₦airaland Forum

Vice-presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Pastor Tunde Bakare, Wednesday dismissed rumours making the rounds that he hails from Ilorin, Kwara State, describing himself as a thorough-bred Egba man.

Rumours were flying that both presidential candidate of the CPC, General Muhammadu Buhari, and his running mate, Bakare, were Northerners, implying that theirs is a North-North ticket since Kwara State is located in the North-central zone of the country, while Buhari hails from Katsina in North-western part of the country.

While dismissing the insinuation as an outright falsehood, Bakare, who told THISDAY through a telephone conversation Wednesday night that he was a bonafide indigene of Abeokuta in Ogun State, added that he hails from Sodeke village in the state capital which was established by Sodeke, one of the founders of Egba in 1830.

Sodeke was one of the notable warriors in Yoruba land in the 19th century, whose fame and heroic acts brought glory to Egba community.

To establish the altruism of his claim, Bakare said he could trace his genealogy up to the fourth and even fifth generations of Egba, recalling that he even built a cenotaph in honour of the memory of Sodeke, his ancestor, which he said was inaugurated by the Ogun State government.

While explaining that both his father and mother were from Abeokuta, the cleric said his father built his house in Iporo, Sodeke in 1922 where he was born 55 years ago, adding that his father’s grave is still in the house “till today”.

Bakare said while his father is now dead, his mother, who is 110 years old, still lives in Abeokuta, saying “without prejudice to the good people of Ilorin”, he has no root whatsoever in the town as being rumoured.

Bakare. who also said he had his primary and secondary school education in Abeokuta, named the schools as All Saints Primary School, Kenta and Lisabi Grammar School, Idi Aba, both in the town, adding that he is well known as a full-fledged indigene of Egba by the Alake of Egba land, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, as well as the Olowu of Owu, Oba Dosunmu.

According to him, both monarchs can attest to his claim of Egba indigeneship. He also said among his school mates in Abeokuta is the incumbent governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

Bakare, who said his parents were Muslims from the outset, added that his mother only got converted in 1984, while his father died as a Muslim.

THISDAY also learnt that Bakare had once declared his ambition to run for the chairmanship of Abeokuta Local Government area of the state.

excanny:
I think Abagworo is quite right. Under normal circumstances, spellings are quite irrelevant and do not always determine how a word is to be pronounced. So on that note, I'll agree that 'Igbo', 'Ibo', 'Heebo', 'Ebo', etc are okay[b] if and only if the proper pronunciation is maintained.[/b]

But I think the 'Igbo' is a better guide to the actual pronunciation of the language, people and place.

P.S  Unfortunately the 'gb' in Igbo and in the neighbouring Yoruba 'gb' are very different in sound. But it can be a close guide for anyone who  wants to learn how to pronounce it in Igbo.

Eko Ile:
Ode buruku. What difference does it make?

den say you thief money, but your re'tarded a/s/.s say na only 1 naira I steal.

You're still a f'u.ckin.g thief you fool.

Andre Uweh:
The creation of Anioma state will be a welcomed development. Nothwithstandingly, Ndigbo deserves seven states to be at per with the north west geo-political zone.
Hence, Anioma and Njaba states should be created without delay.

seanet03:
Probably their IBO brothers have kidnapped them as usual.

Tsiya:
I am not going to read it. I already got the summary from the proponent of the Anioma state. There are Igbo in Delta and so they need a state.

Tsiya:
Just beause there are Igbos in Delta State then a state must be created for them. This is ridiculous. This not sufficient enough to create a state.

zeeko:
Give me reasons why we SHOULDN'T split. Mr Al.jaram Boko haRam!

Ikengawo:
so what do nigerians think that achieve by getting more 'states'.

every tribe wants more 'states'

what's the point? im honestly curious, because, wtf?

Ikengawo:
you didn't answer the question.
what BENEFIT is this to the 'anioma' people?

Lets say they have their own state, how does this benefit the lives of the people in this new state? what is the beneficial difference?

ChinenyeN:
All this gara gara. . . give it up. They aren't going to create any more new states. In fact, new states were promised before 2011, and they didn't deliver. So no dice. It really sucks though, Aba could have been materialized. . .

fstranger1:
Alj Harem, you are such a wonderful person

I used to feel bad when Hausas Kill Igbo

Now, I look forward to . . .

afam4eva:
You're really not making any sense here. You said zoning should be done with. That instead those who merit it should be picked. That's why i asked a simple question that needs a simpler answer. How did GEJ merit been the PDP candidate. What has he done to deserve it. Just answer the question and stop beating around the bush.

afam4eva:
Pls keep quiet. Big deal right. There was a yoruba commisioner in Nnamani's Government.

Like i keep saying what's the big deal any other tribe being a commissioner in Lagos. Afterall these people contribute and pay their taxes in Lagos. Are you this daft or have you been in coma for so many years that you don't know that an Austrain was the governor of california. Now compare that with someone from the same control been named a commisioner.

Obiagu1:
You can laugh as much as you want.
All you used to hear was Biafra and Odua, not anymore. The game is over.

ShangoThor:
Alj Harem, you're a good guy, but tell your elders to go, so you can argue amongst yourselves about zoning and deal with you Boko Haram menace!

Don't be scared or afraid, I know you have the desert, but if you apply to us for AID, because you are African muslims you will be granted the AID!

Obiagu1:
I used to be a Biafra fanatics but I've weighed both Biafra and Southern Nigeria, believe me no southern unit will be better off than One South.
Like I said before, Yorubas hold the key and they should use it to set us all free.

I[b]t's a new movement and who knows how big it'll grow. One thing is certain, Nigeria cannot remain one forever.[/b]

ShangoThor:
The point now is to let our Northern countrymen to know is that the time is up. Enough is enough. The game is over!

The country will split, you have no vision or strategy for our collective existence all you desire is a monopoly
on power and subjugating others. It's time to split amicably, please lobby your elders, enough is enough

solihu:
Well i don't see any war ahead. The only thing i see funny individuals running a comedy on NL. And for sure the comedy ends when the thread dies naturally.

As sleep no gree me make una continue una tori, i dey kampe dey watch.

@ alj harem bani goro in tauna ina jin dadin wan'nan hiran naku!

seanet03:
@alhajrem, what is the Pride in what EKOILE said? It was a well known fact that it was a YORUBA man that plan how to effectively wear out the ibos AWOLOWO, it is also a known fact that it was YORUBA military men who stepped in and flogged the sense out of you ibos. OBASANJO

Eko Ile:
Ode, he was asked to. There's a huge difference between backside kissing and being begged to join in.

For the iboman, it's always cash and carry.

I really hope you're not the smartest iboman in your village.