Olusegun Obasanjo to clerics: You need deliverance

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday took on members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) over their statement that needed deliverance for what they called his blasphemous comment against Jesus Christ.

Obasanjo said it was the clerics that needed deliverance, describing their statement as uncharitable. The former president was said to have claimed that even Jesus Christ cannot organise a successful election in Nigeria.

Obasanjo spoke at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos. He was to travel to Kumasi, Ghana but the trip was shelved.

The former president said such religious leaders needed to be born again for their uncharitable statement.

Decked in a blue stripe buba and sokoto attire, Obasanjo, who drove into the presidential lounge about 6.05 pm said : "Do not mind them, they are the ones that needs deliverance, not me Obasanjo, even you journalists need deliverance. I cannot change again, they are the people that need to be delivered. I cannot repeat myself, over what I said before, they are the ones that need all the repentance you can think of."

On whether he is supporting Acting President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2011 presidential election against the zoning arrangement, Obasanjo said : "Did you see me carrying Jonathan on my back, I do not understand you. If you mean support him, I do not know . "

The Christian Association of Nigeria in a report this week condemned Obasanjo over his recent comments that even Jesus Christ would not be able to conduct undisputed and credible elections in the country.

CAN had in its reaction to the statement, said that it was unfortunate that a person of the former president’s standing, who had benefited immensely from the wonders of God, would blaspheme the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Secretary of the Kaduna State chapter of the CAN, Rev. Joseph Hayab, who spoke in Kaduna, said: "This is totally a blasphemous of our Lord and Saviuor Jesus Christ, by a person whom God had on several occasions delivered from the valley of the shadow of death, like he (Obasanjo) stated in his inauguration speech on May 29th, 1999.

"Obasanjo must know that Jesus Christ has the power to save and deliver people from sin and condemnation, and he is still saving many in Nigeria today. It is the prayers of those who have been saved by Jesus Christ that is keeping Nigeria moving from the clutches of bad leaders like him. How much more can he not conduct a mere election?", he said.

Source: www.thenationonlineng.net