institution that I owe any explanation to is the church.”

    ‎Oritsejafor added: “At the risk of being seen to be defending myself, I wish to confirm to the distinguished leaders of the church that the Bombardier Challenger 601 aircraft in question is mine. The aircraft was presented to me as a gift by members of our congregation and ministry partners worldwide at my 40th anniversary of my call into the ministry.

    “May I be permitted to stress that the aircraft was not given to me by the President of Nigeria, neither was it a settlement for any political favour or patronage.

    “With the benefit of hindsight, the President of the country was a guest in our church during the anniversary celebration when the jet was presented to me.”

    The CAN leader who explained that President Jonathan has nothing  to do with the gift of the aircraft challenged those making the allegation t come out to show proof so that the matter can be put to rest once and for all.

    Oritsejafor who also explained the circumstances that led to the involvement of his aircraft, said “in order to ameliorate the cost of maintenance of the aircraft, I sought and got permit to allow the aircraft fly in and out of Nigeria.”

    “Based on this, I leased the aircraft on August 2, 2014 to a company to run it. It was the leasee that entered into an agreement with the people who carried out the transfer of funds. Having leased the aircraft to the Green Coast Produce Company Limited, any transaction undertaken with the aircraft can no longer be attached to me.

    “Inasmuch as I am shocked and distressed by the incident, I wish to appeal to Christians in Nigeria to remember that a war has been waged against the Nigerian church. This war is being fought on many fronts and this unfortunate incident is another dimension in the assault against the church.

    “It is clear that those who manipulated this conspiracy desire to create a schism in the church.”

    According to him, “the media hype and the deliberate distortion of information that followed it confirmed that forces that desperately desire to cause division and disunity in the church are at work. Even the devil knows that a house that is divided cannot stand.

    “As Christians, we need unity in the church now more than ever. We are witnessing inhuman attacks by religious extremists against Christians in the northern part of the country, while christian infrastructure is being destroyed in hundreds.

    “If we permit the enemy divide us, our chances of corporate survival shall be severely threatened.

    “Distinguished leaders of the church, please permit me to state clearly before God and before all of you here present today, that I am not a party to the movement of $9.3m from Nigeria to South Africa to purchase arms and ammunition. I am not part of the deal. I know nothing about it.”

    ‎The CAN President commended the Catholic Church for its support, particularly in refuting a distorted news item by mischievous elements in the media.

    He appealed to heads of blocks that constitute CAN and head of denominations and Christian leaders at different levels and spheres of influence to use their good offices to caution and control their subordinates and followers from making public statements that will further polarise the church and strengthen the arms of the enemies of the church.

    Quoting Matthew Chapter 18 verses 15 to 20, Oritsejafor said, “If I offend you or you offend me, instead of talking to media, let us talk to each other within the house of God.”

  • Pastor Oritsejafor confirms link with aircraft

    Pastor Oritsejafor confirms link with aircraft

    Christian Association of Nigerian (CAN) President Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, yesterday explained his link with the Bombardier Challengers 600 jet which smuggled $9.3m cash into South Africa.

    In a statement Pastor Oritsejafor admitted having an interest in Eagle Air Company that owns the Bombardier jet. He however said he had not been operating it.

    The aircraft is with registration number N808HG.

    The pastor’s spokesman, Bayo Adewoye, in the statement on his behalf said: “The Word of Life Bible Church has been made aware of the recent media interest regarding an aircraft (Bombardier Challenger 600, Registration No N808HG) owned by The Company Eagle Air in which our Pastor, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, holds a residual interest.

    “On behalf of Pastor Oritsejafor, we can confirm that although he holds an interest in Eagle Air, the aircraft in question is not operated by Pastor Oritsejafor.

    “The aircraft owned by Eagle Air Company, who have confirmed that since August 2, 2014, the aircraft has been leased to and is operated by Green Coast Produce Limited. This is a standard practice in the industry.

    “Any and all enquiries in respect of the day-to-day operations of this aircraft are properly directed to the Management of Green Coast Produce Limited. We will be happy to help the authorities with any enquiries.”

    The Eagle Air company in another statement by Emmanuel Ohaeri, said: “Our attention has been drawn to press reports in respect of an aircraft (Bombardier Challenger 600, Registration No N808HG) in which our company holds a residual interest.

    “We wish to confirm that the said aircraft has since August 2, 2014 been leased to and is operated by Green Coast Produce Limited.”

    Admitting it operated the aircraft since August 2, Green Coast Produce Limited said it had been “running and managing charter services with the aircraft in accordance and compliance with global best practices.”

    Giving the circumstances surrounding the South African trip, Green Coast Produce spokesman Dr Shima Adun said: “On the 5th of September 2014, the aircraft was hired from us by a John Ishyaku. The charter to John Ishyaku was upon the following documented terms:

    a) Depart Abuja-Johanessburg on the 5th of September 2014

    b) Return to Abuja on the 6th of September 2014

    c) To wait and return with the passengers

    “The said terms are normative within the industry.

    “As with every other aircraft charter company, our knowledge of the cargo carried on the aircraft was in accordance with the information provided by ABC Limited.

    “All cargo were accompanied by passenger who could readily defend the contents. We are not and cannot be privy to any alleged extraneous cargo transported on the aircraft other than that declared in the agreed terms of hire.

    “We are not liable and cannot be construed as a party to any alleged infractions, either in Nigeria or South Africa as he case may be, after the hire of the aircraft.

    “We issue this statement without prejudice to any statutory or commissioned investigation being conducted or to be conducted in South Africa or Nigeria.”

    Nigerian aviation agencies avoided speaking on the South Africa incident yesterday. But an official of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said money laundering is a criminal offence which aviation agencies have little power over.

    The NCAA official, who pleaded not to be named, described money laundering as a serious offence that the laws of aviation frowns at.

    He said:”What I can tell you now is that money laundering is a criminal offence. The matter is being handled at the two governments’ level. If at the end of the investigation the crew are found culpable, we will sanction them.”

    A source in one of the agencies hinted that the problem does not lie with either the airspace agency or airport authority as the aircraft got the necessary flight approvals including take off rights and flight plan, but it was  left for other agencies like the Nigerian Immigration Service and Nigerian Customs Service to find out the content of luggage on an aircraft .

    The source hinted that the content including foreign currencies carried by passengers on board an aircraft is the prerogative of Customs and Immigration and other agencies to check. “There is a law in place on how to carry money.”

    A security source at the Lagos Airport urged the NCAA to beam its searchlight on foreign- registered aircraft flying in the Nigerian airspace.

    The security expert warned that such aircraft should not be allowed to fly beyond their country of point of entry.

    He said :” Over 80 per cent of private aircraft in Nigeria are foreign-registered  and we have very little control over them if they are not registered in Nigeria.”