Middle Belt defence of Oritsejafor irresponsible –Waku

Vice President of the Arewa Consultative

Forum, Senator Joseph Waku, has described

the defence of the President of the Christian

Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo

Oritsejafor, by the Middle Belt Youth Forum

as “irresponsible.”

In his reaction to criticisms from the Forum

on Monday, on his comments against

Oritsejafor, Waku said he sympathised with

the group, adding, “I do not join issues with

people who are full of emotions rather than

principles.”

Waku represented Benue North/West Senatorial District from 1999 to 2003 in the Senate.

He had criticised Oritsejafor’s recent presentation before a Committee of the United States

Congress on Violence in Nigeria, where he urged the lawmakers to designate the Islamist

sect, Boko Haram, as a terrorist organisation.

The ex-lawmaker had argued that Orisejafor’s comment was capable of causing more

disaffection among Nigerians.

Waku said he did not speak in his capacity as the vice chairman of the ACF, adding that he

was free to take a position on any national issues.

He said he did not need to take permission from “an irresponsible and self-style organisation

like the Middle Belt Youth Forum.”

He added, “I do not belong to any religious organisation than to make comment and advise

religious leaders.

“It was not the CAN I challenged. I challenged the comments made by the Reverend

(Oritsejafor). If he had made it in his private capacity, I would still challenge him. Any

meaningful Nigerian, irrespective of his religion, would agree with me.

“I am surprised that the youth forum did not read the comment made by the American

Congress in respect of this man’s request. They said they were not designating Boko Haram

as a terrorist organisation but individuals.”

“So, it is the same reasons that I gave three months ago that the American Congress gave;

that Boko Haram has several versions. There is the criminal Boko Haram, there is economic

Boko Haram and there is political Boko Haram.

“If the so called Middle Belt Youth Forum had read their statistics since the inception of Boko

Haram, can they give me the total number of people Boko Haram has killed? How many

Christians and Muslims?”

According to his calculation as at February, 2012, Boko Haram had killed about 2,500 people,

out of which Muslims were over 2,000.