Oritsejafor seriously warns against political instability

The Christian Association of Nigeriaon Fridayin Abuja expressed
concern over what it described as political intolerance ahead of the
forthcoming general elections, saying politics was not a do-or-die
affair
The association advised politicians to shun any act capable of causing
violence in the country.
The President of CAN and Founder of World of Life Bible Church, Pastor
Ayo Oritsejafor, said this during a retreat organised by the National
Christian Elders Forum in Abuja.
He said if truly the intention of politicians was to serve the people,
they would always eschew activities capable of causing harm to others.
While urging them to play by the rules, the CAN President stressed
that while election would come and go, Nigeria would continue to
exist.
He said, "I am puzzled about the conducts of some politicians in the
country, especially their political intolerance. Is politics not
supposed to be service to the people? If you get into any political
position, you should be there to serve the people.
"Therefore, if the essence is for you to serve, who are you going to
serve when the people you want to serve die in the process of
election? I want to use this opportunity to appeal to our politicians
again that it is not a do-or-die affair.
"Let us remember that election will come and go and Nigeria will
remain. So let us play the game according the rules. I appeal to your
conscience and to your heart. I watch television; I see how a lot of
people are being maimed and killed. Let us do what is right so that
Nigeria will remain Nigeria."
Reacting to the alleged political intolerance in the North, the CAN
President maintained that it was wrong for anyone to prevent the other
from identifying with any candidate of his or her choice.
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For democracy to work, Oritsejafor said, individuals should have
freedom to freely express their feelings or political bias without any
fear of molestation.
He said, "It is very terrible, from certain parts of the North, there
are people who are even afraid to identify with some candidates. Their
fear is that they will be victimised. I think this kind of atmosphere
is wrong. If this is a democracy, everyone should be allowed to do
whatever one feels is right in one's hearts, freely.
"Certain people have set the stage for such thinking, which is wrong.
If this is a democracy, then we should not predetermine anything. It
is a very terrible thing. From the reports we get especially from the
North, there are people who are afraid to go around to identify with
candidates of their choice because of the fear of victimisation.
"I think this is wrong. If this is democracy, everyone should be
allowed to vote for any candidate of one's choice. They should be
allowed to do what they think is right from their heart."
The Chairman of NCEF, Mr. Solomon Asemota (SAN), stressed that the
meeting was called to enable Christian elders to brainstorm on the
various challenges confronting the nation with a view to coming up
with far reaching recommendations.
According to him, a communique arising from the meeting, will be sent
to the Federal Government.
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