POLLS: JEGA IGNORED MY REQUEST FOR A MEETING – ORITSEJAFOR

President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor Wednesday expressed bitterness over how the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega refused to hold a meeting with him.
Oritsejafor, who said the botched meeting, would have held earlier this year, hinted at the probability of Jega ignoring his request based on what some of the close associates of the electoral umpire must have told him.
“Some people have told me that I am too small to meet with him (Jega),” Oritsejafor said.
He made this disclosure at a one-day interactive session of key stakeholders in the Nigerian project comprising religious, political organizations and security agencies organized by think Nigeria Christian-Muslim movement with the theme: ‘towards a peaceful and purposeful political transition in 2015.’

$9.3M ARMS CASH WAS SET-UP – MRS ORITSEJAFOR

■ Why pastors, others are after my husband – CAN president’s wife
At last, Pastor Helen Oritsejafor, has opened up on the contentious $9.3m money-for-arm saga, say¬ing it was a grand design to cow Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the outspoken founder of the Word of Life Bible Church and president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). She described the ep¬isode in which an aircraft owned by her spouse was caught in South Africa with the staggering amount on board as a ‘sinister joke.’ He dismissed it as the handiwork of enemies of progress determined to desta¬bilize the country.
“Whoever such people are, they are not true Muslims or Christians. These are enemies of progress. These are people who are doing their very best to cause unnecessary discord between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria which is very sad. To use an innocent man to throw this sling is very sad”, she said, emotion welling up in her voice.
According to Mama Helen, who spoke in Warri ahead of the Church’s annual Jubilee Word Festival, “Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor is not the target; it’s every Christian in Nigeria. We are all the target. We are the ones they have targeted but, of course, they can’t get to every¬one, so they have to look for the person who represents Christianity in Nigeria and that is what we are experiencing.”She descended heavily on some men of God who have called on her husband to step down as CAN leader over the episode. She spoke further on this and more. Excerpts:

HUMAN PARTS ON SALE AHEAD 2015 ELECTION —ORITSEJAFOR

PRESIDENT of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has taken a swipe on fetish politicians, who have began to trade in humans parts for diabolical purposes ahead 2015 general elections.
He said such politicians were the ones troubling the peace, progress and existence of the country, but would soon meet their waterloo.
The cleric made these submissions on Wednesday, at the Thanksgiving Service for Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s 60 birthday, held at the First Baptist Church, Warri, Delta State.
He described the challenges of the country as foundational in nature, wrongly laid by the country’s forefathers, adding that he was sad seeing educated Nigerians turning to diabolism, in spite of its evil implications.
Speaking on “Thanksgiving,” taken from 2Cor. 9:11-12, he warned politicians, who were already engaging themselves in burying cows and human heads in order to win the coming 2015 elections to desist from the act, saying they have already lost in the elections.
“People are burying cows, human heads because of election. You wey go school? Wetin dey do you sef? Dem take white chalk, red chalk rub you? You don lose already. You are troubling Nigeria,” the CAN president stated in pidgin.

$9.3M ARMS DEAL: PRESIDENCY EXONERATES ORITSEJAFOR

The Federal Government has exonerated the President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor from the alleged involvement of his aircraft in the controversial $9.3m arms deal in South Africa.

The Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan (Public Communication), Dr. Doyin Okupe, told newsmen in Abuja that Oritsejafor who is also the Founder of Word of Life Bible Church has no hand in the deal.

“Most Nigerians do not also respect the sensibilities of other people. Oritsejafor is the President of CAN and Head of all Christians in Nigeria who is representing at least, 50 per cent of people in this country. When it comes to a man like that, people should be cautious and circumspect.”

$9.3M ARMS DEAL: ORITSEJAFOR OPENS UP

KADUNA —President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, yesterday for the first time spoke on the controversial $9.3m cash allegedly smuggled into South Africa by two Nigerians and an Israeli using his private jet. The money which has been confiscated by a South African court was meant for the purchase of arms for the Nigerian Intelligence Services. This is just as the#BringBackOurGirls# campaign group, has said it will soon drag the CAN president and the Federal Government to court over the money.
Following the use of his aircraft to convey the money which was not declared in South Africa until immigration officials discovered it, the CAN president was linked to the arms deal with critics condemning his role in the arms deal.
Explaining his own side of the story yesterday, at an emergency meeting of the expanded National Executive Council, NEC, of CAN in Abuja, Pastor Oritsejafor denied any involvement or knowledge of the deal to buy arms in South Africa, noting that enemies of Christians were fuelling the division of CAN.

