The National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor has hailed the sentencing of four Boko Haram members to life imprisonment by an Abuja High Court.
Oritsejafor made his
feeling known at the presentation of a book, ``Shunpiking: No Shortcuts to
God’’, written by Reno Omokri, Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck
Jonathan on New Media.
The court, presided
over by Justice Bilikisu Aliyu, on Tuesday sentenced four out of six persons
accused of bombing INEC office in Suleja, Niger in April 2012.
Many were killed and
others wounded in the blast.
The CAN President,
Chairman of the presentation, spoke in Abuja on Wednesday.
He said although
Christianity preaches forgiveness, the judgment will assuage the families of
the victims of the attack.
``We are Christians,
we are taught to forgive, but what is important is the feeling that there is
justice. \
``I think that is what
it is now. Those people that were killed left people behind. There are widows
and there are orphans.
``They will sit back
and say if there is nothing else, those people who did this will remain in
custody for the rest of their lives and that gives a bit of comfort,’’ he said.
On the ceasefire
agreement between Federal Government and the Boko Haram sect, Oritsejafor said
it was puzzling.
``We have had
occasions in the past where some people come out suddenly and say they have
renounced violence but the next day, we see people killed here and there.
``A week or two later,
the Boko Haram leader, Shekau came out to say he knows nothing about those
people and that it is President Jonathan that needed amnesty and not the sect
members.
``We also know that
there is another faction that came out of Shekau’s group that kills foreigners.
``There are at least
two deadly groups that we know, so which group are they negotiating with.
``To me, the whole
thing is suspect, but anyone that will come out to say he is tired of violence
is a good thing because the number of religious fanatics will reduce by one.
``However, I am a
little bit puzzled on the position of government that the groups have agreed to
cease fire’’, he said.
Oritsejafor, who was
recently re-elected as chairman of CAN for another three years term, said he
would concentrate on the unity of the association.
He said he would also
work toward the completion of the Jubilee Centre which CAN is building behind
the National Christian Centre.
The centre, according
to him, will contain a guest house, conference hall and other facilities for
use by members of the body.
He said he would also
ensure discipline among members in the new term and prayers for the nation
particularly to end terrorism.
On the 176-page book,
Oritsejafor said ``it is topical and a seed that will go out to Nigerians and
the rest of the world to desire to do the right things.
Present were Mr Leo
Ogor who represented the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Director
of Lagos Business School, Dr Pat Utomi and Special Adviser to the President on
Research and Documentation, Oronto Douglas. (NAN)
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