Nigeria: Oritsejafor Calls for Buhari's Arrest Over Boko Haram Comments

The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has accused former military Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, of being the brain behind Boko Haram.

Oritsejafor, reacting to the "divisive and inflammatory" statement credited to Buhari, the national leader of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), called on the federal government to arrest him immediately.

Buhari, while featuring on a programme of a Kaduna-based radio station, Liberty Radio, had questioned the "special treatment" given to Niger Delta militants by the federal government while the Boko Haram members were being killed and their houses destroyed by government.

Buhari was quoted to have said: "They (the Niger Delta militants) were trained in some skills and were given employment, but the ones in the north were being killed and their houses were being demolished. They are different issues. What brought this? It is injustice".

However, Oritsejafor criticised Buhari's comments and accused him of fanning the embers of disunity.

He said: "This kind of fundamentalism is the driving force behind his failure in each election in the country. Nigerians have been quite appreciative of the bold steps taken by President Goodluck Jonathan to rid the north of Nigeria's enemies. This can only mean that the retired General is a fanatic. He is, therefore, the prime leader of this religious and blood-thirsty sect called Boko Haram, a movement that is based on a warped interpretation of a strict adherence to force people of other religions into Islam.

"I cannot wish away the outburst of harshly critical statements, especially as some of them are directly related to the defence of the Boko Haram sect whose members have continued to kill, maim Christians and burn churches. I feel the pain inflicted on Christians living in the north. It is too deep for us in CAN to ignore any unsavoury statement that tends to portray innocent Christians who have been killed by the sect members as the aggressors.

"It is shocking that at a time well-meaning Nigerians are praying for the success of our soldiers, Buhari, rather than reflect the mood of the nation in his statements and conduct, is indulging in careless statements without regards for victims of the sect's violence who are mostly Christians.

BY SHOLA OYEYIPO AND YEMI AKINSUYI.