Headline

You Can’t Do Without Godfatherism in Politics – Mudashiru Obasa

Published

4 years ago

May 22, 2020

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

When a list of the longest serving lawmakers in Nigeria is made, the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Mudashiru Obasa, will certainly be in it. The Speaker, who recently faced allegations of misappropriation of funds, has been a lawmaker since 2003 as the fourth republic gathered momentum.

In a brief chat with Chief Dele Momodu via the social media, Obasa tried setting the records straight as regards his stewardship, fracas with fellow lawmakers as well as his political future. Excerpts:

Who is Mudashiru Obasa?

Well, Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa is the Rt. Honourable Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly. I was born on November 11, 1972, and attended St Thomas Aquinas Primary School and Archbishop Aggrey Memorial Secondary School. I studied Law at the Lagos State University before proceeding to the Law School.

I kicked off my political career in 1999 as a Councilor in Agege Local Government, and in 2003, I was elected into the Lagos State House of Assembly, representing Agege Constituency. I eventually became the Speaker of the House in 2015, and have remained Speaker till date.

Fantastic! Take us down memory lane. What was Lagos like as at the time you were born?

Waoh! In 1972? I can’t tell stories of the period because I was very young but I could remember when I started Primary School. However, if you are talking about infrastructure, note that the expectation was very high as there were few roads. I can remember traveling from Mushin to Agege, we have to disembark at a place called ‘park’ and trek all the way to connect another bus. I think Lagos has advanced in infrastructure compared to that period.

Again, on the social circle, social life was fun and great then. There was family/neighbour relationship unlike today when everybody has to lock his children indoors. I think we had more enduring social life then than today.

Was your primary school a mission or government School? Are there some of your classmates you still remember?

That was a long time ago. Well, I schooled at St. Thomas Aquinas Primary School, and as the name suggests, it is a mission school. I can remember one Awolowo Charles, Amu and many others.

What about in Secondary School?

Aaah! Saka Tinubu Memorial High School; one of the best schools when you talk about academics, sports and all. There were lots of friends, many of whom are still around today. I can remember Musbau Arogundade, Sogo Abiodun, Rasak Williams, and so many others.

Did you participate in any sports then?

I was a great footballer; I still play football today. We play in our office at the Lagos State House of Assembly. I enjoy football and I love the game.

You joined politics very early in life. What prompted your decision?

Well, I must say the desire to be like Chief Obafemi Awolowo prompted my decision to join politics. How? Each time our parents discuss politics, it’s always punctuated by Awolowo. I was then kind of eager to know about Awolowo, and the more I know about him, the more I wanted to be like him.

Okay, so what does it take to navigate through the grassroots, especially in a densely populated area like lagos?

It’s all about relationship. Politics is all about how solid your relationships with your people is. You know, I grew up in that community so that motivated the popularity I enjoyed, and sustaining that relationship is very crucial.

Your very first election, how did it happen?

Well, before I became a councilor, I’ve always been part of the political officers and have contributed immensely. Our primary assignment then was to ensure victory in our communities. It wasn’t about what we can gain; our desire was to deliver, and we enjoy that confidence that we are in charge of that community. So when democracy returned in 1999 and Action for Democracy (AD) came on board, offices were shared and everybody made their pick. I was asked what I wanted, and I said I want to be councilor. We agreed, and that was how I got the ticket. However, some Judas came up some days later and turned against the arrangement, but thank God I emerged at the end of the day.

How did you move to the next level after councilorship?

When my tenure as a councilor was coming to an end, I did a survey to test my popularity and possibility of winning election to the house of assembly. The survey came back positive and I realised people were interested in me and are ready to support me.

Consequently, at the primary election at the Airport Hotel, I emerged victorious, but not without a mild drama; there were five of us, and six delegates. I had three votes, another opponent had two while yet another had 1. But suddenly, the delegate that voted for the man that had one vote moved to the person that had two, making his vote three. There was then a tie. But Asiwaju Bola Ahmed saved the day; he noted that it was impossible for the person to change after casting his vote. That was how I won, and went ahead to win the general election. And the trend has continued till now.

