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I’ve Never Said I’ll Run for President in 2023 – Tunde Bakare

Published

4 years ago

May 15, 2020

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

He is a prolific lawyer turned fiery pastor. His name is Pastor Tunde Bakare, the minister in charge of Citadel Global Community Church, formerly known as Latter Rain Assembly. In this interview with Chief Dele Momodu, conducted online, he brings to the fore his entire career profile, family and sundry engagements including his intentions for 2023. Excerpts:

Could you tell us a bit about your background?

I was born and raised in a very rich Islamic tradition. My grandfather, who was the grandson of Sodeke, was the Chief Imam of the first mosque in Sodeke. My parents, on their own were chieftains of the Islamic religion. My mother was privileged to travel to Mecca and Medina.

I attended Koranic school at a tender age. I graduated from Koranic school on April 16, 1967 with the Wolimat, and proceeded to All Saints Primary School, Kemta, a Christian school. My father had died when I was about three years old. I had to move to Sokoto to live with an uncle of mine, who happened to be the Seriki Yoruba in Sokoto, in 1959. Later in 1960, I returned to Abeokuta to continue my primary education. I started primary school in 1961 and left in 1966.

After my primary education, I moved to Lagos to become a carpenter’s apprentice. I learnt carpentry a bit, and had to run away the day I witnessed one of the apprentices being beaten with a saw. I returned to Abeokuta, and engaged in different sorts of menial jobs to save enough money for secondary education. When I finally got to Lisabi Grammar School in 1969, my classmates in primary school were already in form four, but God saw me through.

Between 1975 and 1977 I worked with First Bank, and was able to saved some money to go to university. It was only God that saw me through that period until I was called to the Bar in 1981.

Impressive! Can we have a trajectory of your law practice sir?

My law practice was a very exciting experience. The first time I set my eyes on Chief Gani Fawehimi was in 1975. I was working with First Bank then and I was also attending extramural classes for my A’levels programme. I saw Chief Gani Fawehinmi at the National Library where he made a presentation on how Nigeria can have free education, and his guest that day was Chief Obafemi Awolowo; that was my first time I set my eyes on him, and I was fascinated by his personality, his determination to use law as an instrument for social change. That was how I started my journey with Chief Gani Fawehinmi even before I entered the university. When I got to University I was doing duel job at weekends with him on Law reporting as a student

You also worked at the chambers of Chief Rotimi Williams…

Yes, I left Chief Gani Fawehinmi’s chamber for Chief Rotimi William’s chamber, and from there, I went to Burke & Co. Solicitors. I established my own law firm, Tunde Bakare & Co. (El-Shaddai Chambers) in October 1984.

Now, the chambers of Chief Gani Fawehinmi was extremely radical while that of Chief Rotimi Williams was conservative. How did you reconcile the two?

Believe me, it was a pleasure to know both icons of law, and practice with them. I must sincerely say that Chief Gani Fawehinmi brought some liberations to the Nigeria Legal System. He was extremely radical and determined to use Law as instrument for Social change. On the other side, Chief Rotimi Williams was conservative, prim and proper. Something happened when I was with Chief Rotimi Williams. I followed him to court and Chief Fawehinmi announced me. Chief Williams just graciously announced himself and the second person, and left me out. The two of them were lawyers who go to the court for law unlike today where we have two types of lawyers; those who know the law and those who know the judge.

Someone wants to know why with your underprivileged background, you are able to ‘blow’ so much grammar like an ajebutter?

I have the standard of education of those days to thank, and also Mrs. Ekpe Alabi and Mr. Adekunle who taught me English language in Lisabi Grammar School. I debated for my secondary school, part of those we debated against in those days were the likes of Otunba Gbenga Daniel. We met for the first time while representing our different schools at African Church Grammar School. On my 50th birthday, he said, “in those days, the fear of Bakare in debate is the beginning of wisdom”. He was strong himself. The teachers actually laid the foundation, and made us read books. Natural talents and discipline also helped.

