Outgoing President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, speaks with NOSA AKENZUA on his relationship with former President Goodluck Jonathan, the controversial Religious Bill of Kaduna State, succession in CAN and other issues

As you round off your tenure as the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, how far have you gone with the preparation to leave office?

There is nothing I have to prepare other than to do my handover notes.


 
The CAN appears disunited given the acrimony and mistrust being displayed by members of the association in the build-up to the May election. Is anything being done to put the house in order?

You are trying to get me to talk but I will not talk because I have decided not to talk. It’s my decision. The only thing I will say to you is that by the grace of God, in a few months’ time, I would have completed my mandate from God and man to lead the Christians in Nigeria. By the grace of God, I want to also believe that CAN will still be there as an organisation that has five blocks, five groups of Christians and it will continue from there. I think I have done my best and played my part and I’m sure others will come and take it from there. I pray for them that they will do better than I did in Jesus name. What we must do is what many people have said and have continued to say. First of all, we must move closer to God because one’s knowledge of God affects one’s mentality; it affects one’s relationship with others. Some people may not understand this but there’s a difference between being religious and being close to God. One can be very religious and yet far away from God. Nigeria is a very religious country but are we really close to God? I think it’s a question we need to answer as individuals and collectively as a people.

If we are not, then the foundation is not very good. We need to be close to God. To me, that’s the number one thing. If we are close to God, then we have the most important ingredient that will propel us for tomorrow. If we are close to God then it sharpens our minds and capacity to handle things that will come up tomorrow. I was saying in the church, ‘I went to Israel, and I met a Jew. We were in a bus together. I asked him a question thus: ‘God said I will take you to a land flowing with milk and honey. I’ve come to Israel several times and I’ve found out that this land is a desert. Where is the milk and honey?’ And he said to me, ‘it is here’ (pointing to his head). He said the milk and honey that God was talking about was not necessarily the land. He (GOD) was saying that there was a location where I would want you to settle down and I will use your mind to change the location.

My point is, what will make Nigeria manifest its greatness is in our heads because wealth is not money but mental capacity. God did not make any human being without giving them the capacity to think and create. Look at what they (the Israelites) have done with a desert; they turned a desert to a blossoming land. Most of the flowers that are supplied around the world today come from Israel. A lot of agricultural products today come from Israel. These do not exclude technology and computer. If all these can happen from a desert, imagine what will happen from a land that is this fertile.

Kidnapping is now a common thing even in the church. What does this development portend for Nigeria?

It is unfortunate that we are having this kind of problem because most places of religious gathering, particularly of the Christian faith, are seemingly reducing their faith to commercials. So many people think they have money and most of them live a flamboyant lifestyle. As such, the kidnappers mistake them for money men but there is nothing there. The kidnappers would be kept at bay if they stopped preaching prosperity and allowing dirty money to go into the church coffers. I also think the church is losing its moral values. The values are disappearing gradually. We should preach values and not materialism. I think the churches themselves should look inwards and correct the poor impression they are giving people outside that there is money in the church, whereas there is none.

Do you believe certain ills in the church attract this worldly conduct?

Where is the place of business in the church? I think the problem we have in the church is that a lot of these pastors are not “men of God” as they were not called. They are mercenaries, commercially minded people. The duty of the church is to preach morality not materialism and because Nigerians are very gullible; they are easy victims of deceit. They fall prey to some of these pastors or prophets of doom. The way they live gives a wrong impression of what should be in a church of God. There should be no room for material possessions. I am not saying a man of God should not live a life of comfort but it should be a life of good comfort.

How would you describe your relationship with former President Goodluck Jonathan?

I’m often shocked to read on the pages of newspapers negative reports about him (Jonathan). Goodluck Jonathan is my son and he is still my son. He meant well for the nation and he did his best, but if critics say he was bad; I don’t know the parameter they measured that with. It is unfortunate that Nigeria’s governance speaks different processes, especially those termed to have failed. Nigerians see that as an avenue to pour out their anger, insults and others. Goodluck Jonathan did his best to fix Nigeria but sabotage swung into action to ensure he did not succeed. It is laughable to read so many negative and unfounded stories about him. However, he had played his role as President and the rest is history. Our relationship is still cordial and as a leader of a church, I’m the father of all.

What is your take on the Kaduna State bill against public preaching?

Governor Nasir el-Rufai has seemingly taken the wrong step. He should call a meeting of all the stakeholders in that state with respect to religious activities before rushing to the state Assembly for any bill. Be that as it may, we have to be very careful if there is any bill intended to wear religious colouration. When Sharia was introduced into this country we were lucky to have a Christian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who tamed it. Nigeria would have been engulfed by the conflagration. Sharia would have been misunderstood. There are already enough laws in the statue book that take care of what Governor El-Rufai has in mind. I have no objection if he wants to curb noise pollution in the name of religion. I quite agree if this is the basis. But in a situation where it is meant to tackle extremism, libel, sedition, incitement and more, there are enough laws in our statute book for this. Doing otherwise is not good for him. I have tremendous respect for him for he was the person bold enough to say that there should be no more street begging. Yes, that was a sensible thing because even in the Islamic countries such is not allowed.

What about President Muhammadu Buhari?

I thank God for all that has happened. Nigeria is at present undergoing processes with a view to improving the economy and wellbeing. I am glad with the slogan ‘change’, but we must pray hard for the manifestation of the change. President Buhari has the integrity of no food for lazy persons. It is okay but we must make moves for consistent prayers for him to succeed, Nigeria is our noble country, we must salvage it together consistently with prayers. Buhari’s reformation should be holistic and not targeted at particular persons or sectors. It is a welcome development to fix Nigeria as a noble country. Buhari’s polices may be too hard for Nigerians but with time they (the policies) will pave way for true democracy, Buhari should keep Nigerians abreast with the economic reform policies and ensure they are well structured.

What is your opinion on the current fuel scarcity?

 It is a phase and it will fizzle out in no distant time. I want to charge the petroleum saboteurs to steer clear off their illicit activities and ensure that fuel crisis is a permanent thing of the past. Nigeria desires the best as a nation and all hands must be on deck for prayers for all to overcome.

Are religious groups doing enough at this critical period?

God is the only way to solving problems. Human beings are only being used by God, therefore, the religious groups are doing their best to bring to this country hope that peace will continue to reign. Except there are contrary views I don’t know about, I know that God will not abandon this country Nigeria. He will ensure evils do not exist to create problems. In a few months away from now, we will be celebrating the 56th anniversary of our independence from the British colonialists. In fact, we observed the last anniversary with mixed feelings but we are grateful to God for keeping us as one entity despite the whole lot of problems that had plagued our country Nigeria. I know Nigeria will attain a leading role in taking care of her well being. Like I said earlier, we must work together. Today, many nations exhibit high talent for digital technology but our own country, Nigeria is seemingly burdened with the relics of  an improvident past, a confused present and an uncertain future languidly crawling behind, while leaders of many nations have attained very high level of success in the provision of sound and functional education, and social infrastructure for their citizenry, our own political leaders whose only opinions and views cut ice in the affairs of our nations could not see any reason good enough for schools being adequately funded for optimal result. Neither do they consider other Nigerians worthy enough to enjoy a better life.

In the lexicon of this privileged few who manage our collective patrimony, what’s sauce for the goose is not sauce for the gander. That is why they do not feel awkward about the fact that they and their loved ones protected by God should express their thanks to God. I have seen that the poor masses are left at the mercies of armed robbers, kidnappers and terrorists but God will intervene.