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 that it happens quite often. As a
matter of fact, it 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, the
French, the American, the Chinese, the Israeli, the 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 worst 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 and 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 who 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 a 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.
Gun running
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 (CAN), has been villified,
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, a murderer or a Boko Haram sponsor. Going to a foreign land
and telling the parliament of that country that the President of CAN in Nigeria 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 Pastor Oritsejafor was not the owner of the 9.3 million USD and
neither was he aware that the cash was being flown on the plane. Though he has confirmed that he was the
owner of the plane, he has also pointed out the fact that he had leased it out to a company on a long term
basis who were themselves subleasing 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 has said. In my view, that ought to settle the matter.
Yet some people, fuelled and egged on by a ravenous and desperate opposition, have refused to let go of
the matter and allow sleeping dogs to lie.
Those in our land 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 unsavory criminal activity are the lowest of
the low. They are wicked and cruel and I have no doubt that such people are in desperate need of prayer.
They need deep intercession and deliverance from the demons that have taken control of them and that are
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.
Stirring the hornet’s nest
The same people may as well tell us that the leaders of the Christian community in Syria and Iraq are the
ones behind 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, 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 6th
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 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.
Religious agenda
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 Christians. What is good for the
goose is surely good for the gander. A word is enough for the wise.