Casting Demons Out Of Bakare By Dimgba Igwe Of Daily Sun
by Cee Won on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at 2:32am


I had finally met Pastor Tunde Bakare, formally. That is for those who think that we’ve been close all along and I was only promoting the interest of my friend when I wrote some articles, especially the piece titled, “Run Bakare, Run”. A text message from a media colleague had asked if I would be available for a chat with Bakare on Wednesday. I had just concluded an exhausting project and was supposed to be taking a deserved rest that same day which I was reluctant to forfeit, but then, I was overpowered by an acute curiosity to get some insight into what had been happening to the Buhari-Bakare campaign which I had often been accused of promoting. With a newspaper opinion poll suggesting that it was going to be a clean sweep for President Goodluck Jonathan, what are the chances of Buhari-Bakare team that seems like the strongest opposition?
These are bits of my reporter’s diary. We met at Jades Restaurant, at Isaac John Street, Ikeja, with over a dozen editors from different newspapers. Bakare was of course, meeting me for the first time and it was a very warm encounter. Then straight to business.
Only a few months ago, the idea of running for a public office would have been unthinkable to him, Bakare said. That probably informed why he threw a lot of barbs at the presidential contenders in the past, many of which the opposition is hounding him with now. It shows, Bakare said, “that even the best of men are still men at their very best.”
Despite what Bakare describe as “humongous crowds” at their campaign rallies especially in the North, he admits that the Buhari-Bakare campaign still ran on a shoe-string budget. Their budgets for much of the big rallies comprise of money for announcement in Hausa service of BBC radio, renting of public address system and transportation of the campaign team.
There are three things Bakare had vowed that he would not do: one is to borrow money to run the campaign, two is to sell his property to raise fund and three is to take money from anybody that would put a shackle on his hands. If he borrows money to run for public office, it is evidence that he is going there for ulterior motive, not to serve. If he sells his personal properties to run for public office, how does he run his family after the campaign, win or lose?
If the BB campaign is running such a shoe-string budget when their key opponent, the PDP candidate is splurging out billions on campaign, how does the BB campaign even hope to raise logistics and manpower to represent them at the various polling booths—something announcements on Hausa service of BBC radio cannot do for you. You risk raising so much storm and harvesting no votes if you are not represented at the polling booths, I suggested. Not to worry, Bakare assured. The BB campaign is reserving their money for just that purpose.
One thing that appeared certain at the media chat is that Bakare seems drunk on the virtues of his principal and it seems obvious that the two of them enjoy excellent body chemistry. Bakare told us a story. Former President Obasanjo had told Mallam Nasir el-Rufai to convince Buhari to substitute Bakare with Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and that if that was done, both he and Babangida would mobilize support for the Buhari campaign.
El-Rufai got across to Bakare to sell the idea. Bakare bought the idea provided it would make Buhari win, insisting that it was his opportunity to escape from public office which he was never too anxious to get involved in the first place.
In turn, Bakare and El-Rufai met Buhari to sell the idea to him. Bakare spoke first. The choice of Okonjo-Iweala, he said, would be a masterstroke because as a woman, it would attract female votes. Since Buhari was one that signed a decree on gender affirmative action nearly three decades ago, this was a golden chance to give it a practical play. Next, Okonjo-Iweala is an economist, a former finance minister—that gives the campaign a strong economic rooting. As a former external affairs minister and now the managing director of World Bank, she has strong international clout. As Delta Igbo, that solves the Igbo question of not being well represented in the current political dispensation. Finally, if the choice would earn the campaign more support and help Buhari to win, that was the main objective, as far as he was concerned. El-Rufai also delivered Obasanjo’s message as passionately as he could and Buhari listened patiently.
“If you have changed your mind about running with me, then tell me,” Buhari finally spoke. “You are the only one that can make me drop you from the campaign if you have changed your mind.”
