The cash, the jet and Pastor Oritsejafor - By Femi Fani-Kayode
Much ado has been made about recent
events in South Africa concerning the Nigerian-owned jet that was found
loaded with millions of dollars and that was in the process of procuring
arms and a fighter helicopter for the Nigerian military and security
agencies. As a former Minister of Aviation, I wish to assure the general
public that the flying of large sums of cash by security and
intelligence agencies for the purchase of arms in a time of war and
conflict is something that is quite normal and it happens quite often.
As a matter of fact, it has happened under successive Nigerian
governments, both military and civilian.
Obviously, in the case of the jet that
flew to South Africa with $9.3 million USD there must have been a
breakdown of communication between the South African authorities and
ours, and a few lapses in procedure here and there, which is what has
led to the seizure of the money and all the ensuing suspicion and
confusion. However, the idea that there was anything untoward or
sinister about the whole transaction has no basis in logic, sense or
rationality. Perhaps, the only failing was the fact that the cash was
not declared to South African Customs as is required by law.
The fact that our intelligence agencies
have said that they were the ones that sent the money and that they
have
told us what it was for is good enough for me. It appears to me that
this was a lawful and legitimate exercise and that there is nothing for
anyone to worry about. I am aware of the fact that the British, French,
American, Chinese, Israeli, Saudi Arabian and the Russian intelligence
and security agencies, amongst many others, have indulged in such covert
‘’cash for arms’’ transactions on numerous occasions in different parts
of the world.
They either sell such arms at short
notice and off the cuff or they procure them for themselves or for
unknown third parties. Even the South Africans themselves have done so
on numerous occasions in the past. These are legitimate transactions
that are covert and secret in nature but they are certainly not illegal.
Such is the murky and dark world of
intelligence and security worldwide. There is plenty that we do not know
about their day to day operations and they have their own unique way of
doing things. We should not assume the worse or constantly denigrate
them simply because we are not familiar or comfortable with their modus operandi.
Suffice it to say that anyone that is in the process of getting arms to
help our boys at the war front to fight Boko Haram, protect our
citizens and our country ought to be regarded as heroes and not
villains.
The attempt by certain elements in the
opposition and the Nigerian media to stigmatise all those involved in
this transaction and make the whole thing appear like something that is
out of the ordinary or sordid and criminal in nature really does
nauseate me. Those that know no better ought to appreciate the fact that
this is how the real world operates and they should learn to live with
it.
The Nigerian intelligence services
operate in no different way to their colleagues in the international
community and they do so with as much patriotism, professionalism and
commitment as their counterparts from other parts of the world. And yes,
we do have our very own ‘’James Bonds’’ in our intelligence services,
even though, more often than not, they are not recognised, celebrated or
appreciated. I counsel that we should cut these men and women that work
in the shadows and in secrecy some slack and that we should not be too
quick to label them as sleazy rogues who are attempting to indulge in
all manner of criminal activities.
Since we are on this topic, I would like
to take this opportunity to say one or two things about the way in which
Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the President of the Christian Association of
Nigeria has been vilified, maligned and treated with the utmost disdain
and contempt in this and other matters by elements within the leading
opposition party in our country.
The truth is that contrary to what some
of the leading lights in the opposition would have us believe, he is not
an arms smuggler, a money launderer, murderer or Boko Haram sponsor.
Going to a foreign land and telling the parliament of that country that
the President of CAN is the head of Boko Haram, as one or two of them
have just done, is not only a pernicious and vicious lie, but it is also
utterly shameful and disgraceful. Worst of all, it is an affront to the
Christian community in Nigeria and a reckless provocation.
On the South African matter, it is clear
that Oritsejafor was not the owner of the $9.3 million and neither was
he aware that the cash was being flown on the plane. Though he had
confirmed that he was the owner of the plane he had also pointed out the
fact that he had leased it out to a company on a long term basis. The
firm had subleased it out to other companies for regular trips.
He has also said that he had no idea
about who they were subleasing it to, where they were flying it to or
who or what they were carrying in it in any of their operations. The two
companies that were involved, both the one that leased it from
Oritsejafor and the one that subleased it from them for the journey to
South Africa, have since confirmed and corroborated what he said. In my
view, that ought to settle the matter.
Those in our land that are trying to
divide our ranks and denigrate us by alleging that Oritsejafor is
involved in gun-running, money-laundering, Boko Haram or any other
filthy and unsavoury criminal need deep intercession and deliverance
from the demons that have taken control of them and using them. The
truth is that it is a grave insult to the Christian community for anyone
to suggest that the leader of the umbrella organisation of the over 80
million-strong Christian faithful in Nigeria is a sponsor of a vicious
and barbaric Islamist sect that has killed and abducted more Christians
and burnt more churches than any other terrorist organisation in the
history of the African continent.
The same people may as well tell us that
the leaders of the Christian community in Syria and Iraq are the ones
behind ISIL and ISIS. They can also tell us that the Christian leaders
in their respective countries are the ones behind Al Shabab, the Taliban, the Al Nusra Front, Islamic Jihad, Al Qaeda, Daesh, Hamas, the Janjaweed,
the Islamic Brotherhood and all the other terrorist organisations that
have recently afflicted the world with their vile inhumanity, their
sheer evil and their venal barbarism.
It is only in Nigeria that the leadership
of the Christian community would be accused, by a supposedly
serious-minded opposition, of wanting to wipe out the Christian faith,
wanting to kill all the Christians and moderate Muslims in the country
and wanting to establish an Islamic fundamentalist state where sixth
century Sharia law applies, where little girls are subjected to serial
rape and where women are enslaved.
Calling the President of CAN a
money-launderer and arms-smuggler and accusing him of murder and
sponsoring terror will not help to create religious harmony in our
country. As a matter of fact, it will completely destroy it. Those that
are doing so and the Janjaweed political party that is stirring up the
hornet’s nest and encouraging them ought to think very carefully about
the implications of what they are doing.
We know that they have a religious agenda
but they should not take this too far or push us to the wall. Our
meekness and humility should not be taken for weakness or stupidity. It
is in their own interest and in the interest of the unity of our nation
for them to leave the President of CAN alone before matters get out of
hand and before all hell breaks loose.
He deserves to be accorded the same level
of respect from the Muslim community in our country as the Sultan of
Sokoto, the leader of the Muslims in Nigeria, is accorded by the
Christians. What is sauce for the goose is surely sauce for the gander. A
word is enough for the wise.
A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, sent in this piece via ffk2011@aol.com
