Waku blasts Oritsejafor over comments at US Congress

On July 19, 2012 · In News

 

 

 

 

National Vice Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, Senator Joseph Waku, has cautioned the National President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, over comments the cleric reportedly made before the US Congress Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights, chaired by Christopher Smith.
The ACF leader said Oritsejafor should by now see himself as a good ambassador, who should represent the country well wherever he finds himself, rather than making comments capable of heating up the polity and damaging the nation’s image abroad.
Waku said: “Some of us who are equally Christians need to caution Pastor Oritsejafor to stop hiding under his leadership of CAN to make reckless statements that can further divide the country along ethnic and religious lines as well as damage our image abroad.
“It is because Oritsejafor had been allowed to make these reckless statements at home unchecked, that he is now so emboldened to take his personal agenda and campaign of calumny to the international arena.
“That Oritsejafor could go before a US Congress committee to make a case against Nigerian government’s position on the Boko Haram debacle is unfortunate and condemnable.
“This is because the ultimate consequence of his action will not only affect a section of the country, but the entire nation, its economy and the free movement of its citizens across countries of the world.”

He said if CAN’s President would not apply caution in commenting on sensitive national issues, “some of us in the Christian fold will help him by replying him before he succeeds in creating a different impression about Christianity to other religions.”

SOURCE: 19 July 2012.