Turning to El-Rufai, Bakare narrated, Buhari said, “Give my regards to OBJ.”
End of story. Bakare told this story to illustrate that his candidate has a mind of his own. He is not beholden to any godfather—unlike the incumbent president.
Bakare insists that Buhari is a man of profound ideas when you speak to him one-on-one but that he is not media savvy. He tends to freeze out when faced with the media, too concerned about being misrepresented. Perhaps, this accounted for his less than stellar performance at the last presidential debate which most people adjudged to have been won by the ANPP candidate, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau.
Since Bakare’s wife was sitting beside him throughout the over two hours of discussion, I demanded that we hear her speak, in case she ends up being the first or second lady of the nation. In the light of the experience with our current First Lady, we ought to know what we are going in for before voting in any candidate for such exalted office. Well, Bakare argues that for a start, the notion of first lady was unconstitutional and was one of the infractions successive leaders have perpetrated in power which B-B presidency was not going to allow. Even in the church, he never agreed that his wife should play any special role beyond her own calling. If they are elected, Bakare assured, their wives would strictly remain just that—wife of the President or wife of the Vice President, no more. In such capacity, they should minister to the welfare of their husbands and families, no more. No First Lady’s office, note that for the record, in case it happens!
Then came the question: how are fellow church leaders responding to Bakare’s decision to run for public office? Bakare admitted frankly that the responses had been mixed. While some church leaders are supportive, including the powerful Pastor E. A. Adeboye who gave him a go-ahead when he sought his advice, other church leaders think he had derailed. “There are some church leaders who would like to cast out demons of politics from me and return me to the pulpit,” Bakare said.
To him, it showed how far the church has lost touch with reality. Some church leaders feel that the ministers of God are too sacred to get involved in the mundane affairs of humanity beyond regular administration of pious exhortations. Well, Bakare wants to take his model from Jesus Christ who “endured such contradiction of sinners against himself” in order to serve fallen humanity.
Some ministers like the popular evangelical preacher, John Hagee, like to stick their fingers into national affairs, using their pulpit as a platform to chastise erring national leadership or to advance policy options. Hagee’s argument in his book, Day of Deception, is that much of the Old Testament prophets spoke to national leaders and on national issues—that is public policies, including politics. In Nigeria, Tunde Bakare falls into this mold. For those who accuse him and Buhari of rigidity and being very opinionated, Bakare says that he is quite willing to make compromises in matters of politics, but on the issue of public office, he would model himself after Daniel. “In matters that concerns his responsibilities in public office, you will find no fault in him,” he declared. I make these reports because if B-B wins the presidential election, then they should be judged by these commitments.
But some ministers afflicted with tunnel vision are simply outraged that a pastor should get mixed up in politics. Poor, uninformed souls! In my article, Run Bakare, Run, I had dismissed such argument as totally uninformed. I still think so. Come to think of it, believers are described as a kingdom of kings and priests. Over four thousand years ago, a man named Moses who authored the Pentateuch, led about two million people from Egypt for 40 years, in his capacity as a political leader and prophet all rolled into one. Although he had a professional clergy led by his elder brother, Aaron, the day he stayed away from the people for 40 days, Aaron and the people plunged into idolatry—evidence that Aaron needed Moses to function well in his priestly office. If Moses happened today, who knows if some pastors would not have cast stones on him for leaving the call of God to lead people for 40 years?
Ah yes, Bakare is sure that CPC would win the presidency at the first ballot, no run off needed. Isn’t he making a mistake somewhere? He’s ready to bet on it, if anybody is ready to take him on. But who can take on a politician?
Source: www.facebook.com/notes/cee-won/casting-demons-out-of-bakare-by-dimgba-igwe-of-daily-sun/200852143269405