You are also proficient in Yoruba language. Your Yoruba is of a different level. Could you explain a bit about how you were able to know so much of Yoruba language?

Well, I happen to be one of those called Omo Agba, and that was what we are they trained with. We were taught sometimes in signs, sometimes in Yoruba proverb. They trained us with those proverbs, and also I stayed with old people. I am the last of 22 children. I also have A1 in Yoruba Language too.

How does it make you feel these days when our children don’t want to speak Yoruba?

I feel very sad because they are losing terribly.

Were you married before starting your ministry or afterwards?

I was married before I started my ministry. I got married on November 24, 1984 and I started the ministry in 1988.

How did your wife take it when you wanted to leave a profitable career in Law to go into full time ministry?

Truth be told, she was concerned. I remembered when I told her the visions I saw, which I subsequently shared with Pastor Enoch Adeboye. Pastor Adeboye’s counsel was that I should combine the ministry with work, but I told him what God said expressly to me.

My wife simply asked how we were going to fund the education of our children because we saw how much pastors were earning; it’s next to nothing. However, I didn’t get any penny as salary from Redeemed Christian Church of God; it’s on record and Pastor Adeboye can testify. I moved on to Latter Rain Assembly with that same values, and I thank God he didn’t put me to shame.

My mother was much more concerned, I could remember she came to our place and asked if we were cursed, but when she came to Latter Rain Assembly for our 10th year anniversary, she testified, praising God that I refused to derail.

Fantastic! You really moved from extreme to extreme. First from Chief Gani Fawehinmi to Chief Rotimi Williams, and now you from Deeper Life to RCCG.

Well, I started from the Baptist Church where I got born again on September 24, 1974. I was their youth pastor in 1980. In 1977 when I got to college, I was attending Foursquare because of Charismatic Pentecostalism which is a little bit different from the Baptist, they believed fully in Jesus Christ but they were not speaking in tongues. I was filled with the Holy Spirit on January 17, 1978 and It was at Foursquare that a friend invited me to Monday Bible study in 1978 and when the Deeper Life Bible Church started, I became fully integrated. I left Deeper Life in 1983 and when I went back to Baptist church because of the issues that arose then. It was God moving me from place to place so I could understand different strings of ministry, and that’s what we put together and practice today. I thank God for those men who showed us the way of Holiness, the fear of God, and taught us faith and love.

You seem to have a photographic memory of dates. Is it because of your background of learning the Koran or how did you pick up such photographic brain?

We should give glory to God for that, but I wished you had met my mum; she passed on at the age of 108. She never mixes things up. Learning the Koran and putting the whole of the Koran in your head will definitely increase your gigabyte, and on top of that, I have the mind of Christ and his wisdom personified, so I think it’s God’s gift.

Can you can still recite the Quran?

Pastor Bakare recited different parts of the Koran.

Now, I want us to move from Pastor to Politician. How do you manage the two because your church is so interactive and you talk about good governance?

Well, my political career didn’t start yesterday. In 1964, a lot of crisis had begun in the Western Region, at the time United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA) was formed. I was fired up the day Yeye H.I.D Awolowo had come with Dr. Michael Okpara came to our hometown to campaign, so I became part of the then Action Group at a tender age. By the time I got to the university, I had already become a politician so I ran for the President of the Students Union. Many people thought I started yesterday, Good governance is very critical because I can give a million scholarships to student and they will call me a great man but I can influence education and it will help all the students of school age. Unfortunately, we confuse these issues, how do you separate Christianity with good governance, they are inseparable.

As an encyclopedia of Nigeria’s political history, could you just give us short analysis of your view of various governments till date?

Whatever anyone will like to say about the Nigerian political history, I’m still of the transcended opinion that the military drew us back and I call them the wasted years of our nation. Anyone who grew up around 1960 that held the flag of Nigeria and sang the old National anthem and saw what was happening, yes, there were crisis but where there not crisis after that? They took us back, and many of them are yet to restitute, to really repent of what they did to this nation. They truncated our democracy and drew us back for years and we are yet to come out of the hoax.