CORRUPTION, TERRORISM OUR GREATEST PROBLEMS – ORITSEJAFOR

President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oristejafor, has said that most of the challenges confronting the country were self-inflicted with corruption and terrorism top of the bill.
Oritsejafor made the statement in a sermon at an inter-denominational church service at the National Ecumenical Centre, Abuja, to mark the country’s 54th Independence Anniversary coming up on Wednesday.
He noted that corruption and terrorism, which he described as ‘the greatest’ problems facing the country were created by greedy politicians and extreme religious ideologists.
According to him, corruption is fed by greed, which in turn is rooted in poverty mentality. He defined poverty mentality as the thinking that what one had was not enough.
Oristejafor differed with the school of thought that terrorism was caused by poverty.
According to him, terrorism is caused by extreme religious ideology.

$9.3M SCAM: CATHOLIC CHURCH DENIES REPOT INDICTING ORITSEJAFOR

The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) yesterday distanced itself and the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama from reports that the Catholic Church had indicted President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor over the $9.3 million linked to the aborted arms deal.
In a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, the church stated that there was no time, Archbishop Kaigama made any allusion suggesting that Oritsejafor was culpable.

The statement signed by the Director of Communication, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Rev. Fr Chris Anyanwu observed that "our attention has been drawn to the reports in some online editions of some newspapers such as the Daily Post, Daily Trust, New Telegraph and the Guardian with misleading headlines, posted on Thursday 25th September 2014, and suggesting that Most Rev. Ignatius Ayau Kaigama, the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) accused Pastor Ayo Ortistejafor of denting the image of the Christian Association of Nigeria over the case of the jet that was found with $9.3milion allegedly owned by the CAN President.

ORITSEJAFOR ‘TAINTED, JITTERY’, SAYS EL-RUFAI

Former minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, has described president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ayo Oritsejafor, as “tainted and jittery” over the seizure of his plane stacked with $9.3m for the purchase of arms in South Africa. El-Rufai accused the CAN leader of involving himself in “politics of division”, hence a degradation of his position. Earlier on Monday, CAN had lashed into el-Rufai, Lai Mohammed and the All Progressives Congress, accusing them of “launching a blackmail” on its leader for the purpose of hiding their possible links with Boko Haram. However, on Wednesday, the former FCT minister, speaking through his media advisor, Mayowa Adekeye, implored the government to clarify its involvement in Monday’s attempted secret purchase of arms without permission of South African authorities, using a plane that Oritsejafor has admitted “holding an interest in“. “When light unexpectedly shines on murkiness, those exposed by the stinging rays often berate the light rather than regret the muck.

SEIZED AIRCRAFT: CAN ATTACKS EL RUFAI, LAI MOHAMMED

Our attention has been drawn to the desperation of some elements working for a particular political party within our society to tarnish the image of the President of Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. They are working for the All Progressives Congress and they are not unknown to us. Let Nigerians have this background for them to judge themselves. These shameless characters including a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nasir El-Rufai and National Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress, Lai Mohammed, went to UK to embark on an image laundering for their political party, the APC. El-Rufai had once said there are three sets of Boko Haram in Nigeria: Islamic Boko Haram, Politicians’ Boko Haram and Christians’ Boko Haram which he said are being funded by President Goodluck Jonathan and coordinated by CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. He went further to claim that the CAN President has been given N50 billion by the President and a Jet. The same characters, went head to sponsor a negative report in Saharareporters. I had expected that by now no sane mind will take any report by Saharareporters serious because it is an online news medium which thrives on falsehood and survives on false propaganda and blackmail. The aircraft in question is owned by Eagle Air Company and the CAN President is an interested party in the company. Since August 2 2014, this Aircraft has been leased to Green Coast Produce Limited. They lease this aircraft and people rent it from them. Anybody in this country will attest to the fact that Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor has been following Chartered Airlines.