This man is down to earth. What an intellectual! God helping us, he is our next VP. BB all the way.

Moderator, can you please put this thread on front page? I am pleading.

Obviously Seun won't put this one up there, 'cos he's posted it under a completely deceptive and dubious heading.

SEUN, PUT THIS ON FROM PAGE IF YOU ARE SINCERE

Neither Seun, Aisha2 and Jarus could attempt to putting this thread on front page. What a pity!

Aisha2 please, this thread is begging for home page. Please, help me put it there. Thanks.

Neither me or Jarus have the power t make threads front page. I have recommended it and i hope it gets to front page.

171 views is not home page worthy. If it was interesting there would be more posts and replies.

Seun:

171 views is not home page worthy. If it was interesting there would be more posts and replies.

very funny excuse, i have seen goodluck topics with no single reply make homepage.

The thread topic is not encouraging enough. It's too insulting to make home page.

Seun:

171 views is not home page worthy. If it was interesting there would be more posts and replies.

In case y'all don't undertand Seun's English, I will translate. Thank me later.

Translation:

["If you want this thread on the home page, then put a good spin on it. Pull some ridiculous point or outlandish conjecture out of the story.

I already tried here--> https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-634706.256.html 7k+ views!!

Or better still, You can make it Ethnocentric, Tribalistic, or just plain silly. I don't care about your PDP, ACN, CPC, APGA Politics, If the thread can't bring money via views then shove it!" ]

I'm not a hater, I'm a capitalist  -Seun "cha-ching" Osewa

Did Seun really say that

Probably did

I said what I said; not what someone else translated what I said to mean.

no need for the front page

just bump it

bump

bla bla bla,

GEJ2011

nigeria/nairaland is/are democratically, a one party system of govt where oposition is a crime. seun, put it in the dust bin. no matter how long it takes, the truth must ressurect one day.
change has come and it is evidence in ivory coast, yemen, egypt, algeria, tunisia etc where the ppl's mind must prevail.
let us wait and see.

171 views is not home page worthy. If it was interesting there would be more posts and replies.

Seun, you lied. Is it because you are the owner of Nairaland that gave you your dead excuse for not putting this thread on home page? What about your personal topic(s) you just created that find their way on home page without a single viewer or replies? Please, save me the excuse.
In the real sense, this thread up to hit home page in few seconds of creation, considering the choice of the subject, which is not mine anyway, to draw the attention of those who are ever willing and ready to crucify Pastor Bakare, for joining politics, leaving his calling as a pastor behind.
Seun, come to think of it. If as the subject suggest is the actual message in the post, will you not have posted it on home page to attack pastor Bakare without my asking for it? Let's be sincere to ourselves please!

Neither me or Jarus have the power t make threads front page. I have recommended it and i hope it gets to front page.

Aisha2, thank you for your recommendation. Anyway, I am not sure if this thread will ever gets to home page, seeing the inexcusable excuse OWNER Seun has deduced. Once more thank you.

Ok, tel me what's interesting about the article apart from the fact that it supports CPC?

Some pple have effectively made NL a campaign tool of CPC using a dozen or so usernames. Seun do the right thing and delete thread.

Pennywise:

Some pple have effectively made NL a campaign tool of CPC using a dozen or so usernames. Seun do the right thing and delete thread.

Why would he do that?

Seun:

Ok, tel me what's interesting about the article apart from the fact that it supports CPC?

The fact that you had published a part of the interview and painted Buhari as a chauvinist, so lets have the full text so people can judge for themselves

Seun:

Ok, tel me what's interesting about the article apart from the fact that it supports CPC?

How can you be so callously untruthful? You posted this same article under a completely different and false premise to denigrate Buhari as a hater of women and you are here making a very lame and false claim again. How low do you intend to descend before you realize that this calumny will be very bad for NL on the long run? I'm quite happy though the Nigerian youths saw through your lies and deceptions and even proved you dead wrong on the other thread you created.

If Buhari wins the presidential election, how will you hide your shame?

On a second thought Seun, you'll do a lot better by banning all BB supporters on NL, at least you will not have opponents of your choice of candidate. I hope your GEJ pay masters have given you enough cash to help you take NL to the next level! Let me know whenever you intend to sell NL, and I can guarantee you you'll find people who will be able to match whatever GEJ has paid you.

semid4lyfe:

Crap! Front page ko, Back page ni!

This story has been posted before under a different title and in my opinion, there are other threads in this section more deserving of the homepage.

In case you are not aware, Seun posted the same story on the other thread after the very first thread on the same topic was created. Seun tried to deceive forumites on the other thread and was caught pants down. Front page or not, the story has created more awareness in those who have been sitting on the fence all along.

9ijaMan:

How can you be so callously untruthful? You posted this same article under a completely different and false premise to denigrate Buhari as a hater of women and you are here making a very lame and false claim again. How low do you intend to descend before you realize that this calumny will be very bad for NL on the long run? I'm quite happy though the Nigerian youths saw through your lies and deceptions and even proved you dead wrong on the other thread you created.

If When Buhari wins the presidential election, how will you hide your shame?

On a second thought Seun, you'll do a lot better by banning all BB supporters on NL, at least you will not have opponents of your choice of candidate. I hope your GEJ pay masters have given you enough cash to help you take NL to the next level! Let me know whenever you intend to sell NL, and I can guarantee you you'll find people who will be able to match whatever GEJ has paid you.

