Crisis Hits CAN As Angry Pastors Move Against Oritsejafor

A serious crisis is brewing in the leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, as some members from the Niger Delta, under the aegis of Global Peace Relief Initiative, led by Prophet Jones Erue, on Wednesday faulted Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, President of the association, over what they described as the unacceptable comments he made against them.

“It is surprising that Pst Ayo Oritsejafor, the CAN president will handle issues of immense gravity and national importance hastily, with levity and without discretion. The first and easiest thing to know about a man is his name; it is a pity that the CAN president does not know the name of the group of clerics he is addressing nor their affiliates.

“Expecting him to have minimal knowledge on what they stand for, will be tantamount to exerting too much pressure on his aging gray matter. We are begging his aides and personal assistants to do their job well and stop exposing this great man of God to disrepute."

It appears the groups is making efforts to reconcile President Goodluck Jonathan with Governor Amaechi and other members of the G7, but this did not go down well with Pastor Oritsejafor's group.

In a statement by Prophet Erue, the Niger Delta pastors described Oritsejafor’s comment to the effect that CAN was apolitical, as laughable, accusing the CAN President of getting involved in politics of calumny and name dropping. They said that they might not be as rich as the CAN President or own a private jet, but "were men of integrity".

The statement said: “We are disappointed that a leader could sit and watch his two children fight while the rest of us suffer only to come and blackmail those who take their time to seek solutions to the crisis.” They warned that no amount of blackmail or intimidation would deter them from the noble mission of rescuing the country from imminent collapse.

“These eminent clerics and their affiliate, Global Peace and Relief Initiative have taken on a laudable project of consulting across all interest group and stakeholders concerning the Nigerian project. Nigeria is the only country we can call our own and as fathers we cannot fold our hands and watch intolerance and impunity destroy our nation.

“To place the records straight, we have not made promises to any persons and we have not used the name of CAN, we have an affiliate whose mission and vision best defines our activity. We are noble men and do not rail accusation on authorities.

“It is a pity that the handlers of the CAN president have allowed miscreants, to drag him into a show of shame, misinformed the press and over laboured the corporate affairs commission with a futile search.

“If we may ask, whose registration were they authenticating? A group they barely know its name? This is a faith based Non Governmental Organisation, NGO, with memberships spread across the nation. Our main business is advocacy, conflict prevention/resolution and facilitation of peace projects whether individual, group, organisation or government. We create a good soil for developmental projects and people oriented policies to thrive

“For the CAN president to say CAN is apolitical is laughable, as the same president is involved in politics of calumny and name dropping. The CAN’s statement as reported by the media does not represent the facts on ground but a mere imagination. Calling names at this critical period of the nation’s political development does not represent the responsibility expected of a great leader of Pastor Ayo Oritsejeafor’s capacity”

Pastor Oritsejafor is yet to reacts to the group's accusations.