By Tony Nwankwo

Coordinator of Ijaw Monitoring Group, IMG, Mr. Joseph Evah, has described the attack on the President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, by the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, and some groups over the $9.3 million confiscated in South Africa as hasty and barbaric, since investigations by the South African Government  and the Nigeria Senate were yet be concluded.

Evah, in a statement, said: “Recently, Pastor Oritsejafor set up a private university in Delta State. If tomorrow, a staff of the university uses the facility to engage in a questionable activity, would that necessitate blackmailing the owner of the university as a criminal?  This concerted condemnation of an illustrious son of the Niger Delta without fair hearing in a serious matter that is attracting international attention is unacceptable to our people.

“Pastor Oritsejafor is dedicated to the well-being of this country.  He is leading the Christian community in Nigeria at a time Nigeria is passing through the most difficult period in her history and his peace effort to keep Nigeria united without bloodshed has saved Nigeria from the scenario in Somalia, Iraq and Syria.

“We condemn the organised attack by a section of the media and their financiers, who are condemning the pastor without waiting for the result of the findings of various institutions in South Africa and Nigeria into the matter. We urge the cleric to continue to remain focused on the special assignment of uniting Nigerians from all faith as the best way to keep Nigeria moving forward,” he said.