Former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has urged Nigerian leaders to be honest about the country’s challenges and their capacity to address them.
Speaking on leadership and governance issues, Oritsejafor reflected on the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, noting that many individuals who strongly criticised Jonathan’s leadership now occupy influential positions in government.
According to the cleric, several of the problems that dominated national discourse during Jonathan’s tenure remain unresolved, while some have become more complex over time. He argued that this reality calls for a more balanced assessment of both past and present administrations.
Oritsejafor said Nigeria continues to face significant challenges in governance, economic stability, and public welfare, despite leadership changes over the years. He suggested that the expectations raised during political transitions have not fully translated into the improvements many Nigerians anticipated.
While stopping short of calling for any resignation, the former CAN president stressed the importance of sincerity, accountability, and realism in public office.
“I would not sit here categorically and tell him resign. But I think what I would say to him is, look, don’t pretend to know what to do when you don’t know what to do. Don’t pretend that you can take Nigeria out of where it is now, when you know you can’t,” he stated.
He added that leaders should acknowledge limitations rather than create unrealistic expectations for citizens.
