Middle-Belt Forum cautions el-Rufai against inciting comments

A REGIONAL socio-political group that promotes the interests of the people of the Middle Belt region, the Middle-Belt Forum, MBF, yesterday, admonished former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, to display every sense of responsibility and patriotism in his comments on national issues and figures.

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in 17 Southern states of the country, has declared a seven-day fasting and prayer for God’s intervention to resolve the multi-dimensional socio-economic problems.

The regional forum representing over 250 ethnic groups speaking over 400 languages, noted that as a former minister, who was given the opportunity to serve in a responsible position el-Rufai is expected to act and talk responsibly, especially on issues concerning national challenges like insecurity.

The National Youth Leader of Middle Belt Forum, Jonathan Asake, in a statement, argued that for a person like El-Rufai to be taken seriously in the country, he should talk with decorum.

El-Rufai, last weekend, described Pastor Oritsejafor as the chief propagandist of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and a person lacking in credibility.

Mallam El- Rufai

In a statement issued by the forum in Abuja, Asake decried the attitude of some politicians as El-Rufai, who are bent on destroying the government, just because they lost out of power and political relevance.

The Forum noted with dismay that the recent comments credited to El-Rufai over Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and its national president, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, was nothing but ‘libelous’, stating that PDP knew who its national publicity secretary was.

He said: “Definitely, he is not the CAN President, definitely not Oritsejafor. So, I don’t know how people like El-Rufai will make on such comments.”

Meanwhile, worried by the several socio-economic problems facing the nation, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in 17 Southern states of the country has declared a seven-day fasting and prayer for God’s intervention to resolve the issues.

Rising from an emergency meeting, CAN urged all Christians in the South, irrespective of denominations, to commence fasting and prayers from September 13, saying the period should be used to seek the face of God for His release and for the nation.