“Declaring amnesty for Boko Haram will be an act of wickedness” – Ayo Oritsejafor

by Rachel Ogbu

Pastor-Ayo-Oritsejafor
Pastor-Ayo-Oritsejafor

The President, Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, said declaring amnesty for Boko Haram will be an act of wickedness.

He said a rational situation should be when Boko Haram members come out and acknowledged their offenses.

Oritsejafor questioned the fate of the victims of the sect’s insurgencies after Boko Haram is allowed to escape prosecution.

Oritsejafor speaking at the 80th birthday ceremony of the President, Apostolic Church of Nigeria, Pastor Gabriel Oladele Olutola, in Lagos, the CAN president said:.

“I don’t know his ambition for second term because I am not a politician; I am a pastor. But that (amnesty) would be wicked. I don’t see why he would have to do that and I don’t see why he would have to consider that because we are facing a very serious situation in Nigeria.

“Let us not turn this situation into politics. Let’s face it for what it is. The security of the people is the number one responsibility of the President. And I think at this point, Jonathan must wake up and just face it and do what he has to do. But these people who are putting pressure on him left and right, may God help them and deliver Nigeria from their hands. Nigeria I believe would be safe.”

The former first lady, Turai Yar’Adua had earlier urged President Jonathan to pardon members of Boko Haram just as her husband, Musa Yar’Adua had done with the Niger Delta militants, granting them amnesty.

But Oritsejafor argued that the insurgency should not be compared to Niger Delta militancy. According to him, the Niger Delta militants fought for their neglect and survival. He added that their leaders came to the public to make their complaints known.

“The reality is that you cannot equate those two instances. How many mosques were burnt in Warri or Port Harcourt? Can you tell me one? Young boys didn’t come on the streets to start shooting and killing people in the market. I’m from Warri, the Central Mosque is in the centre of our town. It has been there all these years. Nobody touched it.”

The Punch reports:

He said the claim that poverty was the cause of the insurgency was not true. He queried where the sect got funds to acquire weapons and why it attacked churches and schools. He added that those who made the claim might have connections with the sect.

He said northern leaders should have emulated South-South leaders by identifying leaders of the sect and leading them to Jonathan to seek amnesty. He said the amnesty, if declared, would be like putting the cart before the horse.

The CAN boss carpeted Sheikh Abubakar Gumi over his Facebook comment on Jesus Christ. He called on the government to call the Islamic scholar and former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Nasir El-Rufai, to order over their alleged incitements.

Gumi had reportedly said in the post that Jesus did not die after his crucifixion but only went into coma.

 

Comments (8)

  1. Yakubu honestly your comment here is very unfortunate and totslly disrespectful. For u to say Rev Ayo is a bigot and dat he talks nonsense shows you are insane and irresponsible. You dont fear God and u dont have elders at home. The Rev has submitted a balanced and acceptable response. U can melt if u care to, bulshit.

  2. Yakubu did l hear u call Rev Ayo a bigot and dat he was talking nonsense? Haaa u must b totally insane. U have sinned against God and God will judge u as He would judge d heartless killings of boko haram terror atacks in Nigeria. We are watching. We are not fools but God fearing.

  3. Yakubu why are u taking this issue so personal. U even isulted Rev Orisajafore. We need 2 b careful and more inteligent in our utterances on national issues. The views expressed by Rev Ayo is ballanced and acceptable. U can melt if u like.

  4. We want peace and a path toward. The it was created u r there saying non sense bcos u r not leaving. In area god will surely judgé you.

  5. This CAN president hate d muslims and he can’t do us anything. Let him stop pretending he should go straight to his main intention by calling on d President to declear war on d muslims. We have suffered most in this crisis and yet this bigot is talking nonsense. Let d president listen to his main agenda and declear war on d muslims

    1. Truth is bitter when said….I see nothing wrong in what he said..what is BK agitating for?…granting them amnesty is really baseless and useless….and is even a shameful act for them to accept it the amnesty…why not fight until Nigeria is Turn to Islamic state…useless and shameful human…shame on you people.

    2. Yakubu what did u suffer? How many mosques were bombed, how many muslims bombed or slain like rams, let d continue now, what happened to middle east will happen to dem, CAN president did not say anytin negative about muslims but against Boko haram or are u one, Y dis arrogant defence, Christianity does not preach against any religion unlike u muslims dat call none muslims arna an all sorts of names, imagine muslim scholar who knew notin abt Jesus sayin dat Jesus did not die dat He was in coma, am sure if it were a christian dat preached anytin contrary to muslims believe world war III would have started in nija.

    3. Who is talking of hatred? Kill all d christian, is dat not d message in mosques

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