Oritsejafor, Sultan meet on religious harmony

By Ola Ajayi
NATIONAL President, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Joseph Ayodele Oritsejafor,  is  dialoguing with the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’adu Abubakar on engendering religious harmony in the Northern parts of the country.

Pastor Oritsejafor disclosed this at a luncheon in his honour by the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, National Vice President, South West,  Bishop Francis Wale Oke, weekend.

According to the CAN President, the ceaseless crises in parts of the North that had led to colossal loss of human and material resources were unacceptable and  urgent steps had to be taken to curb  the menace.

He said: “There are lots of dialogues going on but we want to deepen them because there are dialogues and there are dialogues. The Sultan is my friend and he has told me that together we can work to stop religious crises in the country”

On the new administration, Oritsejafor said it was going to be a fresh beginning,  saying: “God is up to something. There is something in the air and I want to promise you all that we will allow God take us there very soon”.

He called on all eligible voters in the country to vote for credible candidates in the 2011 elections and after voting,  they should also ensure that their votes were counted.

Most members of the PFN expressed their pleasure to associate with Pastor Oritsejafor, the first Pentecostal to be elected President of CAN.

Those in attendance at the luncheon included Pastor Paul Adefarasin, House on the Rock, National Deputy President, CAN, Mercy Ezekiel, South West Chairman, Archbishop Joseph Akinfenwa,   Mrs. Onyeka Owenu and many other anointed pastors.

Archbishop Akinfenwa said the election of a Pentecostal for the first time signified an end to politics of exclusion and that the highest Christian position in the country was not an exclusive preserve of some people and advised Pastor Oritesjafor to work towards uniting the body, saying “you are now president of not just Pentecostals but also president of Catholics, president of Anglicans, president of Celestians among others”.

He was particularly happy that Pastor Oritsejafor who had worked meritoriously for the benefit of mankind emerged the national president.

Specifically, he made reference to selfless service and exemplary leadership style demonstrated by the CAN president who refused to leave Niger Delta in the heat of crisis but stayed with his people.