Middle Belt youths’ position on Oritsejafor’s comment is irresponsible – Waku

Vice President of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Senator Joseph Waku has taken on middle belt youth Forum for standing with the President of the Christians Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor on the Boko Baram issue.

Waku who reacted to the criticism of the group on his comment against the CAN president said he sympathise  with the group for reasoning in the most shallow way. Waku stated thus  “I do not join issues with people who are full of emotions rather than principles.”

Waku, the man known for his controversial comments was accused in 2003 for calling on the military to take over government while he was in the senate.

Waku had recently criticised the Oritsejafor for his unguarded  utterances on the boko Haram issue  .

Reacting to the middle belt condemnation of his comment, he  said he spoke as an individual and not in the capacity of the position he currently holds as the vice chairman of the ACF.  ” As far as I know, I have the right to make a comment on national issues like every other person”

He said he did not need to take permission from “an irresponsible and self-style organisation like the Middle Belt Youth Forum.”

He emphasised thus, “I do not belong to any religious organisation than to make comment and advise religious leaders.

“It was not the CAN I challenged. I challenged the comments made by the Reverend (Oritsejafor). If he had made it in his private capacity, I would still challenge him.  Any meaningful Nigerian, irrespective of his religion, would agree with me.

“I am surprised that the youth forum did not read the comment made by the American Congress in respect of this man’s request. They said they were not designating Boko Haram as a terrorist organisation but individuals.”

“So, it is the same reasons that I gave three months ago that the American Congress gave; that Boko Haram has several versions. There is the criminal Boko Haram, there is economic Boko Haram and there is political Boko Haram.

“If the so called Middle Belt Youth Forum had read their statistics since the inception of Boko Haram, can they give me the total number of people Boko Haram has killed? How many Christians and Muslims?”