CPC Claims FG Purchased Private Jet For Pastor Oritsejiafor’s

The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has alleged that the bombardier jet being used by Christian Association of Nigerian (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, was purchased by the Presidency.

CPC’s national publicity secretary, Engr Rotimi Fashakin, in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday said the offer was a reward for the pastor’s calling for the arrest of CPC’s presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari after the post-election violence of 2011.

In press release which was titled ‘Jonathan Regime and the Politicisation of Nigeria’s Security,’ Fashakin accused the Presidency of buying the jet which was later said to have been bought by members Oritsejafor’s congregation.


“The post-election violence in April 2011 that disrupted the peace in some parts of Northern Nigeria was seen as a spontaneous reaction of the people to the subversion of their electoral rights. Pastor Ayodele Oritsejafor, the President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and President Jonathan’s side-kick, called a press conference and bizarrely demanded the arrest of General Muhammadu Buhari.

“It did not matter that the fashionable cleric did not possess verifiable evidence to support his claim. This was seen as President Jonathan’s attempt at polarising the polity along religious lines in an iniquitous divide-and-rule scheme.

“As a fitting reward for that execrable service and many others, Pastor Oritsejafor was rewarded on November 10, 2012 with the gift of a Bombardier private jet at a ceremony in which the President was physically present! We were later told the cleric’s congregation made the donation.

Describing Jonathan’s handling of security in the country as an elusive phenomenon, Fashakin cited the recent bursting of the Boston city bombers as an example of responsible governance, saying it was a far cry from the way Jonathan handled the October 10 bombing at the Eagles Square.

On the issue of amnesty for Boko Haram, the CPC frowned at the way and manner it was being handled, saying money being spent on insecurity is only a justifiable reason for added expenditure on security and nothing more.

Fashakin said the CPC would continue to hold Jonathan regime accountable so long as it fails to implement its promises to Nigerians, more so that it had observed that there was desperation of the Jonathan regime ahead of the 2015 general election.

Meanwhile, the presidency yesterday dismissed allegation by the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) that it was President Goodluck Jonathan who purchased the private jet for Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President, Mr. Ayo Oritsejafor as an incoherent rambling which fits into a pattern of consistent “wolf crying” by a defeated group that hide under the cloak of opposition.

In a swift reaction, Special Adviser to the president on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati said most Nigerians with keen spirit for discernment were quite aware that the CPC and its Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) counterpart would say unreasonable things to gain political relevance.

Abati said, “The statement by Rotimi Fashakin of the CPC is a thoroughly incoherent, stream of consciousness rambling that serves no purpose other than that it fits into a pattern of perpetual heckling and “wolf crying” by a defeated, unimaginative group that hides under the guise of being an opposition.

“More discerning persons know the truth: that the CPC and its ACN conspirators will say anything no matter how unreasonable just so they can be seen to be saying something in the name of politics.

http://www.leadership.ng/nga/node/426