You just mentioned the Jagaban, the Asiwaju now, and you are fiercely loyal to him. What is it about the man that make a lot of politicians ready to die for him?

He is a great man. He is a man that is passionate about that other people’s development. This is a man who is not interested in interfering in however you choose to handle your structure, but will always been there for you. He has a listening ear, and will never abandon loyalists. Like I said earlier, if not for him, my ticket would have gone to somebody else.

But there are those who say they don’t want godfathers and godfatherism

There are godfathers everywhere even in our households. We need it in politics when it’s positively played, and Asiwaju has been doing that.

There are godfathers and there are godfathers, but can you tell us specifically about that thing that has made Asiwaju to win elections after elections

Apart from being a strategic planner, Asiwaju is practically always available; day, night or midnight. He is easily accessible, and generous to a fault; he can give away anything. It is therefore difficult to deny such a man when he makes a request.

Is it true that Lagos has a masterplan? If yes, could you let us into this masterplan? What is the plan for Lagos as a mega city?

Yes, that is true, and I think this came up during the era of Asiwaju Tinubu and that is what others are building on. It is all about infrastructural development. Now, that we are in 2020, we are looking at 2040, and discussing Fourth Mainland Bridge and so many other things to elevate the standard of Lagos on comparison to any developed city in the world such as Paris, London among others.

Tinubu, towards achieving this, increased the revenue of Lagos to Seven billion naira from a former paltry N600 million or thereabout. Successive administrations are building on it because without funds, nothing can be achieved.

Before you became Speaker, you were a floor member. Can you tell us some of the bills you sponsored and the activities you consider memorable?

Since I came into the House in 2003, I had been Chairman, House Committee, Rural development; Chairman, House Committee, Public Accounts; Chairman, House Committee, Economic Planning and Budget before I became the Speaker.

I have lists of motions and activities including release of the 10 local government funds of Lagos State under President Olusegun Obasanjo; the bill to review the National Inland Waterway Act in 2008 which led to the establishment of Lagos State Waterway Authority; Community Development Association bill 2007; Yoruba Language Promotion and Preservation Law 2018 and many more.

What is the role of cash in politics, it seems poor people cannot go into politics?

(Deep laughter) It is the rich person that owns the world (in Yoruba). It’s very simple; you have to print posters, advertise and recruit people. You need money for campaign except we want to deceive ourselves.

Does it not put pressure on politicians when they get to power?

It does.

Now, you are in your second term as speaker, what would you say are the achievements of the House under your leadership?

Well, to consider achievements, you must first ask yourself, what are the responsibilities of the House? And I’ve mentioned one, the second one is making laws for the benefit and growth of the state, and there is no way the Executive will survive without the Legislature, considering budgetary provisions which we have to approve. Other achievements include the Kidnapping law aimed at improving security. We also introduced Neighbourhood Safety Corps, and infrastructurally, constructions are ongoing in the House of Assembly. As regards human development, we engage in trainings every time and more.

Some are of the opinion that you have not been kind to your people in Agege. How do you respond to that?

I don’t want to talk about that because one Agege is one Obasa. My people in Agege will never deny me. When you talk about infrastructural development, Agege is fast becoming another Lekki. I can’t count the number of roads that have been tarred in Agege, and not forgetting the big one, which is the ongoing Pen Cinema Bridge. Very soon, Agege will surpass Ikeja. When you talk about employment, Bob-Dee, I can’t even count the number of youths that have gained employments, same thing with empowerment, my people in Agege will talk for me.

I am familiar with African politics. I know that you are very excited about Infrastructural development and all that, but what about stomach infrastructure? I think that is what they are complaining about.

Nobody can complain. I know what I’m talking about. I cannot count the number of people that have gained employments through me in Agege, and those we’ve empowered financially. At the outbreak of COVID-19, we gave out loaves of bread on a daily basis for almost two weeks. I have eleven wards and I started with 2000 per ward, that is almost 30,000 loaves initially.

Though we reduced it to 1000 later, it was complemented with bags of rice and money. We have pictures to drive home the point. Hold election tomorrow, Insha Allah, we will win; it’s not boasting, but I’m just telling you what is in Agege, and what will happen any day any time.

