A former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has taken a swipe at the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, for allegedly cheapening the office he represents.

El-Rufai in a statement, accused Oritsejafor of what he described as his unguided utterances that were not in tandem with the presidency of CAN.

He said while Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie was the president of CAN, he represented the voice of resistance to those in governments and their excesses at a time when many people kept silent in the face of human rights abuses, noting that that could not be said of Oritsejafor.

“Okogie faced down the military government and told them some home truths. It didn’t matter if the victims were Muslims or Christians; it didn’t matter whether they were from the north or south; CAN fought for all Nigerians. Okogie had the moral authority to act, and did so with dignity, to the admiration of all of us.

Okogie’s bravery was not unusual for CAN leaders; if anything, in the turbulent history of this country, there is a proud tradition of leaders of CAN, who spoke for and stood by the people of this country. They used their moral authority to defend the rights of all Nigerians even during the most brutal military dictatorships or corrupt and inept civilian administrations.

“The courage of the likes of Okogie, Archbishop Peter Jasper Akinola, the Rev. Sunday Mbang and Cardinal John Onaiyekan, for instance, are shining examples of faith in action, with compassion for the oppressed and chastisement for the tyrants” the former minister said. He noted that it was sad that the present CAN president had deviated from using the office for a nobler cause.

He stressed that the clergy chose to be a subaltern to power, while “other men of faith rose to stem division and help the country achieve peace, efforts for which Cardinal Onaiyekan and the Sultan of Sokoto were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Such an esteemed global honour is a measurement of leadership quality and character; as distinct from Oritsejafor who prefers earthly gains and ostentatious lifestyle of private jets”

The former minister noted that God’s work should not be reduced to petty electoral calculations, neither should those who claim to be on the Almighty’s mission indulge in base blackmail and falsehood, or encroach on God’s prerogative to bestow grace, provide final justice and avenge wrong.

However, reacting on behalf of CAN, a group, the National Youth of TEKAN, a conglomeration of CAN’s 13 church groups in the North, said the former minister should be prepared “to return to exile.”

A statement signed by its President, Dr. Samuel Emmanuel Nanle, the group said el-Rufai should not be taken serious because he constituted a deficit to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said: “We will not gratify his passion, but we warn him to watch-out or else his return to exile where he rightly belongs might just be sooner than he can imagine. It is in fact regrettable that a party like APC which claims to be a credible platform parade the likes of el-Rufai who went on self-exile to run away from the hands of the law during the days of Yar’Adua.

“We as a fellowship of 13 denominations cutting across the whole northern Nigeria knows that el-Rufai is a political pay flute and would want to advise him to address his moral bankruptcy before dropping names of revered people of the CAN President into public discourse which he generates to get attention.

According to Nanle, the likes of el-Rufai thrive by trying to draw attention to themselves “when he is quickly being forgotten and such his remark at best should fall flat and remain only news to the ears of those who are new to his antics of seeking to put behind the tale of his incredible service in our country.”