How can anyone in his right mind compare the laudable accomplishments of Chief Obafemi Awolowo in his 40s. If not for his free education, I won’t be here, but here we are today. We cannot compare the golden era of regionalism where each region had self-government and constitutions. Each region was developing at its pace.

We should be competing with countries like Singapore, but here we are today because the military did what military people do; when military people enter the territory of the conquered, they just loot. There is nothing to compare than the Independence to the military structure, military era and the post-military era since 1999.

If I’m going to discuss Nigeria political history, I will divide them into those three, were there other things that the military did that were good, yes! they undertook infrastructural development, and we thank them for Third-mainland Bridge but we needed more than that. They destroyed our educational system and our social life was completely collapsed. We need to rebuild Nigeria and there must be restructuring; we need to go back to those fundamentals that made this nation great.

I thank God that I served through the 2014 National Conference; hopefully one of these days, we will be able to build in this country the kind of leadership it deserves, and the pathway it should follow.

You seem not to be a great friend of your fellow Egba man, former President Olusegun Obasanjo

Well, I have nothing personal against him. In fact, many people out there will not know that we were both from Owu kingdom. Besides, he was a classmate of my uncle at Baptist Boys High School. We met at my brother’s funeral few days ago at the Baptist Church. Not only that, he was a Baptist, and at Yaba Baptist church, the Christian brothers will go to the Dodan Barracks to play music. I have nothing personal against Chief Olusegun Obasanjo but to whom much is given, much is expected, I thought no Nigerian has been as favoured by God as him in terms of governance and opportunity to serve this nation. He seems to reap where he didn’t sow; he didn’t participate in the coup of 1966, but he benefitted from it; he didn’t participate in the Murtala Mohammed coup but he became the second in command, and later he became the Head of State and then they threw him into prison. From prison, they called him again to come and head this nation, I thought if anyone was to do any surgical operation on this nation, he has it all. He is now crying for the same thing now; restructuring. Honestly, I respect his opinion. So if I do anything, it is on principle and he is also a principled man.

Do you believe that Obasanjo performed well?

To be very honest with you, since 1999, I am yet to see any leader who had assembled a formidable team like he did to oversee the affairs of this country; you can’t take that away from him.

A leader will set goals, might achieve some and not achieve some but governance should be a continuum and no administration since 1999 assembled the best like he did that took Nigeria out of debt and set in economic recovery, I doff my hat for him on that.

Sir, what are your ideas of an ideal government?

Well, pretty simple. We start from the basis, what is the purpose of government? Welfare and security of citizens. Any Government that violates the rule of law does not even know why government exist. Where there is no rule of law there will be rule of man. I can’t be part of any government that will violate the rule of law.

As the convener of the Save Nigeria Group, did you ever expect that any government will be worse than the Jonathan-led PDP government?

Well, opinions differ. I’ve received all kinds of insults that I led all kind of revolts, I never led a revolt. I led a campaign against the oppression of the Nigerian people. I did that with all integrity. It’s not about comparing apples to mangoes; they are different things.

A lot has happened on issues of security and herdsmen recently, how does this make you feel of our government? Do you think they are doing enough?

I’ve spoken publicly several times, and our problem is that it didn’t start with this administration; it escalated in this administration. One would have assumed that the President being a former General, would have made Boko Haram history, and he demonstrated his willingness to do that when he moved his command force straight into the battlefield. I want to ask sincerely that can the government alone do it? Where are these people getting their arms and ammunitions from? Where is the support for? People know where they are, whoever is supporting this people, God will expose them.

You are one of the closest persons to the president, could you tell us how you have tried to help him?

