The Convener, Save Nigeria Group, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has said he will run for political office in the 2011 general elections if God permits him to do so.

Bakare said this shortly before delivering his Sunday sermon on the Principle and Power of Hounour at the Latter Rain Assembly, Lagos, where he is the overseer.

The cleric, however, did not confirm or deny media reports in two national newspapers (not THE PUNCH), that he might be tipped as the running mate to former Head of State, Gen. Mohammed Buhari, who is the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change.

Bakare, who had repeatedly denied belonging to any political party, declared that he would offer himself for political office if God permitted him to do so.

The SNG convener, who said “nothing has been decided yet” on the reported development, asked the congregation to pray for him in order for him to make the “right choice” on the issue.

“It is good that this has been published in the newspapers before I have the opportunity to speak with you,” said the outspoken pastor after reading the reports of the newspapers.

“I have told you several times that my destiny is intertwined with that of Nigeria, but I have never struggled to do that on my own. I told you when God asked me to organise the SNG and you have been able to see the impact. This is another chapter. I’m a Nigerian and qualified to vote and be voted for. I’m ready to run if God asked me to do so.

“I have never prayed about it despite all the pressure and suggestions around me but if God is asking you to do a thing, you have to obey. The only thing that I need you (congregation) to do for me is to pray for me as the next one week is crucial. I need to do what God asked me to do.”

The cleric had raised a little dust in 2010 when he described Buhari as the most credible individual among presidential aspirants in the country who had made their intention known.

He opined that the former head of state was the only person who did not have any trace of corruption on his neck either in or out of government.

Bakare warned members of the church, who failed to produce their voter’s card in the church, that they risked being thrown out of the church auditorium.

“I have registered and so are many other people. If you show up in this church after the registration and you cannot produce your card, you will not be allowed to stay in this (church) auditorium; you can stay in the extension,” said the cleric, who said it would be very difficult to vote twice in the coming elections.

Bakare warned members of the church, who failed to produce their voter’s card in the church, that they risked being thrown out of the church auditorium.

“I have registered and so are many other people. If you show up in this church after the registration and you cannot produce your card, you will not be allowed to stay in this (church) auditorium; you can stay in the extension,” said the cleric, who said it would be very difficult to vote twice in the coming elections.

solihu:

Nice one! PDP "lick" your "fingers", you are done "eating"

blacksta:

I agree 100% with Bakare

If God be with me who can be against me. What the man is saying is absolute correct - would any one of us who are true Christians not do the same if you were instructed by God

Abeg you lot should learn to use your brain - It is a gift from God.

aguiyi:

am yet to see an opposition
buhari,dele momodu,ribadu etc are are just attension seekers.
ribadu failed for joining forces with the same tinubu he considered a rogue when he was at the efcc,dele momodu failed for joining a faceless party that has no office in major cities of the country and buhari has already failed for inconsistency and lack of convicing power while others just need compensation after the elections as they know they are heading back home after the elections

blacksta:

I agree 100% with Bakare

If God be with me who can be against me.  What the man is saying is absolute correct  - would any one of us who are[b] true Christians [/b]not do the same if you were instructed by God

Abeg you lot should learn to use your brain - It is a gift from God.

Ibime:

Bakare should not compromise the SNG by dragging it into partisan politics. Buhari should find another running mate.

Mobinga:

This man is a disgrace to priethood. A disgrace to christianity! A massive failure.
I've never liked all of these ridiculous pastors. They are all the same bunch of sinners!

A pastor can never be so engrossed in politics without having intentions of joining it. Shame on him. Shame on that farce he calls a church. Shame on his church members. Shame on Nigerian pastors.

Now where is Mai Suya, that said this man can never join politics.

Ibime:

Bakare should not compromise the SNG by dragging it into partisan politics. Buhari should find another running mate.

proudly9ja:

When Bakare came out with SNG, people said pastors whould not mix christianity with politics. When via SNG, God delievered us from Turai and her cohorts, few cared to retract their words.

Now he has not said he is coming out but has placed his destiny in God's Hands, christians are the first to condemn him.

I am a christian but I say shame on us christians who despite the fact that there are over 10 million of us who claim to serve God in this land, Nigeria is still the way it is today. Shame on us despite our constantly increasing parishes and church buildings, corruption continues to destroy our land. Shame on us despite the increasing 'tithes' and 'offering' we claim we pay, our land is yet to see change.

One man stands up and dares to be different. He stands up and unlike some of us who have given more excuses than Moses gave God, has told God that 'whereever you send me, I will go' and all we can do is open our stinking mouths and complain.

Shame on us!

sirabbey:



[b]Now to the issue on ground, my view is that since God had called Tunde Bakare to be a pastor, he should not stoop to be a King. He should continue in the ministry of Elijah (sanitizing the society) rather than join Ahab on the throne.[/[/color]b]

Mobinga:

Shame on you! For allowing Bakare intellectually and religiously pepper-soup you!

proudly9ja:

While I understand your growse, Ive listened to Bakare several times (online) and even from the posts above, he said he has never prayed to God about holding a political office before. But if God send him, who is he not to go?

Let us stop being religious for goodness sake. As christians we have been praying for change. If it is God who says Bakare should go then I want to believe its because he has a plan. Do you think that if God had made Elijah King in Israel, Elijah would have rejected it?

sirabbey:

[Your utterance is uncalled for, it smacks of absolute disrespect and ignorance of temporal and spiritual matter. Your right to disagree with a person does not confer on you the privilege to abuse and demean them. Making a sweeping jab at the Church is the height of irresponsibility I dare say.
[color=#006600]
[b]Now to the issue on ground, my view is that since God had called Tunde Bakare to be a pastor, he should not stoop to be a King. He should continue in the ministry of Elijah (sanitizing the society) rather than join Ahab on the throne.[/[/color]b][/[/color]b]

Mobinga:

What disrespect?

My dear, If he is trully being called, he wouldn't run for VICE! He would run for PRESIDENT! Shame on you!

What a disgrace, running to be the subordinate of a Islamic zealot! How ridiculous does that sound! Shame!