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?

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?

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/backpage.html

this is a classic piece again

I believe Buhari and Bakare are to be respected. But just like in football, they will be better as coach and referee but not as footballers. Imagine if these two were supporting people like Ribadu and Okonjo-Iweala under the platform of ACN. That would have been the greatest team for 2011. I myself would have supported them wholeheartedly. Unfortunately, that is not the case. 2011 is a done deal and opposition needs to get it right next time.

Seun, well said.

@seun,
Havin ruled nigeria for 8yrs and institutionalising corruption, he now now has an idea of a candidate who resigned from his own govt. due to overbearing influence.

He is fronting for GEj in PDP,wants to front for BUHARI IN CPC. Obasanjo is well known for his deceitful act,wonder y El-rufai is nw supporting BUHARI against GEJ?.

I would rather stay hungry than eat from a devils pot.

@seun,
I want to believe u remove ur post, got to apologise for expressing such opinion wen u re nt convinced others should se it or i will copy it back 4rm my records.

@MAYOOWAK,
U wouldnt believe @Seun copied an extract from ur post and lifted my comment as well to start a thread titled: Buhari rejects the choice of Okonjo Iweala as VP.
This is mischievous.
He can copy from the interview bt why would he move my opinion to forn a different thread?.
This guys would do anytin to promote failure,corruption and mediocrity.

I moved the reply to a different thread as a service to you, because the post you replied to had been moved to that thread. I can move it back if you want, but I thought you wanted your opinions to be heard.

@seun,
Thats mischievious, i never replied to your post and nt in a hurry to be heard under a mischievous headline,i want my opinion moved back to where it belong, SIMPLE

Done. Happy now?

I am a moderator on sites just like you bt cant remember ever been that mischievious.

No comment more comment. But i am waiting for ur next move.

I was being resourceful, trying to help you out, but you chose to be irrational, and that's your right.

@Seun, I saw your comments earlier today and I think it was totally uncalled for. You forgot to mention the string attached to the Okonjo Iweala candidacy.

On facebook?  I posted a link but then I had to update it much later in the thread, alas.