Don’t divide Nigeria, ACF leader tells Oritsejafor
National
Vice- Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Senator Joseph Waku,
has described as “reckless”, comments credited to the National President
of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, before
the United States Congress’ Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and
Human Rights chaired by Mr. Christopher Smith.
Oritsejafor had asked that Boko Haram should be classified as a terrorist organisation.
He warned that if the CAN President was not called to
order by Christians, his comments could further divide the country
along ethnic and religious lines.
The ACF leader in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja,
said by now, Oritsejafor, should represent the country well wherever he
found himself.”
He said, “Some of us who are equally Christians need
to caution 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 has 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 being
executed with the name of CAN to the international arena.
“That Oritsejafor could go before a US congress
committee to make a case against the Nigerian government 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 warned that if the CAN president would not stop
rolling such comments on sensitive national issues, “some of us in the
Christian fold will be helping him by replying him before he succeeds in
creating a different impression about Christianity to other religions.”
