The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) former President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has taken a swipe at those who mocked former President Goodluck Jonathan's administration, saying many of them are now in power and have no clue how to run the country.
Pastor Oritsejafor made this statement during an appearance on Channels Television's Politics Today on Monday, where he responded to criticisms that trailed Jonathan's administration, particularly allegations that insecurity and corruption thrived under his leadership.
"Where are those people now? Are they not the same people today who are in power?" Oritsejafor asked. "People who called him clueless, but they wouldn't allow him to do the things he needed to do. They protested against him all over the place in Lagos especially, and across the country."
According to Oritsejafor, many of those who sponsored and supported the protests against Jonathan are now occupying key positions in government. "Now, the people who sponsored all those protests, who did a lot of all those things, many of them are the people in power today. So, now they have the clue, but look at where Nigeria is now," he said.
Oritsejafor also weighed in on the performance of President Bola Tinubu's administration, expressing concern over the state of the country and advising the president against seeking a second term in office. He said the current administration had worsened Nigeria's challenges and questioned the government's ability to reverse the country's declining fortunes.
"The government of Tinubu has done more harm to this nation than this nation has ever experienced," he said. While declining to directly support calls for Tinubu's resignation, Oritsejafor urged the president to honestly assess his capacity to address the country's problems.
"I would not sit here categorically and tell him resign. But I think what I would say to him is, look, don't pretend to know what to do when you don't know what to do. Don't pretend that you can take Nigeria out of where it is now, when you know you can't," he stated.
The cleric further criticised the administration's "Renewed Hope" slogan, arguing that many Nigerians have lost confidence due to economic hardship and insecurity.
"The average Nigerian today has no hope, except if you say you look up to God to give you hope," he said. Oritsejafor concluded by urging Tinubu not to pursue another term, saying, "Don't begin to dream of coming back to continue this same mess."
Oritsejafor served as the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) from 2010 to 2013. He is a prominent cleric and has been vocal on various national issues.
Pastor Oritsejafor's tenure as the CAN President was marked by several controversies, including the allegations of corruption and inefficiency in the management of the association's finances. However, despite these challenges, he remained a respected figure in the Christian community and has continued to play an active role in Nigerian politics.
Oritsejafor's comments on President Tinubu's administration are likely to spark a renewed debate on Nigeria's current challenges and the ability of the government to address them.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is a prominent faith-based organization in Nigeria with a membership of over 30 million Christians.
Pastor Oritsejafor's criticism of President Tinubu's administration comes amid growing concerns over the state of the country, with many Nigerians lamenting the decline of the economy and the increasing insecurity.
The government's "Renewed Hope" slogan has been criticized by many as a hollow promise, with many Nigerians citing the lack of tangible progress in addressing the country's challenges.
President Tinubu has been under intense pressure to deliver on his election promises, particularly in addressing the country's economic challenges.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has been a vocal critic of the government's handling of several issues, including the economy and insecurity.