Osinbajo Meets CAN,
Osinbajo Meets CAN, Restates Loyalty to Almighty
God
The Leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria visited His
Excellency, the Vice President of Nigeria, yesterday on a fact
finding mission.
The delegation made up of top leaders, ladies and gentlemen
representing all of the five blocks of CAN was led by the National
President, Dr Samson Supo Ayokunle.
Preambles
The decision to visit the VP was as a result of several rumors
circulating in both the print and electronic media on issues
impugning on the integrity of the Vice President.
This decision was premised on two grounds, first, that prior to
his foray into politics, the VP was and remains a Clergyman like
many of the CAN leadership.
Secondly, we are enjoined by the Scriptures to verify every
statement and stand with the truth. It was appropriate to get first
hand information from the VP before drawing any conclusions on the
allegations against him.
The meeting started few minutes after 2pm. After a session of
prayers and exchange of greetings and pleasantries, the delegates
introduced themselves individually.
The CAN President in his opening address declared our mission
and the reasons for the visit.
In his response, the VP was very appreciative of the decision of
the Nigerian Church leaders to visit him, a meeting he described as
being between brothers and sisters of the same family.
He declared that as a Christian in position of authority, his
loyalty and commitment goes first to the Almighty God, the Creator
of heaven and earth.
He gave a brief history of how he became the VP and attributed
it to divine providence and plan. In particular he mentioned the
role played by two people who are very dear to him. These were his
wife and his Father in the Lord, Pastor Adeboye of the RCCG. He
needed their approval before accepting the offer and they
encouraged him to go ahead.
He posited that he had always believed God brought him to his
present position and like every plan of God, the path may not
always be smooth and conflict free. He therefore saw his present
ordeal in the context of this understanding.
His strong belief is that in doing God’s will, integrity is the
foremost character required of him. He told us that as the Attorney
General of Lagos state, he held tremendous power which he never
abused. He never demanded for gratifications from anyone, nor did
he collect any gifts or appreciation in cash or kind for his
services as the AG of Lagos state.
He debunked all the allegations against him especially the one
of misappropriating the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and
NEMA funds. He challenged his Accusers to show the evidence against
him and as a proof of his innocence he was ready to waive his
constitutional immunity to allow a transparent and independent
investigation. He believed his Accusers are mere surrogates of
elements within the society who saw him as either a threat or a
stumbling block to their scheming for relevance and ambitions
towards the 2023 elections.
He is confident that he will triumph over his adversaries and
that the Lord Almighty whom he trusted would keep and protect
him.
He mentioned a particular incidence where a Senior citizen
commended him for his loyalty to President Buhari, to which he
replied that he derived his strength first from his loyalty to the
Lord God Almighty. He also informed us that in private, he was
always bold to tell Mr President his opinions and stands on several
issues, but out of respect and deference to his Principal, he would
never say such things publicly.
The meeting ended with a closing prayer, benediction, and group
photographs.
I jokingly remarked that, since, I and the Vice President were
the only two Professors in the meeting, we needed to have a
Professorial handshake and photograph together, to which he
smilingly acquiesced.
Prof Charles Adeyinka Adisa
National President, Nigeria Christian Graduate Fellowship