All kinds of allegations are making the rounds against you including that you are just spending billions of money like rain water. What is it all about?

I’m very happy for this question. I said earlier that I was the Chairman, House Committee on Rural Development. I thank God that Dr, Kasali who was the Commissioner is still alive; Ben Akabueze who was the Commissioner for Economic Planning is still so much alive, and so are Babatunde Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode who were governors then. Call any of them any day, and you will see they cannot link anything to me. I’m saying this openly so people can hear. If Obasa spends money, what is the purpose of money? Is it not for spending? But the question, How did you spend this money? Do you have budgetary provisions for the money you have spent? The answer is yes; trainings and seminars, are they not part of budgets? Festivals and others too. They alleged we use 200 and something million to print invitation, is that possible? Using 200 and something million to print invitation when the total budget for the programme is 61 million naira? So where are you going to get the balance for the 200 and something million naira they say we are using for invitation card.

Sometimes, it is so disturbing that some people you believe to be enlightened and educated could be saying something that can’t be established or substantiated, there was a provision in the budget for the programmes and many notable people attended.

They said you used the money to buy cars for yourself

That is very important, thank you. When you want to be mischievous, it is for you to compose your stories. We had 8th Assembly, we are now in 9th Assembly. In the 8th Assembly, the members were entitled to official cars but because of the issue then between Ambode and the House, the cars were delivered late, but towards the end of the 8th Assembly, we purchased the 40 cars for all the members, so the question is, do we have provisions in the budget to purchase vehicles which we did, and it followed due process. So what is the problem with that? Everybody collected their vehicles and they are still alive. Then the 9th Assembly came, and it was normal for new members in the 9th assembly to collect theirs. Some people are just being mischievous; they combine the 8th and 9th assembly, saying that we purchased this billions and that, it doesn’t make sense; the procurement office is there, you can google the website and crosscheck, and we have documents to buttress that.

In any case, the speaker cannot even sign alone because the office of the speaker can only sign 100 million and below, anything above that, it’s a no, other members of the financial committee must sign alongside.

So how are you able to get the billions that is being alleged

Where is the billion? Can you spend government money anyhow? Are the clerk, auditors and the officials stupid? Are they not going to crosscheck what you have been doing?

They alleged you are sharing it together?

Sharing what? What do you want to share? I have repeatedly challenged those who are behind this to come and prove their case. If they can trace Government money to my account, send for statutory. They talked about my wife; come and prove it. This is just blackmail and it is unpolitical. Some people have the intention of chasing out the speaker; to remove the speaker is constitutional and it is allowed, but there is a process. Come to the House and follow the process, not through blackmailing. Why is it that it was after we suspended and removed some of our brothers that the thing started?

I was going to that; there is also the allegation that you are being dictatorial and you are sacking those who are not supporting you and you are not giving them back their original position and all that?

Impeachment is democratic, is it not? Ete of our House of Representatives was removed so what is an offence in that. You know parliament is about number, and you cannot impose yourself on anybody. If the members come tomorrow and say, Obasa, this is the end of you then there is nothing I can do. We have seen it in Edo, Ekiti and some other states. When they are ready to remove the Speaker, nobody can stop them, but we must not sacrifice discipline because of sentiments of politics.

Are you willing to reconcile with them?

We have reconciled already. You know we suspended them, but we have lifted their suspensions and made them Chairmen of various Committees. What else? Why will you want to destroy the House because the decisions are not in your support? It shows you don’t love the House. The speaker was removed, he took it in good faith, the deputy speaker was removed, he took it in good faith. Now they are filing documents about. The question is “Why did we suspend and remove them?”

Is it true the party asked you to return them?

I’ve returned them.

Have you returned them to their original positions?

No! nothing like that. We have returned them and we gave them chairmanship positions

Can you be frank and tell us how powerful is your office

The speaker’s office is just like any other office. It has responsibilities and the speaker has to discharge those responsibilities, which are involve legislative, administrative, political, social and family roles. It is like a man doing all together, but as for me, I do not see myself as powerful. As a speaker, you are not the boss, the day you consider yourself as the boss, that will be the end of the speaker. You are just first among equals, anybody can become the speaker, unlike the governor who owns the cabinet and can do this or that. I can’t do that.

