Pastor Tunde Bakare Speaks On Buhari: "His Driver For 16 Years Is A Born Again Christian. How Is This Kind Of Man An Islamic Fundamentalist?

GENERAL Muhammadu Buhari is one of the constants in Nigeria's presidential elections. He started participation in 2003 and he has not missed out since then, returning every four years to answer his name. Two men who ran with him as deputies in the 2003 and 2007 outings are now deceased. They are Dr. Chuba Okadigbo and Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke. The principal is much alive and on the verge of a breath-taking fourth attempt at the presidency. He is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the February 2015 presidential election.

The last of his deputies is Pentecostal Pastor, Mr. Tunde Bakare. He is the General Overseer and Pastor of the Latter Rain Assembly Church and the only living presidential running mate of Buhari. Some people describe him as 'no-nonsense' and 'radical' and a man who says it as it is. Tracking Pastor Bakare to volunteer a view on Buhari was a bit winding, not due to unwillingness on his part but for the fact that the preacher is offshore.

Somehow, news reached him wherever he was that The Guardian On Sunday was on his trail for views on Buhari. He reversed the hunt and initiated a call to the Editor, Abraham Ogbodo. The main issue for determination is the perception of Buhari in the public space. Much as the ex-general tries to discharge the toga, a section of the Nigerian society holds him down to extreme ethno-religious views. The line opened and Pastor Bakare, Buhari's running mate in the 2011 presidential election poured his within the short time the not particularly smooth telephone conversation could permit. Excerpts:

"Unfortunately, the man shall continue to be misunderstood because it suits some people to put him in that light so that they can continue to plunder the nation. Yes, he is a devout Muslim but he is far from being a religious fundamentalist. In my dealings with him, he never calls me on Saturdays because he understands I will be preparing for church the following day. Issues of religion never crops up between us and till tomorrow, he still calls me.

"His driver for 16 years is a born again Christian. How is this kind of man an Islamic fundamentalist? My prayer is that Nigerians should not miss again this opportunity to redeem themselves from the burden of corruption and elect a true leader that will lead them out of darkness. Even in the 2011 post election violence, nothing is traceable to him. What happened was that people just got angry with the outcome of what they had thought was an opportunity to break away from bondage and went on rampage.

"In fact in a few instances Buhari had come under attack because some people interpreted his visiting some quarters as a compromise. He has made himself clear to Nigeria but everybody cannot be an orator and so it is not his fault if he remains misunderstood by some people. This is a man that contested election three times and for three times, he pursued his mandate using the courts when the polls failed to declare him winner. How democratic could someone get again?

"Will you call a man who followed the due process of the law to resolve whatever issues he had with the system a fundamentalist? He is a true Nigerian who loves his country and he wants to give his best. I have worked closely with him and I do not have any regrets. It is a case of giving a dog a bad name in order to kill him. That man loves the nation and he is prepared to give his best to take us out of the current doldrums."

It was a rushed affair and couldn't have been exhaustive of the position of the pastor on the presidential regular. Available records on the subject have helped to add the needed depth. Hear what Pastor Bakare had said previously on General Muhammadu Buhari:

The man Buhari I know

If I have the chance, I will do it again. Buhari is an incorruptible leader. He is a man whose word is his bond. He is a reliable person and he loves this country. I don't flatter people and you know I fought almost all military impostors in this country; there was a time I couldn't stand any of them. But getting close to him, I realised he loves Christians as much as he loves Muslims. For those who said why Buhari? Don't forget that Joseph served Pharaoh, Daniel served Nebuchadnezzar, and we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, so you can maintain contact without contamination. Anything that would contribute to the wellbeing of the people of this country, as much as God gives me the grace, I would do it.

On how he became Buhari's running mate

I was asked to be a running mate to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. I was not looking forward to it at all. But if I am beckoned upon to do something, I will pray about it and if I see that it does not negate what I stand for and believe in, why not? The truth is that if good people don't participate in politics, then we will continue to endure the rule of idiots. I sat in my house, leading a group called Arrow Heads, which is already public knowledge after Mallam Nasir El-Rufai wrote about it in his book, 'Accidental Public Servant.'

We gathered a group of Nigerians we felt could make a change in our clime. People like Oby Ezekwesili, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Donald Duke, Nasir El-Rufai, Nuhu Ribadu, Fola Adeola, Jimi Lawal, Yinka Odumakin, Jimi Agbaje, Wale Osun and a few others. We said to ourselves that we should form the Arrow Heads to produce a change. And when I was given the privilege of being the chairperson of that group, I told them I would only accept on two conditions.

Number one, that I would not join any political party and number two, I would not seek any elective office so that if there is a dispute, I can effectively resolve it. Those around me know that I have no desire for a political office but those who don't know me think I am an opportunist.

Gen. Buhari called me on January 15 of that year and said that he had done his own little prayers and he wanted to ask me to be his running mate. I told him I couldn't because I lead a group and I had given them my word and that my word is my bond. I also told him that I had no desire for a political office; all I wanted to see was a change and be among those who worked behind the scene. So, Gen. Buhari asked me to pray about it that he would get back to me. Within six or seven hours, he called back and I told him that I had not consulted my people. The first person I called among others was my wife and daughter and then spoke to Pastor Adeboye twice on it.

On the suicide Attempt on Buhari's life

Whichever way you look at it; Gen. Buhari has succeeded in stepping into the shoes of the likes of the founding fathers of this nation. It is like killing Awo in the West in those days. They jailed him but they dared not kill him. Look at the repercussions of what happened when Sardauna was killed. It is like shooting Azikiwe. A time comes when people have such a large following that you have to be careful about them. Gen. Buhari registered a party and went to contest for election after three months and had 12 million votes. I have seen the people following him running towards a moving plane. He is not loved because he has money to pay them, he doesn't give a dime to anybody. Buhari does not have such money, he does not have a petrol station, and he has no oil well even after being a petroleum minister and former head of state. There was a time he took his children to public schools. Obasanjo investigated him with Haruna Adamu, and didn't find anything against him.

Why I did not move with Buhari to APC

A strategic man takes his time. I moved the motion for the merger of the parties publicly at Eagles Square. I worked tirelessly for that merger to materialise. But when you perceive that your presence, whether you speak or stay quiet, affects some of the people who think you are ambitious, you leave the stage for them. If you ask me if I am in APC, Buhari knows I am in Daura APC, not Ogun State, Oyo or Lagos State so that those functioning can be free to function without fearing that this man might have an ambition and might still want to be a running mate. I have had my fair share.

On sustaining the Buhari persona

When I decided to go to CPC, I looked at the integrity of General Buhari. And I still believe, up to this moment, that Buhari is a man of honour, virtue and integrity. And I have wished he could be an independent candidate, but he has to function in a political party.

I just pray that there will be no hangers-on that will begin to tamper with his integrity, because, after all, one tree does not make a forest.

If you are not planting the seed and watering it, in no time, the rod of the wicked could come upon the righteous and the righteous will have no choice but to put their hands into iniquity. God forbid, I pray that does not happen to him.

It is better for him to stand tall and stand erect for the rest of his life than get compromised by men of easy virtue.

I wish he could contest as independent candidate in the 2015 general election. Apparently, there is no room for it either in the constitution or our electoral act.