Comparing Jonathan with Jesus, not blasphemous – Okupe

The Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Media and Publicity, Dr. Doyin Okupe, has rejected criticisms saying that he committed an act of blasphemy by comparing his principal with Jesus Christ.Okupe, who visited the Corporate Headquarters of PUNCH Nigeria Limited on Thursday, said that Christ Himself advised His followers to be like Him and even urged them to do greater things. According to him, there was nothing wrong with what he said.“The whole thing was just blown out of proportion. Comparing Jonathan with Jesus Christ is not blasphemous, because even Christ said we must be like Him and that we should even do greater things than Him. It is there in the Holy Bible, not from me,” he said.Okupe’s latest position followed criticisms from a large section of Nigerians who pounced on him for comparing Jonathan with Jesus during a programme on Channels Television earlier on Monday. While some described him as a joker, others simply called for his head.But he said he had been quoted out of context.

Speaking further, the presidential aide revealed that the North still held grudges against Jonathan because the region felt that he was using their slot in power.“There is some form of bias against President Goodluck Jonathan. This bias has been sponsored and supported by some existing geo-political disparity and disconnect that preceded his becoming President.“The North felt that it was not fair to have someone from another part of the country other than a northerner to take over the leadership of the country after the death of Yar’Adua. For that reason, many parts of the North became quite recalcitrant and unforgiving towards Jonathan.“Their behaviour towards him is not because Jonathan is a bad person or because they feel he would not do well but because they see him as somebody who has taken their turn in power. That was the beginning of Jonathan’s problems,” he said.On the performance of the administration in delivering electoral promises to Nigerians, Okupe said that though the administration has not performed at 100 per cent as widely expected, the Federal Government under Jonathan has made bold inroads into key sectors of the country.“I have worked very closely with Presidents in the past. I say it with all sense of responsibility; Jonathan has great vision for this country. This administration has succeeded on several fronts than previous administrations.”

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