I have to seek collaborations and understanding in all decisions. Every decision, including purchase of those vehicles, the seminars and everything discussed at the Parliamentary meetings.

What is your relationship between you and some friends who supported you in the past? Some are even fighting against you. Why do you think they are against you?

Well, I don’t know the friends you are talking about, but I respect relationships so much. I guard relationships jealously. I will not fight against any of my friends. I still maintain cordial relationship even with past members of the House. Like I already said, the Speaker is the Speaker, and today, Obasa is the Speaker, Insha Allah.

You seem to be a very tough person much as you look gentle

I am a gentleman, I hardly speak. I don’t go out. For me, it is Home – Office, Office – Home. I don’t go out except for functions of people very close to me. When I want to take a decision, I do it passionately; that is one of the qualities of leadership. We have 40 members in the House and I can’t have all of them on my side. But peace has returned to Lagos State House of Assembly.

Acknowledgement to @Adetayo_bishop

Headline

How FG Spent N19bn on Presidential Planes in 15 Months – Report

Published

2 days ago

November 12, 2024

Eric

At least N19.43 billion has reportedly been spent on the maintenance and operations of the Presidential Air Fleet from July 2023 to September 2024.

According to GovSpend, a civic tech platform that tracks and analyses the Federal government’s spending, showed that for 2024, the payouts amounted to N13.55billion, representing 66 per cent of the allocations for the fleet in the 2024 fiscal year.

Most disbursements were labeled ‘Forex Transit Funds,’ typically funds allocated for foreign exchange requirements to facilitate international transactions and engagements.

In the context of the Presidential Air Fleet, such funds are used to cover expenses related to operations outside the country, including fuel purchases, maintenance or services in foreign currencies.

“When aircraft on the fleet are abroad, payments are often made in U.S. dollars or another foreign currency to ensure uninterrupted operations,” a government official explained.

In July 2023, N1.52bn was disbursed in two tranches of N846m and N675m for ‘Presidential air fleet forex transit funds.’

The following month, N3.1bn was disbursed in three tranches of N388m, N2bn, and N713m for the same item.

In November of that year, N1.26bn was released to the Presidential Air Fleet Naira transit account.

The first overhead for 2024 came in March, where N1.27bn were disbursed twice, amounting to N2.54bn. The transit account received N6.35bn in April, N4.97bn in May and N210m in July.

August saw the highest frequency of transactions, with N5.60bn released in six separate disbursements.

Although these transactions were not clearly labeled, the monies were paid into the Presidential Air Fleet naira transit account, including the N35m transfer made in September.

In late April, the transit account received N5.08bn; this came around the same time the President was on a two-nation tour to the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia.

Although Tinubu arrived in the Netherlands in a state-owned Gulfstream AeroSpace 550 Jet, the aircraft could not proceed to Saudi Arabia due to unspecified technical problems. He reportedly continued his journey on a chartered private plane.

At the time, the President’s Boeing 737 business jet was undergoing maintenance. It was later replaced with an Airbus A330 purchased for $100m in August through service-wide votes.

The nearly 15-year-old plane, an ACJ330-200, VP-CAC (MSN 1053), is “spacious and furnished with state-of-the-art avionics, customised interior and communications system,” Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga said, adding that it “will save Nigeria huge maintenance and fuel costs, running into millions of dollars yearly.”

The new Airbus A330 is just one of several aircraft currently on the Presidential Air Fleet, arguably one of Africa’s largest, with around 11 aircraft of various makes and models. Until August, it comprised the 19-year-old B737-700 and a 13-year-old Gulfstream Aerospace G550.

The BBJ was acquired during the tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo at $43m but became a money guzzler as it aged.

Onanuga, defending the purchase of Airbus A330, argued that the new Airbus 330 aircraft and the costs of maintaining the air fleet were not for the president but in the interest of Nigerians.

“It’s not President Tinubu’s plane; it belongs to the people of Nigeria, it is our property…the President did not buy a new jet; what he has is a refurbished jet – it has been used by somebody else before he got it, but it is a much newer model than the one President Buhari used.