President Muhammadu Buhari has many wonderful people around him who are in government in terms of serving this nation well. You can’t rubbish the vice-president; he was an attorney-general in Lagos for 8 years, he is an erudite Professor of Law; he is a child of God and a pastor, and there are many ministers working day and night so he doesn’t need my counsel, he has enough hands. Almighty God knows he had always opened his doors to me; there had been no occasion that I needed to see the president that the door was closed against me; but let me tell you this too and I’ve taken some of my friends to him too, he is one man that will receive whatever you’ve brought with good heart and tell you something will be done about it. But he is not the one to execute it. I know he wants to leave a legacy, but a tree doesn’t make a forest.

Will you run for the office of President of Nigeria in 2023?

The steps of the righteous are ordered by the Lord, and I’ve never ever said to anyone that I’m running for the presidency; I said my contributions to governance has not ended, things are going to happen in this nation. I know all I know and I wish those who wants to run all the very best. Things will happen before that time that everyone will know that this is the way to go. If God has destined me to be the President of this country, no one can change that. What we need to know about Nigeria is that people who pursue it very hard sometimes don’t get it.

Appreciation to@Adetayo_bishop

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Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway: Prioritize Existing Unfinished Projects, Peter Obi Tells FG

Published

4 days ago

April 22, 2024

Eric

Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, has advised the federal government to prioritize existing unfinished projects spread across the country instead of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project.

Obi, in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, stated that the project was a misplaced priority given the numerous unfinished roads throughout the country.

The former governor of Anambra State mentioned that the budget allocated to the Ministry of Works is insufficient for significant progress on the country’s various unfinished roads, much less their completion.

Obi therefore, advised that the government prioritize the existing infrastructural projects in the country before embarking on any new and colossal projects like the Lagos-Calabar super highway project.

“The Federal Ministry of Works 2024 capital budget of N892,461,262,656.00, additional funding from multilateral loan projects of N94,828,535,243.00, alongside other expected contributions from sources like the China-Exim Bank and the World Bank, will not be enough for serious work on all the critical roads, some of which I enumerated above, let alone their completion.

So, why embark on another huge project that will not be completed in the next 20 or 30 years?

“To do so will only exacerbate the problem of abandoned, uncompleted projects that are not contributing to economic growth and overall development.

“Therefore, while acknowledging the potential benefits of coastal superhighway infrastructure, I urge prioritization of our existing uncompleted projects. We must allocate resources towards repairing and completing existing infrastructure.

“In any development formula, the primary focus should be on completing and rehabilitating existing infrastructure rather than embarking on colossal new projects that may never reach completion within the next 30 years,” Obi said.

Back in March, the Federal Government began constructing the 700-kilometer Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, designed to extend through 9 states with two spurs leading to the Northern States.

Recall that former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, had earlier described the project as a fraud.

“Umahi had announced that Hitech would fully fund the project, and based on this, there was no competitive bidding. He (Umahi) then said that Hitech could only raise just 6% of the money for the pilot phase. This smacks of deceit,” Atiku said.

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2027 Presidential Race: Opposition Parties Under Attack

Published

5 days ago

April 21, 2024

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

While it is still a whole three years before the next general election in 2027, The Boss has learnt that opposition parties in the countries are being muffled to pave the way for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to return to, and retain power.

From the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to the Labour Party (LP), and down to the New Nigerian Peoples Paty (NNPP), crises have engulfed the rank and files, in what a source told this paper was the attempt and making of the ruling party, APC, to decimate, destabilize and make redundant the machineries of the opposition parties.

It is believed that by 2027, the apparatuses holding together the various opposition parties would have weakened irredeemably to the extent the country would seemingly nosedive into the inglorious one party state that every civil right advocate and democrats abhor.

It is alleged that all the crises in all the opposition parties are being engineered by the President Bola Tinubu-led ruling APC, with the hope of getting the fibres of their system weakened, thereby luring the members of the crisis-ridden parties into the APC.

Slightly one year after the last presidential election, the two major opposition platforms, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party, have separately been embroiled in a crisis of confidence which has diminished their capacity to provide viable opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The crises in both opposition parties got to a head. The Labour Party led by its national chairman Julius Abure held its much-opposed national convention which was boycotted by its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi; its only governor, Alex Otti of Abia State; federal and state lawmakers elected on its platform, and the organised Labour.

