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Former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ayo Oritsejafor, has explained his decision to withdraw from public political debates after repeated attempts to persuade Nigerians to consider the consequences of their choices failed.
Naija News reports that Oritsejafor, during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, dismissed claims that his silence on political issues in recent years amounted to complicity.
He said, “I kept quiet because sometimes when you talk to people, when you try to make them understand that what is happening, and what’s going to happen, is going to be terrible, and you try, and try and then no one seems to be listening, the best thing is to withdraw.
“You can’t force people to listen to you, you can’t force people to take your advice, you can’t force people to follow what you’re saying.
”So I decided to step aside, but, like I said, I’ve watched the events, just from one level to another until we got to where we are now, and I think this is the time for me to begin to say something.”
The cleric said the country’s current situation had compelled him to return to public commentary on governance and leadership issues after years of relative silence.
According to Oritsejafor, his role as a pastor makes it impossible to ignore the struggles faced by ordinary Nigerians.
He stated, “It has gotten to a point where I feel I must begin to say something, because I pastor people, they are human beings, they are Nigerians, and we must begin to hold people accountable for what’s happening.”
Oritsejafor also recalled foreseeing challenges under the late former President, Muhammadu Buhari’s government and expressed his concerns before the administration took office but Nigerians ignored them.
He added, “In 2014, I tried to warn this nation of the direction it was going.
“I would say it plain, when the Buhari government was getting ready to come in, I knew that it was going to be a mess, and I think from there, I don’t know what to call where we are now, but it has grown worse.”
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