“The one President Buhari used was bought by President Obasanjo some 20 years ago. There was a time when the President went to Saudi Arabia, and the plane developed some problems. The President had to leave the Netherlands with a chartered jet.

“Nigerians should try to prioritise the safety of the President. I’m not sure anybody wishes our president to go and crash in the air. We want his safety so that he can hand it over to whoever wants to take over from him,” Onanuga said.

The presidential aide said he discussed with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, on the faulty plane [Boeing 737 jet] and he said the maintenance costs were excessive because of the age of the aircraft, hence the need for another plane.

The presidential fixed-wing fleet includes a Gulfstream G500, two Falcon 7Xs, a Hawker 4000, and a Challenger 605.

Three of the seven fixed-wings are reportedly unserviceable. Meanwhile, the rotor-wing fleet includes two Agusta 139s and two Agusta 101s, all operated by the Nigerian Air Force but supervised by the Office of the National Security Adviser.

Former President Buhari promised to reduce the number of aircraft in the PAF to the absolute necessary.

In April 2023, three jets were put up for sale, but there were no specifics on which.

However, efforts to sell one of the Dassault Falcon 7x and the Hawker 4000 in October 2016 stalled when a potential buyer reduced their initial offer from $24m to $11m.

Since 2017, budgetary allocations for the fleet have shown a growing trend, with one exception in 2020.

The allocation for the fleet increased from N4.37bn in 2017 to N20.52bn in 2024, showing a 370 per cent rise in running costs.

In 2018, the fleet’s budget rose significantly by 66.13 per cent to N7.26bn, driven by a substantial increase in capital project allocations while maintaining similar levels for recurrent costs. This upward trajectory continued into 2019, slightly increasing the total allocation to N7.30bn.

The exception came in 2020, when the budget dropped by nearly seven per cent to N6.79bn, primarily due to decreased overhead costs, a reflection of the global economic impacts of lockdowns and disruptions in operations.

By 2021, however, the budget surged dramatically to N12.55bn—a record increase of 84.83 per cent from the previous year.

In 2022, maintenance expenses for each aircraft ranged from $1.5m to $4.5m annually.

The 2022, 2023 and 2024 appropriation acts earmarked N12.48bn, N13.07bn and N20.52bn respectively.

On his way to the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit in Samoa, a foreign object damaged the cockpit windscreen of Vice President Kashim Shettima’s GulfStream aircraft during a stopover at JFK Airport in New York.

According to Lee Aerospace, manufacturers of the Gulfstream, jet windshields consist of thick multilayered structures of varying layers of glass and transparent acrylic built to withstand collision with a 2kg object.

However, damage to the windshield must have affected its inner layers. While specific prices for replacement can vary based on supplier, labour rates and regional costs, estimates suggest that a single windshield replacement for a G550 can range from $50,000 to $70,000 for part and labour costs.

In an interview with our correspondent, the General Secretary of the Aviation Round Table, Olumide Ohunayo, blamed the meteoric rise in the allocations for the PAF on the age of some of the aircraft in the fleet and declining value of the naira as well as the “commercial use” of aircraft by the Nigerian Air Force.

Ohunayo said, “The cost will definitely increase over the years because for one, this issue of the naira against the dollar. As the naira keeps falling to the dollar, we will see a rise in cost because most of the costs of training crew and engineers and replacing aircraft parts are all in dollars.

“Also, some of these aircraft are not new. The older the aircraft, the higher the cost of maintenance and operation.

“Lastly, during these past years, terrorism and insecurity have increased in Nigeria, which has also affected the cost of insuring the aircraft.”

For his part, the Executive Chairman of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, Debo Adeniran, argued that the administration’s spending habits were opposite to Nigerians’ expectations of frugality.

“What we are getting from this administration is opposite to our expectation. We thought we would have an administration that would be frugal in spending and very meticulous at implementing its budget.

“But what we are getting is an administration that has fallen in love with profligacy; that doesn’t see anything wrong in living big amid a poverty-stricken nation.

“It is a reenactment of the Shagari administration, whereby they bought the biggest Mercedes Benz and made themselves as comfortable as possible without considering how much the masses are suffering.