In case you are not aware, Seun posted the same story on the other thread after the very first thread on the same topic was created. Seun tried to deceive forumites on the other thread and was caught pants down. Front page or not, the story has created more awareness in those who have been sitting on the fence all along.

give seun a break. its more likely intimidation than money

it is clear to all international observers that gej contrary o all the bs spread by this thugs, is immensely unpopular

this is another lame attempt at damage control

if seun was a gej supporter, he would have shown his colours long since

this is probably the dirty arm of our sss shouting treason

oyb:

give seun a break. its more likely intimidation than money

it is clear to all international observers that gej contrary o all the bs spread by this thugs, is immensely unpopular

this is another lame attempt at damage control

if seun was a gej supporter, he would have shown his colours long since

this is probably the dirty arm of our sss shouting treason

If that were the case he will not be twisting information on Buhari. The way seun is going about it does not look like he is being threatened, it looks more like inducement

How about conviction? I don't trust Buhari as the commander in chief of Nigerian armed forces. I don't trust his knowledge of what the economy needs. I don't trust his human rights record. I don't trust his record on freedom of the press. I don't want to live in fear of govt harassment when the dictator inevitably starts messing up and you people start abusing him daily. Under OBJ, I spent quite a lot of time thinking of how to make sure the home page was not perceived as anti-government, but under GEJ, I have no such fear and that's how men should live. How about that?

Seun:

How about conviction? I don't trust Buhari as the commander in chief of Nigerian armed forces. I don't trust his knowledge of what the economy needs. I don't trust his human rights record. I don't trust his record on freedom of the press. I don't want to live in fear of govt harassment when the dictator inevitably starts messing up and you people start abusing him daily. Under OBJ, I spent quite a lot of time thinking of how to make sure the home page was not perceived as anti-government, but under GEJ, I have no such fear and that's how men should live. How about that?

Fine, you are entitled to your conviction but that is not in context here, you took a part of this interview and made Buhari look bad, people deserve to see the full text. Simple

Seun:

How about conviction? I don't trust Buhari as the commander in chief of Nigerian armed forces. I don't trust his knowledge of what the economy needs. I don't trust his human rights record. I don't trust his record on freedom of the press. I don't want to live in fear of govt harassment when the dictator inevitably starts messing up and you people start abusing him daily. Under OBJ, I spent quite a lot of time thinking of how to make sure the home page was not perceived as anti-government, but under GEJ, I have no such fear and that's how men should live. How about that?

Seun, you crack me up real hard I beg.

See as you use style call GEJ weakling and further ascertain your fears for Buhari.

Have you thought of running NL from Ghana or Cameroon should Buhari get into power?

Seun:

How about conviction?  I don't trust Buhari as the commander in chief of Nigerian armed forces.  I don't trust his knowledge of what the economy needs.  I don't trust his human rights record.  I don't trust his record on freedom of the press.  I don't want to live in fear of govt harassment when the dictator inevitably starts messing up and you people start abusing him daily.  Under OBJ, I spent quite a lot of time thinking of how to make sure the home page was not perceived as anti-government, but under GEJ, I have no such fear and that's how men should live.  How about that?

Conviction? I laugh in Mandarin!

How about getting yourself informed that Buhari performed all those you accused him of under the rule of a GUN. He was a military head of state for crying out loud sake! We had the next military ruler in the person of IBB who gave the press just about all the freedom they requested, and what exactly do we have to show for it today? BTW, AIT was also threatened under GEJ's administration, hence your excuse of press freedom is very lame at best.

On economic issues, perhaps you also need to educate yourself with adequate information on how Buhari managed the economy in his time as head of state, an economic policy our current and well respected CBN governor extolled and termed Buharism. You can also research how Buhari managed PTF, and how he managed the constructions of 3 out of the 4 refineries in the country without any credible claim of financial recklessness or corruption against the man. BTW El-Rufai has come out to refute the false allegations against Buhari that he skewed the PTF projects to favor the north. El-Rufai made a startling revelation that PTF projects  were almost 50/50 along the North/South divide in terms of project costs.

Read the articles in the links below for some perspective on Buhari's economic policies in 1984/1985.
http://www.triumphnewspapers.org/WHY17112010.html
http://www.triumphnewspapers.org/why18112010.html

Lastly, Buhari will be coming in as a civilian president and would certainly not have some of the clout a military government had. Hence, your fears are completely unfounded. In a democratic space any journalist who makes false claims against the government will be sued out of existence. If Buhari makes the judiciary independent as he's promised in his manifesto, you need not entertain any fear. I know you've got some brains, please use it appropriately.

Carry on Seun. You, Myself and millions of other credible Nigerians, who know the value of freedom, think alike.  We cannot be deceived. Here is a blast from the past:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBSWhA6z-54