Cleric faults Soyinka over Obasanjo’s visit to Maiduguri

Posted by admin Borno, Olusegun Obasanjo (1976-79, 99-07), Presidency, State News Monday, September 19th, 2011

The General Overseer of Christ Great Miracle Ministry International Inc, Pastor Emmanuel Pius, on Saturday in Abuja differed with Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, over the recent trip by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo to Jos, Plateau State and Maiduguri, Borno State.

The cleric spoke at a press briefing to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the church.

Obasanjo had visited victims of religious crises in Jos and the Maiduguri home of Babakura Fugu, the father-in-law of Mohammed Yusuf, the late leader of Boko Haram.

Soyinka had flayed the visit, saying it was an ego trip.

“You do not play ‘statesman’ over the mangled bodies of victims, least of all where their violators insist on the righteousness of their very conduct, ” the playright argued.

But Pius faulted Soyinka, saying, “the truce trip embarked by Obasanjo to Jos and Maiduguri is the best thing expected of an elder statesman and former Head of State.”

The cleric, who also predicted that Nigeria won’t disintegrate in 2015, added that the visit by Obasanjo to the two crises-prone cities was ‘a deft move that would restore the much-desired lasting peace in the country.’

He said, “The two states are known to be experiencing higher magnitude of violence and killing of human beings in recent times.The problem with Nigeria is when you know what you are supposed to do and did not do it; or better put when you know what wants to kill you and you refuse to kill it.”

Pius told journalists that dialogue was the most important tool that could stop the killings in the country.

He urged other prominent Nigerians to take their cue from Obasanjo, adding that such steps would complement the prayers being offered by religious groups to heal the land.

According to him, the crisis in the country is also a challenge to the Christian faith to pray and draw nearer to their creator.

Pius said, “At times like this, it appears almost certain that God has relocated from among the people and abandoned their once beloved nation. In recent years, and especially from the month of April 2011, after the general elections in Nigeria, till date, the spate of crises, senseless killings, starvation, suicide bombings and other forms of human disasters have created more fears and general insecurity.”

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