Former Critics of Jonathan Now in Power, Says Oritsejafor

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, former head of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), said that many people who labeled former President Goodluck Jonathan as “clueless” during his tenure now occupy influential positions.

He voiced these comments on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, addressing criticisms that followed Jonathan’s administration, especially claims that insecurity and corruption flourished during his rule.

“Where are those people now? Are they not the same people today who are in power?” Oritsejafor asked.

“People who called him clueless, yet they prevented him from carrying out the actions he deemed necessary. They staged protests against him throughout Lagos and nationwide,” he added.

Oritsejafor noted that numerous individuals who organized and backed the protests against Jonathan now hold pivotal government positions.

“Now, those who sponsored those protests, who carried out those actions, many of them are the people in power today. They now possess the clue, yet look at where Nigeria stands,” he said.

When asked if he regretted backing Jonathan in the 2015 election, Oritsejafor responded, “No, I don’t.”

He also commented on President Bola Tinubu’s administration, voicing concern about the nation’s condition and urging the president not to pursue a second term.

Oritsejafor claimed that the present administration had exacerbated Nigeria’s problems and doubted the government’s capacity to reverse the country’s downward trajectory.

“The government of Tinubu has done more harm to this nation than this nation has ever experienced,” he said.

Although he did not explicitly call for Tinubu’s resignation, Oritsejafor urged the president to candidly evaluate his ability to tackle the nation’s challenges.

“I would not sit here categorically and tell him resign. But I think what I would say to him is, look, don’t pretend to know what to do when you don’t know what to do. Don’t pretend that you can take Nigeria out of where it is now, when you know you can’t,” he stated.

He also criticized the administration’s “Renewed Hope” slogan, contending that widespread economic hardship and insecurity had eroded Nigerians’ confidence.

“The average Nigerian today has no hope, except if you say you look up to God to give you hope,” he said.

He concluded by advising Tinubu against seeking another term, stating, “Don’t begin to dream of coming back to continue this same mess.”