by Kingsley Ahanonu

The recent uncovering of a surreptitious arms deal that suggests a supposed link with the flamboyant and impassioned Ayo Oritsejeafor raises question that bothers much on integrity.

Two Nigerians and an Abuja-based Israeli were reportedly fingered to be in connection with the suspicious arms deal; owing to their arrest by the South African authority. They were however caught in the process of airlifting the money for the supply- a whooping USD9.3million using a private jet. The said private jet has long being confirmed to belong to Pastor Ayo Oritsejeafor.

Though these Nigerians and the Abuja based Israeli were the ones named to be actually involved in the physical process of the transaction, Mr Oritsejeafor appears to be heavily wobbled in the centre of the whole storm basically for the reason that he is a renowned figure in the Nigerian (Christian) community. He is the controversial president of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN.

As the head of the Nigeria’s Christian community, Oritsejeafor has stirred criticisms for many reasons, far and wide. His notoriety cuts across the Christian block he leads and veers into the adjoining spheres. Renowned for his constant frolicking with the chief host of the Villa and his unholy romance with political mights, he has become disparaged by his coevals in the Christian echelons. It is still within reminiscence the rejection and threat of secession by the dominant Catholic sub-block that trailed the re-election of Ayo as CAN president.

Ayo remains a die-hard proponent of the Jonathan presidency. He stood unapologetically for the election of Mr President, and to the  consternation of even the Christian members used indecorously the means which his office as CAN’s no 1 provided to galvanize support for a ‘Christian president’ of Jonathan in the 2011 general polls.

Under Oritsejeafor, CAN became a laughing stock to many. It lost that endearing value that stood it out as an instrument for the appraisal of conscience. Instead of upping in its established status of being the watchdog and a judge to government’s impunity, it has plunged deeply and sordidly too as the jesty ‘religious arm’ of the government of the day. How denigrating such a description could be to a once revered institution. Thanks to the administrative ineptitude of Ayo!

It is on record of how he went to the United States Congress, after series of letters, to make case for his brethren and implore on the support of the Americans for a counter-offensive. We could well give it to the efforts of Ayo (whether as an individual or as the head of an institution), the eventual designation of Boko Haram as a terrorist organisation by the U.S.

If that depiction wouldn’t be impressive in the light of the present shenanigan where he’s once placed at the full glare of the media, Mr. Oritsejeafor venomous tirades and detest of the Boko Haram sect with their deleterious ideology would fight to resist any retreat.

Mr. Ayo employed all arsenals within his reach, personally and officially as the rep of the CAN, to call for the proscription of the jihadists for their apparent onslaught on his brethren. The Christian community has consistently being the major casualty of the insurgency; and Ayo made no doubt of his reprisal, in whatever way achievable.

It is on record of how he went to the United States Congress, after series of letters, to make case for his brethren and implore on the support of the Americans for a counter-offensive. We could well give it to the efforts of Ayo (whether as an individual or as the head of an institution), the eventual designation of Boko Haram as a terrorist organisation by the U.S.

So we see Mr. Ayo as a man of many fronts, one who, from obscurity, became synonymous with controversy in the Nigerian polity. No wonder then that his name rebounds dusts more than anyone else with direct involvement in the said arms deal, for his mere probable link.

From what the reports gathered, it is not as though, Mr. Ayo was fingered (at least for the moment). Rather his name became preponderant in the scam simply for the involvement of his birthday jet-present provides. However, even as his ownership of the jet would serve a good suggestion to track Ayo’s possible connection to the deal, it does not so clearly indict him of palpable complicity.

While it is possible, going by the ownership of the jet facility in question, that the polemic Pastor could be involved in the act, it would also not be improbable that he could be in the dark as to any transaction being carried out by his property. After all, the man was not in the facility when it was nabbed.

Whereas the connection of the jet used with Mr Ayo could suggest a susceptibility of his culpableness, it nonetheless goes no further than that, if there is no proof to its effect; and that is after the suggestion as it is has become subjected to further and holistic scrutiny.

For this reason, and even as the investigating agencies take their turns on Ayo to unravel the mist, it would be discretionary to know who is the eventual end-user? If as alleged, it is at the behest of the government, then it would further help to know what has being the previously adopted means for such deals. Do they make it public? Does it involve private means? And why?

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Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.