“So when you look at a Vice President saying he’s not travelling [to Samoa] again because there was a splinter on the windscreen of his private aircraft. Why should that be the case?

“First and foremost, we need to be represented at such an international meeting, where we should be well represented by the first two citizens of this country.

“He abandoned that, which means we would have lost certain representation that we deserve at that forum. Two, money will have been spent on advance parties that went ahead of the Vice President. But he abandoned the journey altogether.”

Headline

Pastor Tunde Bakare: Celebrating a Visionary Preacher @70

Published

4 days ago

November 10, 2024

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

He is visionary, blunt, articulate, passionate, fiery, evangelical, fearless, controversial and the newest septugenarian. He is the Founder and Presidng Pastor of the Citadel Global Community Church (CGCC), formally known as the Latter Rain Assembly. He is Pastor Tunde Bakare.

A thought provoking preacher, social commentator, legal expert and politician, Tunde Bakare has come of age in the business called Nigeria.

Born on November 11, 1954, Pastor Bakare is regarded as not only a prophetic-apostolic pastor, but a social and economic image maker, whose contributions to the originality, truth and oneness of the nation cannot be overemphasized.

Originally a Muslim, who embraced the Christian faith in 1974 at the age of 20, Bakare has contributed his quota as a nation builder, seeking both the Vice president and president positions of the nation on two different occasions.

Pastor Bakare started his educational life at All Saints Primary School, Kemta, Abeokuta, and subsequently Lisabi Grammar School, Abeokuta, where he obtained both the School Leaving Certificate and the West Africa Examination Council certificate

After his secondary education, he was admitted into the University of Lagos where he studied Law between 1977 and 1980 before attending Law School in 1981, and was subsequently called to the Bar and following his time in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Bakare kickstarted his career when he started practicing law at the Gani Fawehinmi Chambers. His dexterity on the job propelled him to Rotimi Williams & Co., and later to Burke & Co., Solicitors.

In October 1984, he went solo, and established his own law firm, Tunde Bakare & Co. (El-Shaddai Chambers). Within the preceeding periods, he combined his legal duties with pastoral functions working as a legal adviser at the Deeper Life Bible Church, and later moving to the Redeemed Christian Church of God, where he became pastor and founded the Model Parish.

Following his time at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Bakare left to start the Latter Rain Assembly Church in 1989, known today aa CGCC, where he presently serves as the General Overseer. In addition to his time in the church, he zeroed into part time politics, serving as the running-mate to presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari in the 2011 presidential election. Bakare has been critical of Nigeria’s leadership and has sparked controversy with comments considered inflammatory regarding Muslims and other spiritual leaders.

Also in 2019, Bakare announced his intention to run for president of Nigeria following the end of Buhari’s second term with a total conviction that he has a direct mandate to do and will surely become the next president of Nigeria. He joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) but, lost at the primaries conducted at Eagle Square, Abuja, in May 2022. He launched his then political trajectory under the New Nigeria Progressive Movement.

While expressing his intentions to run for the 2023 presidential election towards becoming the next president of Nigeria to church members in 2019 when he was quoted as saying, “I will succeed Buhari as President of Nigeria; nothing can change it. I am number 16, and Buhari is number 15. I never said it to you before. I am saying it now, and nothing can change it. In the name of Jesus, he (Buhari) is number 15. I am number 16. To this end, I was born, and for this purpose, I came into the world. I have prepared you for this for more than 30 years.”

Bakare also presides over the Global Apostolic Impact Network (GAIN), a network of churches, ministries, and kingdom businesses committed to advancing the Kingdom of God on earth as well as the President of Latter Rain Ministries, Inc. (Church Development Center) in Atlanta, GA, USA, a ministry committed to restoring today’s church to the scriptural pattern. He was given a Doctor of Ministry degree by Indiana Christian University under the leadership of his mentor, Dr. Lester Sumrall, in 1996.

Bakare has been instrumental to some uprisings in the country that challenge unhealthy administrations. It would be recalled that his Occupied Nigeria Movement led the protest against the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan in January 2012 after minor increase in fuel price. The protest was a total success, and led to reduction in fuel pump price.

