Obasanjo to Bishops: ‘You’re the ones that need deliverance’

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday took a swipe at Methodist Bishops who criticised him over his comments in Washington, saying that the clergymen are the ones that need deliverance.



The former president was quoted as saying that “not even Jesus Christ can organise acceptable and credible elections in Nigeria”.

Obasanjo was reacting to comments by the Methodist Bishops on his statement at the Presidential Lounge, Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos.

According to Obasanjo, “They, the clerics who say I need to be born again and counseling, they are the ones that need deliverance not me”.

On his support for Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, the former president in a comical manner showed journalists his back and said: “Did you see Jonathan on my back that I am supporting him?”

He described himself as a recycled man, adding that a recycled man does not repeat himself.

Obasanjo, who was to board a private jet with registration number N104DA at about 6.05 pm to Accra, Ghana, our correspondent gathered, could not travel due to poor weather.

Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had labeled Obasanjo “ a devil incarnate,” due to his statement, which it considered a blasphemy.

CAN had reacted in Kaduna on Sunday that Obasanjo’s statement was mockery of the power of the righteousness of Jesus Christ which it described as “a childish tantrum” unbecoming of a man God gave the opportunity to reform Nigeria for good but left it worse than he met it.

CAN Northern Publicity Secretary, John Hayab, said Obasanjo’s antecedents proved that he is an enemy of Christianity and has never been a true believer.

He said other citizens, particularly Christians, should reflect on his actions when he was in power, citing the negative politics and political crisis the country went through during his administration.

Hayab had attributed the problems of Nigeria partly a result from Obasanjo’s alleged bad governance and undemocratic practices.

According to Hayab, “This is totally a blasphemy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, by a person whom God had on several occasions delivered from the valley of the shadow of death, as he (Obasanjo) stated in his inauguration speech on May 29, 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 – and 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”.