The special assistant on public affairs to president Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Doyin Okupe has refused to apologise for liking his boss to Jesus Christ who came to the world to bear the burdens of the rest of humanity.
During a live breakfast show on Nigeria’s Channels Television, Dr Okupe said President Jonathan had borne the nation’s problems and woes on his shoulders in the same way that Jesus Christ had always carried the burden of Christians all over the world. Gesticulating widely during the programme, he added that, with regard to the Nigerian situation, Jonathan could best be likened to Jesus Christ.
Dr Okupe said: “People do not understand the burden this particular president is bearing. He is like Jesus Christ, bearing the burden of everybody.”
He added that in view of President Jonathan’s untold burden for the nation, it would be impossible for his principal to lose re-election in 2015. In addition, Dr Okupe boasted that though certain politicians had been allegedly sabotaging the federal government’s reforms, especially in the power sector, victory was still certain for his principal.
Blasphemy Accusations
His comments have attracted fierce criticism from Christian clergymen who regard them as not only blasphemous but also inaccurate. Many Nigerians took to social media to attack Dr Okupe for his comments t and asked him to withdraw the statement but he has refused to do so.
Online activist, Tayo Moore, accused Dr Okupe of insulting Jesus Christ by comparing Him with his boss. Noting that the development was sacrilegious, Mr Moore advised Dr Okupe not to hold the belief that he could insult Jesus Christ and go scot free.
“Okupe has just confirmed that he doesn’t know or have Christ. It is only a matter of time before he begins to compare Prophet Mohammed and Jonathan in the same breath.
“That will be his final undoing. I am wondering what the Christian Association of Nigeria has to say on Okupe’s sacrilege, given its current leadership or should I say lack thereof?” he added.
Kano-based respondent, Nazir Galadanchi, cautioned that Dr Okupe’s latest analogy was not surprising as he had recently compared his boss with the late anti-apartheid leader, Nelson Mandela, with a view to selling the president’s candidature to Nigerians. he added that Dr Okupe should seek forgiveness for his sins.