Also a social critic, Bakare is critical of Miyetti Allah, labeling the Fulani herdsmen as a group of terrorists who rape, murder, and kidnap innocent civilians. Several Fulani Islamic scholars criticized Bakare’s comments about Fulani herdsmen as Islamophobic. Bakare had said that Fulani herdsmen were driving Nigeria towards a civil war.

He also holds a yearly state of the nation address to set the stage for the future and review national issues of the year past.

In his 2019 address, he stated, “We can therefore confidently state that, over the past thirty years, we have faithfully executed our God-given mandate to the nation from this platform. Over the past thirty years, we have deployed appropriate tools for appropriate occasions, from prophetic declarations to confrontational advocacy and from political activism to propositional policy advisory. Over the past thirty years, we have done this consistently, sometimes at the risk of being misunderstood by friends and foes alike.

“We have been motivated not by wavering
opinions of men but by our unshakeable faith in our national destiny and an unalloyed commitment to seeing that destiny fulfilled.”

Reports have it that he was arrested in March 2002 after preaching sermons critical of Nigeria’s then-president, Olusegun Obasanjo.

No matter how it is viewed, and the direction of his controversies, one thing is obvious, Bakare has stood on the side of truth, hope, and justice, and has remained consistent over the years.

The Serving Overseer has been very vocal, his trademark, over the recent hardship in the country, condemning the politicians for preaching what they cannot practice.

He said Nigerian politicians were not living lean or sacrificing like the rest of the citizens whom they asked to sacrifice for the country by enduring economic hardship.

Bakare said this while delivering the keynote address with the theme: “Cultivating a Culture of Dialogue: Nurturing Understanding in a Culturally and Socially Diverse Nation” at Wilson and Yinka Badejo Memorial Lecture 2024.

He is a strong believer in the theory that the pen is mightier than the sword. He write in an essay of same title that:

“The likes of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Kwame Nkrumah, and Chief Obafemi Awolowo, armed with no other weapon, mobilised the Queen’s language in the struggle for independence from the Queen. They fought their battles through such media as West African Pilot, Accra Evening News and The Tribune. Decades after independence, when free, fair and credible elections were annulled, and a tyrannical dictatorship held sway, the Nigerian press took up the baton and contended against the sword of oppression by deploying the armoury of vocabulary. I am so glad that the labours of these pen warriors and all others who fought for the democracy we enjoy today have not been in vain after all.”

For seven decades, Pastor Bakare has remained a voice in Nigeria politics, religion and socio-economic circle, relating with with Nigerians according to where the matter lies.

On this occasion of your 70th Birthday, we celebrate your consistency, focus and leadership acumen that has affected the people positively.

Congratulations sir!

Headline

US Polls: Tinubu, UK PM Starmer Congratulate Trump

Published

1 week ago

November 6, 2024

Eric

President Bola Tinubu has extended his heartfelt congratulations to President Donald Trump on his re-election as the 47th President of the United States of America.

A statement by Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga on Wednesday, said President Tinubu looks forward to strengthening the relations between Nigeria and the United States amid the complex challenges and opportunities of the contemporary world.

Donald Trump claimed victory on Wednesday and pledged to “heal” the country as results put him on the verge of beating Kamala Harris in a stunning White House comeback.

President Tinubu said: “Together, we can foster economic cooperation, promote peace, and address global challenges that affect our citizens.”

According to President Tinubu, Trump’s victory reflects the trust and confidence the American people have placed in his leadership. He congratulates them on their commitment to democracy.

President Tinubu believes that, given President Trump’s experience as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021, his return to the White House as the 47th president will usher in an era of earnest, beneficial, and reciprocal economic and development partnerships between Africa and the United States.

Acknowledging the United States’ influence, power, and position in determining the trend and course of global events, the Nigerian leader trusts that President Trump will bring the world closer to peace and prosperity.

Meanwhile, the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has congratulated Donald Trump on his “historic election victory”, adding that the UK-US special relationship would “continue to prosper”.

“As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise. From growth and security to innovation and tech, I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come,” he said.