I CAN’T WASTE MY TIME ON EL-RUFAI, HE’S TOO SMALL –ORITSEJAFOR

President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor in this interview bares his mind on controversies surrounding churches the Boko Haram insurgency and sundry issues
Apart from being a general overseer in your church, you head Nigeria’s highest religious organisation, the Christian Association of Nigeria. How do you feel when people criticise you sometimes on all fronts?
Criticism is part of life. Anybody who does not expect criticism should think again because criticism can actually enhance a man’s capacity to do better. Criticism for me is not a problem. The only thing that is a problem, in my own opinion, is when you are not doing what is called constructive criticism. Disrespectful criticism is also wrong. It is a free world and people are free to criticise. I will also say that as a person, I believe that truth must never be mortgaged. That, perhaps, is one of the things that get me into trouble with some people. If you watch events in Nigeria, and if our Nigerian press would give me credit, they would realise that many things I predicted eventually came to pass exactly the way I said them.
Boko Haram has launched an onslaught on the church for some time now. How do you feel about this?

2015: I SEE DANGER AHEAD — ORITSEJAFOR

‘My grouse against northern governors’
As the world celebrated Boxing Day, National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, spoke on the essence of Christmas and some national issues. Excerpts:
This is Christmas, a season of love, giving and the rest. What is the essence of the season?
The most powerful verse in the Holy Bible is John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him will not perish but have everlasting life”. Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. Basically, Christmas is about giving. God gave His son to man, that’s why Jesus came. He came on a mission to rescue man from obvious destruction. Man had fallen, now God wanted to restore man. But in restoring man, He didn’t just say He wanted to rescue man, He set a precedence—He gave.

NIGERIAN CHRISTIANS ARE TREATED AS SECOND CLASS CITIZENS – ORITSEJAFOR

This is a two in one interview.
Luka Binniyat met the President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, in Abuja. Sam Eyoboka ran into the CAN leader in Lagos.
Both encounters produced this interview in which Oritsejafor bared his concerns on what he described as the treatment of Christians as second class citizens in their own country. He also spoke on Boko Haram, amnesty for the Islamists, their victims, and gay marriage. Excerpts:
You are now in your second term as the President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). What were the challenges you faced during your first tenure and what is your agenda for the second?

ORITSEJAFOR WORKING FOR JONATHAN’S 2015 AGENDA –BUHARI

A former Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has accused the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, of working for the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Buhari said with many statements credited to the pastor concerning him (Buhari), it was evident that he was desperate to help the electoral fortunes of the President.

The former head of state, in a statement on Sunday, said this while responding to the call for his arrest by the CAN President.

JONATHAN DID NOT BUY PLANE FOR ME, SAYS ORITSEJAFOR

ABUJA — NATIONAL President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, for the first time, publicly dismissed criticisms that continued to trail his acquisition of a private jet with some critics claiming that the gift may have come from the Presidency.

The founder/senior pastor of Word of Life Bible Church, Warri emphatically declared that President Goodluck Jonathan did not contribute a dime for the jet.

Receiving a delegation of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Delta State chapter in his Word of Life Bible Church, Warri, last Sunday, Pastor Oritsejafor said the private jet was presented to him on November 10, 2012, by church members within and outside the country in commemoration of his 40th year on the pulpit.

PLANNED AMNESTY IS WICKEDNESS — ORITSEJAFOR

The President, Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has said it will be an act of wickedness, if President Goodluck Jonathan declares amnesty for Boko Haram.

Oritsejafor said the pardon could only be granted when members of the sect admitted their wrongdoings. He queried what would be the fate of the victims of the sect’s insurgencies, should its members be allowed to escape prosecution.

While addressing journalists at the 80th birthday ceremony of the President, Apostolic Church of Nigeria, Pastor Gabriel Oladele Olutola, in Lagos, the CAN president warned that Jonathan should not toy with the future of Nigeria by trading off its security on the altar of politics.

PASTOR PULLS OUT GUN ON CHURCH ACCOUNTANT IN BENUE

Pastor  Ayo Oristejafor  CAN President

 THE Benue State Police Command, yesterday, arrested the pastor of a new generation church in Katsina-Ala (names withheld) for illegal possession of fire arms and assault on the church’s accountant.

Vanguard gathered from sources that the pastor was apprehended with the firearm by men of the Benue State Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, in Katsina-Ala where he allegedly tried to kill the accountant of the church, Mr. Philip Toryila, during a serious disagreement over money.

CAN CRISIS DEEPENS

The crisis rocking the Christian Association of Nigeria worsened on Wednesday as the association told the Catholic Church to go ahead with its decision to pull out of the association.

The Catholic Church recently decided to pull out of CAN, alleging that the Christian body no longer stood for the objectives for which it was set up.

The Administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta, Monsignor Christopher Ajala, on Tuesday, alleged that CAN had become an arm of government.

But CAN blamed the Catholic’s action on the loss of the Presidency of CAN to Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.