by Kolapo Olapoju

According to Doyin Okupe, his recent comparison of President Goodluck Jonathan to Jesus Christ is not blasphemy.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, insists that it was not out of place to make the comparison, which drew ire and criticism from various quarters.

He was a guest on Channels Television on Monday, December 15, where he made the controversial statement.

Okupe defended his utterances on Thursday, December 18, saying that Jesus Christ in his time, advised His followers to be like Him and even urged them to do greater things.

He said: “The whole thing was just blown out of proportion. Comparing Jonathan with Jesus Christ is not blasphemous, because even Christ said we must be like Him and that we should even do greater things than Him. It is there in the Holy Bible, not from me.”

Speaking further, the presidential aide claimed to have been quoted out of context, while also adding that the North still held grudges against Jonathan because the region feel they should be in power, instead of him.

Okupe said: “There is some form of bias against President Goodluck Jonathan. This bias has been sponsored and supported by some existing geo-political disparity and disconnect that preceded his becoming President.

“The North felt that it was not fair to have someone from another part of the country other than a northerner to take over the leadership of the country after the death of Yar’Adua. For that reason, many parts of the North became quite recalcitrant and unforgiving towards Jonathan.

“Their behaviour towards him is not because Jonathan is a bad person or because they feel he would not do well but because they see him as somebody who has taken their turn in power. That was the beginning of Jonathan’s problems.”

Kolapo Olapoju