In the Labour Labour, members have been embroiled in endless battle of supremacy with a faction led by Mr. Apapa steadily contesting the leadership of Julius Abure.

Consequently, the presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 elections, Mr. Peter Obi, reverence as a leader in the fold, noting that whatever the party faces presently, that Nigeria’s problems are far bigger than the crises in his party.

The LP has been embroiled in crises — ranging from allegations of misappropriation of funds, and leadership tussle, to calls for the resignation of the party’s national chairman.

TheCable reported that “On March 27, the LP conducted a national convention in Anambra state where Julius Abure was re-elected as its national chairman.

Obi did not attend the convention, fuelling speculations that he may be mulling over ditching the LP for another platform.

Speaking during an appearance on HaveYourSay247, an interactive online session hosted by Rudolf Okonkwo over the weekend, Obi said he is confident that the crises rocking the LP will soon be resolved amicably.

“Whatever is happening in the Labour Party is so minute compared to what is happening in the country,” Obi said.

“So, for me, it is something we will resolve amicably, and it is not anything to worry about. Let us worry about the country.

“Let us worry about how the average Nigerian would be able to have a means of livelihood to be able to eat, that should be our worry.”

Obi said he has no interest in being the party’s leader but only to make sure things are done properly.

“I don’t see what I do in politics as being the leader of any place or not. My position is that just like I always say, I am not desperate to be president of Nigeria, I am desperate to see Nigeria work because I know it can work,” he added.

“We have a more desperate situation. Parties are just a means to be able to contest elections. What is important is that being a leader of a party does not reduce the price of food.

In the PDP, the shenanigans of former Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has practically kept the party in constant crisis with many observers concluding that the now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is working for the APC, and is just a mole in the PDP. Wike has denied the allegation, however,

But news filtered in last week as that the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, and Minister may have concluded plans to attend the much advertised National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), billed to hold on Thursday, in Abuja.

Impeccable source, who is in the know, told The Boss that the minister, whose membership of the PDP is yet to be revoked even as he frolicks with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and serving in the President Bola Tinubu government as a minister.

The Source told The Boss that Wike’s impending presence at the NEC meeting on Thursday was not unconnected with plans, already hatched with some governors, to weaken the opposition PDP.

“Yes, we have on good authority that FCT minister, Wike is planning to attend the NEC meeting tomorrow all in a bid to weaken the fabrics of the PDP, and pave the way for the continuation of the Tinubu administration come 2027, and by extension, relapse Nigeria to a full blown one party state.

“From every indication, Wike and his co-travellers, are bent on unleashing the same crisis ravaging the third force, Labour Party, and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso’s Nigerian National People’s Party (NNPP) on the PDP for the APC to remain the only political party in the country, and ensure that Tinubu has no challenger, come 2027,” the Source said.

It would be recalled that Wike has boasted over and again that there’s no opposition against Tinubu’s re-emergence in 2027, and that they have made sure of that. He has been compensated with the Ministerial job after he withdrew support for his party, and supported the APC and Tinubu to emerge as national government.

The Source further revealed that in the attempt to actualize the intended one party state, a lot of funding is ongoing to ensure that concerned stakeholders are ‘settled’ handsomely.

Wike, prior, during and after the 2023 general elections, has been floating in between the two major political parties; the APC and the PDP. While he claim to still be a member of the PDP, he is functioning as a minister in an APC government, mocking the inability of his party to discipline him.

While political stakeholders concluded that the outcome of the Thursday’s PDP NEC meeting will determine the path Nigeria’s political trajectory will take, and that it may portend the end of multi-party system and political democracy if Wike succeeds in his plan; every page of what finally transpired at the meeting pointed to the fact.

The much touted removal of the party chairman, who is believed to be a crony of the Abuja minister, Damagum, retained his seat, with his executives.

“It is very clear to everyone that a lot of money politics is being played to cajole many loyal members of the party, forcing them into frustration, and eventually it of the party. The option afterwards, will be the APC. This, will for all intent and purpose actualize the intended one party state as an APC agenda.

The Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso-led NNPP is not faring better either. The only governor under their ticket, Abba Kabir Yusuf, just had the confidence of their party on him withdrawn. He was fighting for his political life until suddenly it was announced the the APC in Kano has collapsed its structure into the NNPP.

“This is just another APC strategy to actualize their hidden intentions. Time will reveal the very sinister agenda they harboring,” an analyst said.

Much as 2027 is still three years away, but intrigues are in play to render Nigeria a one party state, and perpetuate the APC in power. The three other opposition parties are basically under attack to bring to pass this unpopular agenda.

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Akwa Ibom Government, Governor Umo Eno Receive Top Honors at the 10th Wonders of the World Expo in Lagos

Published

5 days ago

April 21, 2024

Admin

The Akwa Ibom State Government and Governor Pastor Umo Eno were recognized with Travellers Awards at the 10th Wonders of the World Expo in Lagos for their sustained enhancement of infrastructure, support for local talent, and dedication to investment in the tourism sector. The ceremony took place at the National Museum in Onikan, Lagos.

While Akwa Ibom won the Most Active Tourism State of the Year, Governor Eno was adjudged the most Tourism-Friendly Governor of the Year at the event that had Minister of Tourism, Mrs. Lola Ade John in attendance.

According to Amb. Ikechi Uko, Founder/Publisher of ATQ Magazine, the organizers of the event which is in its tenth edition, Akwa Ibom State won the top prize “in recognition of its valiant and resourceful efforts to drive and sustain domestic tourism by promoting the industry.

‘In 2023, Akwa Ibom was one of the states that hosted World Tourism Day (WTD ) events. The state also organized the famous Christmas Unplugged, which featured music, food, and cultures from all 31 LGAs as well as ensured friendly policies.”

While hoping that the Travellers Awards would spur Akwa Ibom to do more to dominate the domestic tourism industry, the organizers hoped that the state would gradually evolve into one of Nigeria’s top international tourism destinations.

That was not all, the state Commissioner of Culture and Tourism, Sir Charles Udoh was also recognized as one of the Top 100 Tourism Personalities in Nigeria for demonstrating exceptional leadership and innovation in the travel and tourism industry, while other Akwa Ibom indigenes and entity were also celebrated: Mrs. Ime Udo, Honorary Special Adviser to the Governor( Tourism) won Tourism Promoter of the Year, Favour Udo won Tourism Photographer of the Year, Loretta Effiong and Prince Uduak Sunday (Qua Tours) were listed among the Tourism Personalities of the Year and Ibom Air won Airline of the Year International.

In his remarks, Sir Charles Udoh, who represented the Governor at the event, thanked the organizers for the awards and noted that Akwa Ibom is certainly enjoying the golden era when it comes to tourism development. He stated that Governor Umo Eno is very keen on making Akwa Ibom a leading tourism destination with his programmes and policies.

He revealed that with the new Victor Attah International Airport nearing completion, the purchase of a ferry for the Oron-Calabar route, new developments along its coastline and the restoration work that will be done at all its major tourism sites, Akwa Ibom is well on the way to becoming the number one destination for all domestic and foreign tourists.

In her speech, Tourism Minister, Mrs. Ade John hailed the organizers for hosting the Expo, where practitioners were lectured by top experts while also rewarding those who have excelled in the past year.

She affirmed that her ministry is open to partnership with public and private sector operators, adding that tourism development can only be successful through collaborative efforts.

The event, which attracted leading and budding tourism professionals, also featured interactive and entertainment sessions.

Apart from Sir Charles Udoh and Mrs. Ime Udo, the Akwa Ibom State delegation, also included: Mr. Michael Effiong James, Senior Special Assistant (Lagos Liaison) to Governor, Mrs. Eme Bassey, Special Assistant to Governor (Lagos Liaison) and Akparawa John Offiong, Deputy Director ( Culture) Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

More photos below: