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Tag: Bakare

  • Bakare and CAN as Buhari critics

    Pastor Tunde Bakare, the overseer of Latter Rain Assembly Church while delivering his State of the Nation address, titled ‘Roadmap to successful change,’ back in January launched a sweeping attack on some of President Buhari’s policies. First, he said “The CBN was contributing negatively to the Nigerian state by becoming a conduit for politicians to drain the nation.”  He  thereafter ‘demanded for the prosecution of those indicted in the damning report of the Farouk Lawan committee, a phenomenon he refers to as ‘Kleptoric kleptocracy unlimited’, where for instance, N999m was reportedly paid 129 times totaling N128,871,000,000 to some companies by the office of the Accountant General of the Federation.” He went on to remind the President that ‘with the non- prosecution of those indicted four years after; we didn’t need to wonder why corruption is so endemic and very pervasive in our nation today’.

    Bakare’s criticism is in pursuit of a better society. This is a crusade he started back in 1982 when he first launched his ministry. Bakare has intimidating credentials as a ‘prophet, lawyer, politician, a successful international businessman, an activist and servant of the people’.  His commitment to Nigeria as a social crusader with Nigeria will work in my time mantra has been attested to by no less a personality than Pius Adesanmi, a professor of Literature and winner of the Peguine prize for Africa writings.  According to him “Bakare  is Nigeria first and only liberation theologist who provides not just spiritual food and guidance for Nigeria but been in the trenches’ deploying and interpreting the gospel as a manifesto of liberation of the Nigerian people  from poverty injustice and all assorted  consequences of corruption and bad leadership”.

    Bakare, who has in his own words ‘moved from the pulpit to the street and to the podium” to make ‘propositional alternatives’ to government was the Convener of the Save Nigeria Group, (SNG) that fought on behalf of Jonathan on the streets of Abuja. Following the astronomical increases in fuel subsidy from N256.3b in July 2008 to N673b in 2010 under Yar Adua,  moving to N1.3 trillion in 2011 under Jonathan and N2.19t in an election year, Bakare was at the ‘Freedom Park’ in Lagos calling for the investigation of those ‘behind the colossal looting of our money’. His crusade paid off when a House of Representatives probe indicted some PDP leading lights and their siblings for the theft of about N1.7 trillion.

    We can therefore easily understand  Bakare’s righteous indignation that those who should be in prison to serve as a deterrent to others today under Buhari government of change enjoy the same immunity  as they did as Jonathan fund- raisers and campaign managers.

    The difference between Bakare and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) as critics of government is very clear. Unlike Bakare  who has since 1982  had “the courage to say and do what he considered the right thing”  for our nation, his other CAN members  who kept their peace, sometimes not as innocent onlookers, while the looting of our resources  went on, have in the wake of economic recession ravaging the land found their voices. They have told Buhari to find solution to the nation’s economic woes instead of moaning over spill milk. I agree with our religious fathers. Wasn’t that the reason Buhari stood a chance against Jonathan after three failed attempts?

    The views are the same. From Tunde Adeoye the Bishop of Calabar Diocese, Anglican Communion, to Jacob Adetunmobi, Bishop of Ibadan South Diocese, Adeyemo, Bishop of Omu- Aran, Prelate of Methodist Church of Nigeria Dr. Samuel Uche, to the Bishops of the 19 northern states and Abuja whose spokesman, Revd. John Hayab ‘wants the government to embark on policies that show they love the citizen’, to the chairman and spiritual father of Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Worldwide (Ayo Ni o), Most Revd. Samuel Abidoye whose concern was that this year Christmas ‘will be the poorest Christmas celebrations in recent time” to Emeritus Archbishop Olubunmi Okogie, who saw ‘youth revolution because the people are hungry.’

    Although it is on record that some jet-flying prosperity prophets contributed to the current hunger in the land, the verdict of both Christian and Muslim clerics is that Buhari alone must carry the can. Dr. Saheed Ashafa, the president of Muslim students society of Nigeria,  blames the current economic predicament on Buhari while  the Chief Imam, Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdurrahman Ahmad says to  Buhari “ the hunger is real, you cannot continue to ask Nigerians to be patient , you cannot continue to preach to hungry people.”

    While they are all absolutely right, I however think we cannot afford a divided home through finger-pointing in view of the imminent danger hunger poses to our people. I therefore believe all hands must be on deck instead of blame game.

    Let us start with our Muslim clerics. In Lagos, Musliu Obanikoro, former minister of defence who has only been able to pay N140m of about N1billion he admitted he illegally took, is known in the Muslim community as generous giver to mosques and Muslim associations. This is the time he needs the help of his Muslim spiritual leaders most. They could make contributions or prevail on him to sell off some of his properties. A billion naira if stashed together according to our inimitable Olatunji Dare will be as high as the empire building in New York. If Buhari has that humongous stolen fund, it will surely go a long way in reducing hunger.

    The President of the Muslim Congress Dr. Luqman Abdul Raheem who claim ‘division within the President’s APC had increased hunger in the country’  can join hands with his fellow Christian clerics to appeal to Saraki who caused the division by trading off the victory of his party to retrace his steps. Senator Alasoadura (he whose armour is prayers); his able supporter, Dino Melaye who claimed to have made his fortunes through prosperity prophets, both Abdulmumin Jibrin, and Yakubu Dogara the Speaker, put asunder by ‘budget padding, are Muslim and Christian respectively. If division is the cause of hunger according the cleric, who are better placed to bring reconciliation than those who claim to hear the voice of God?

    And finally  an appeal to my own Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie who ‘saw a revolution going on underground because there is hunger in the land and some people are still crying for their salaries and not getting them” . He is right to blame Buhari for our economic woes. But since we are looking for solution to the hunger ravaging our land, Okogie who commands a lot of respect among his Niger Delta compatriots can appeal to the Niger Delta militants who are currently sabotaging the economy.

  • Corrupt value system is Nigeria’s greatest problem, says Bakare

    Corrupt value system is Nigeria’s greatest problem, says Bakare

    Latter Rain Assembly Presiding Pastor Dr. Tunde Bakare at the weekend said the crisis confronting Nigeria will linger, if leaders and stakeholders fail to change their corrupt value system.

    Expressing sadness at the country’s level of corruption, Bakare said leaders must be held accountable no matter the situation.

    He said no one needed to be told something was wrong with most of the country’s  leaders.

    The fiery cleric added that the situation has become so bad that even clerics, who should teach morals, are involved in graft.

    Bakare, who was Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate in the 2011 presidential election on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), spoke while delivering a lecture at the 14th anniversary of Foursquare Gospel Church, Asokoro, Abuja with the theme: “The church and economic recession”.

    Worried by the dwindling fortunes of the average citizen, the Convener of Save Nigeria Group (SNG) called for a complete overhaul of the Nigerian system and structure.

    He frowned at the political situation, where about 27 states in the federation are broke and unable to pay salaries.

    The cleric said such a system of dependent and non-viable federating units was unsustainable.

    His words: “We do not need anyone to say something is wrong with our leaders. Something is actually wrong. But I defer when it comes to just blaming leadership. I have heard it so often said that Nigeria’s problem is leadership problem.

    “The leaders come from the same society. Our greatest problem in Nigeria is corrupt value system. And that is what is producing the type of leaders we have.”

    The Senior Pastor of Foursquare Gospel Church, Asokoro, Babajide Olowodola, stated that what the church had been doing was to make sure “we are not part of the problem, but working hard to ensure that we bring solutions to the country’s economic problems”.

  • There’s hope for Nigeria, says Bakare

    There’s hope for Nigeria, says Bakare

    General Overseer of Latter Rain Assembly Pastor Tunde Bakare has said despite evidence of a high level of corruption in public and private life, President Muhammadu Buhari can win the war on corruption.

    He spoke in Lagos weekend at the  the launch of the Onyekachi Ubani Foundation (MOU) by Second Vice-Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Monday Ubani.

    Dignitaries at the event included President Buhari, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, among others.

    Bakare, who was represented by Segun Oloketuyi, managing director of Wema Bank Plc, delivered the keynote speech on the theme: ‘The system that allows massive corruption in Nigeria must be a bad system’.

    Under military rule, he said Nigeria became synonymous with corruption, and this was carried on “through 17 years of civil governance.” He blamed this on an “expectation and demand culture” leading to an attitude of impunity.

    “Despite the emergence of a new government on the heels of a strong anti-corruption campaign, despite the credence lent to this anti-corruption promise by the antecedent of President Buhari, and despite global acknowledgement that Nigeria has taken shovel loads off the peak of this mountain of filth, the stench of corruption remains “fantastically” horrible with the rest of the world turning their noses away in disgust and derision,” Bakare added.

    Nevertheless, he noted that Nigerians are essentially not corrupt and gave instances of the airport cleaner, who found and returned N12 million and Buhari’s declaration to be incorruptible, which has gone unchallenged.

    Bakare added: “Therefore, I am confident that there is hope. What is urgently required is the redefinition of our value system along the lines of probity and integrity by highlighting our anti-corruption narrative. Then, upon that foundation, we must build a corruption-tight system that reinforces this narrative and eliminates the contrary. This task of refabricating society is a collective responsibility that must involve all, the government as well as the governed.”

    Earlier, in his welcome address President Buhari commended the vision of the foundation.

    He said: “It is significant that the foundation is dedicated to helping the poor and needy in the society and also to celebrate those who made our country proud with virtuous acts.

    “Barrister Ubani, you have decided to improve other peoples’ lives in your own little way, Very inspiring. If this is the heartbeat of more privileged Nigerians, then the burden of government will be a lot lightened.”

    Responding, Ubani said the society will continue to breed miscreants if the wealthy do not assist the poor.

    “The consequences of not being our Brother’s Keeper is what bred Boko Haram; it is currently breeding other societal miscreants all over the place. God knows what else, what next, where else, when next the next terror will hit us. The danger is growing within; it is drawing nearer and nearer to our door step, just as the storm gathers,” he said.

    Ubani noted that he decided to set up the foundation because there was a limit to how many people he could personally help.

    “There is a limit to how many Nigerians a Good Samaritan with limited resources can help, but I am convinced that if I get your support in your capacity as an empowered Nigerian, together we can create a system that will lift a majority of Nigerians, young and old, out of poverty and hunger. It takes just a little more creative thinking and brainstorming to build that enabling structure outside of the box.”

     

  • Bakare, Ositelu okay restructuring

    Bakare, Ositelu okay restructuring

    The Superintending Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare,  has called for the restructuring of Nigeria to prevent the nation from drifting into anarchy.

    Pastor Bakare spoke while answering questions from reporters after delivering the 50th-year anniversary lecture of the founder of the Church of the Lord, the late Prophet Josiah Olunowo Ositelu, at the Rufus Okikiola Ositelu Multipurpose Hall, Ogere Remo, Ogun State, at the weekend.

    The topic of the lecture is “The Crisis of Christianity and the Challenge of the Church”.

    He said: “There is no alternative to restructuring of Nigeria . We must go back to the basics . We must prepare the foundation of many generations.

    “In the past, people in their regions maximise the potential of their land and contributed their quota to the Federal Government. We must go back to the regional system if we are not going to continue to see unrest.

    “And there is no negotiation, there is no way out of it. We must go back and raise that foundation, restore and repair the bridge and then the increase of his government and peace will be experienced in our land’’.

    In the same vein, Primate Rufus Okikiola Ositelu, said the only way to rescue the country was to  restructure it and allow the regions grow at their pace .

    He described the federal system as absurd , saying the country must be restructured to let the zones manage their resources.

  • Bakare urges govts to reduce cost of governance

    Bakare urges govts to reduce cost of governance

    •Cleric advises Buhari to adopt conference report

    LAGOS preacher Pastor Tunde Bakare has advised governments to cut cost by reducing political appointees and what they earn.

    The Overseer of Latter Rain Assembly, in his State of the Nation broadcast during yesterday’s church service, said: “If we are serious about sound financial management, a more significant reduction in the size and cost of running government will be required than this administration has been able to effect.

    “The government re-sizing process has been hampered by structural anomalies and constitutional constraints.  For instance, of what use is a bloated legislature that could potentially gulp 25 per cent of the national recurrent budget?  Of what use is a profligate governmental structure characterised by minuscule but treasury-draining federating units? Of what use is a constitutional provision for the appointment of 36 ministers even when we have no need for so many?

    “As for the state governments, care must be taken not to provoke the rage of poorly paid civil servants by reducing the minimum wage of impoverished workers. What they should do is devise a reasonable policy direction that will lead to a reduction in the salaries of politicians and political appointees, reduce security votes, trim the size and cost of governance, and embark on revenue mobilisation strategies.”

    To rise out of the financial conundrum, Bakare suggested that President Muhammadu Buhari should pursue true federalism, empowering the geopolitical regions to develop economically as in the past.

    The cleric urged the President to consider the report of the 2014 National Conference, which he said reflected the pre-election promises of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He said: “I appeal to Mr. President not to ignore the report of the 2014 National Conference! God went ahead of you to provide a navigational map with which you can begin to steer the ship of state to a safe destination.

    “The APC may have refused to participate in the 2014 National Conference, but the report of that Conference is in tandem with the promise of the APC manifesto. The APC manifesto and the report of the 2014 National Conference are a tag team in waiting, not a thesis and antithesis.

    “Just as this government adopted the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) and the Treasury Single Account (TSA) , which were conceived by the Goodluck Jonathan administration, the Buhari-led government should embrace the report of the 2014 National Conference. That report may have been produced under a PDP government but it is not a PDP document. It is a Nigerian people’s document. Delegates to the 2014 National Conference, East, West, North and South endorsed the report without a single vote on any issue.”

    In addition to Buhari’s efforts on deregulation and diversification, Bakare advised him to add devolution, which would involve reviewing the structure forms of government.

  • Bakare’s intriguing portrait of Buhari

    Bakare’s intriguing portrait of Buhari

    Pastor of the Latter Rain Assembly, Tunde Bakare, was widely quoted last week to have described President Muhammadu Buhari as helpless on the subject of insecurity, not clueless. He puts it unmistakably: “President Buhari’s administration is not clueless but helpless on the issue of insecurity. He met with neighbouring countries, changed service chiefs and formed ties with the leaders of the Western nations to seek their support in tackling insurgency. That is why we must all rise up to support his administration.” The pastor didn’t quite explain what he meant by President Buhari being helpless; except of course he was not comprehensively reported. But the public got a general meaning of what that helplessness is all about. Pastor Bakare seemed to imply that the president had done all that is humanly possible, and could do no more than just stay the course and hope for the best.

    Unflatteringly, it also appears that when Pastor Bakare juxtaposed cluelessness with helplessness he was insinuating into the public memory the stigma that undid the Jonathan government. Ex-president Goodluck Jonathan had been described as clueless on the many grievous problems that confronted his presidency. In fact, until the closing weeks of his tenure, he was for a long time regarded as clueless in his many battles against Boko Haram terror, economic decline, social and political chaos, and in particular the abducted 219 Chibok schoolgirls.

    Given what he has done so far, it would be inappropriate, as Pastor Bakare said, to describe President Buhari as clueless. But how much better is the word helpless? There is in fact no settling the precedence between the two words. It is either it is an exaggeration of the present condition of the Buhari presidency’s policy initiatives, or it is an entirely inappropriate word. The president has indicated that by December, the Boko Haram insurgents would be defeated or neutralised. The country hopes so. If that should happen, neither clueless nor helpless would fit President Buhari. But for now, it is only a little tolerable that the president is described as helpless. It is certainly not a flattering word or portrait.

  • Huge wardrobe allowance for National Assembly members unnecessary, says Bakare

    Huge wardrobe allowance for National Assembly members unnecessary, says Bakare

    Save Nigeria Group (SNG) founder Pastor Tunde Bakare has described as unnecessary the huge wardrobe allowance for National Assembly members.

    He also called on Nigerians to give President Muhammadu Buhari time to assess what he met on ground to be able to make sound decisions to take the nation forward.

    Pastor Bakare spoke with our correspondent on Sunday shortly before declaring the annual convention of the Glory Christian Centre, Lagos with the theme One thousand times more opened.

    He said: “I believe they were wearing clothes before they came in. Were they naked before they got there? Didn’t they have clothes in their wardrobes?

    “Where are the likes of Papa Ajasin, former Governor of Ondo state, who declared his asset and said the number of clothes he took to the State House was the same number he came out with?

    “Will our lawmakers be on a fashion parade? All those things should be cut off.

    “We have states that cannot pay salaries and they want to live fat at the expense of the masses. I believe that time will sort everything out.”

    He confirmed he actually slumped while delivering a lecture during the Capital Investors dinner at the Eko Hotel and Suites on May 18, attributing the incident to “dehydration that produced exhaustion.”

    The outspoken preacher said: “Yes, it’s true for about three minutes I slumped but within a few minutes I walked into my car. And they carried out all examinations here and even in England and they found nothing other than dehydration that produced exhaustion. I am on two litres of water per day with adequate rest.

    “I had been living on tea. In 24 hours, they gave me seven drips. After that, I have been maintaining constant consumption of water.

    “Any person in public glare should not lie about his health. That happened within three minutes and I thank God I bounced back. I made it because I still have an assignment.”

    The senior pastor of Latter Rain Assembly Ogba, Lagos

    urged Nigerians to give Buhari chance.

    He said: “I think it is good to give the new government time to settle down and time to assess what they have inherited from the Jonathan’s government so that they can sit down and begin to put the Nigerian house in order. And it’s good to give them time.”

    On why key appointments into the new administration were taking time, he said: “That will take its time. Remember the president told the nation that he did not get the handover note until May 28.

    “So, his transition committee didn’t have anything to work with. Just a few days back, it handed over the report in 8,000 pages reduced to about 800 pages.

    “It is when you have studied what was handed over to you that you begin to think of who to put where to help you.

    “And I can assure you behind the scene, that a lot is going on in the engine room.”

    He said the new faces of the current administration might start emerging before the end of June.

    Affirming that Buhari will deliver on his promise to change the nation, the former Vice Presidential candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), added: “You have heard that we will have a lean, as against an over bloated government. All these things will take time. You don’t do these things in a hurry.”

    Asked if he will accept the offer of a ministerial appointment, the fiery preacher simply said: “I will cross that river when I get to the bridge.”

     

  • Jega, Jonathan, Buhari heroes of democracy, says Bakare

    Jega, Jonathan, Buhari heroes of democracy, says Bakare

    Serving Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, Ogba, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has named Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, President Goodluck Jonathan, and President-elect Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, as heroes of the presidential elections.

    In what he termed as the ‘congratulatory part’ of his sermon titled: “Chances, Choices, and Consequences”, at yesterday’s Easter service, Bakare said Jega was deserving of the honour because of the role he played in delivering credible elections and not yielding to provocation.

    For graciously conceding defeat, the lawyer-turned-pastor said President Jonathan has defended Nigeria’s democracy.

    “You acted when it mattered most.  You are one of the heroes of democracy, and we thank you,” he said.

    For his patience and tenacity in seeking the presidential ticket since 2003, Bakare said Buhari, whom he called Mr. Integrity, was worthy of mention.

  • Bakare votes for transition govt

    Bakare votes for transition govt

    The Senior Pastor of the Latter Rain Assembly, Ogba, Lagos, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has restated the need to establish a two-year transition government to forestall danger in the general elections.

    Addressing reporters yesterday on the state of the nation, he said without peace and tranquility President Goodluck Jonathan could not go ahead with the elections.

    In his statement, titled: “The Gathering Storm and Avoidable Shipwreck: How to avoid catastrophic Euroclydon”, Pastor Bakare urged the Federal Government to protect the lives of Nigerians.

    He said Jonathan should head the transition government, noting that he could not step aside as the case might be.

    The cleric stressed that the President should not participate in the election after the expiration of the transition government.

    The idea of a transition government is not new, but many have comdemned it  as  a needless window to keep Jonathan in power, after his administration’s failure.

    Pastor Bakare said the complaints, which followed the collection of the permanent voter cards (PVCs) and other shoddy performances of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) indicated that the commission was not prepared to conduct the elections.

    Said he: “How else can one explain the invasion of the office of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the Department of the State Security (DSS), acting a script written to repress opposition parties?

    “Besides the problem associated with PVC, if the reported hundreds of thousands of displaced persons in terror areas are considered with respect to their status as part of the electorate and if terror stricken towns are considered in terms of polling units involved, we are faced with massive disenfranchisement.”

    Pastor Bakare noted that the new tactics by Boko Haram to adopt teenage girls increased the risk factor in massive political rallies and polling stations across the North and, to a lesser extent, in the South.

    “We might have succeeded in organising some governorship elections in the South and the aborted governorship election in Adamawa State by massive deployment of military and Civil Defence forces. However, we cannot ignore the threat ahead of the general elections.”

    He said the country needed an electoral umpire whose head would no longer be appointed by the President and whose funding would be drawn from first line charge on the federation account.

    The clergyman said with the proposed diversification of the revenue base from oil to taxation and the devaluation of the naira in an economy that was import dependent, inflation was imminent.

    “The so-called average Nigerian, who has no place on the dinner table will  bear the brunt. It is even doubtful that he can access the crumb that falls from the master’s table.”

    He said with the depletion of the country’s foreign reserve and the looming economic downturn, “we are faced with a volatile transition process and the looming catastrophe ahead.”

    Pastor Bakare stressed that the church had compromised its role in the build-up to the election.

    His words: “It is necessary to point out one more sign of the gathering storm that has to do with my constituency, the church, and its interaction with the political space in 2015.

    “What will be the position of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), organisations that have been massively behind the President and who are likely against APC as the PFN’s round-the-clock circulated prayer bulletin reveals?’’

  • VP: Why Osinbajo isn’t Bakare

    VP: Why Osinbajo isn’t Bakare

    In presidential politics picking a running mate is a fine balancing act. The needs of a candidate: how to play to his strengths, and compensate for his weaknesses, usually determine who he ends up selecting. Those laboring to convince themselves that the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer, General Muhammadu Buhari, made a mistake by picking Professor Yemi Osinbajo, do so without considering these factors.

    To argue that the opposition should have gone for livewire political types like governor, Rotimi Amaechi, Babatunde Fashola or Adams Oshiomhole, forget that people don’t pick deputies who would outshine or be in competition with them. It has to be clear that there’s just one captain on the ship.

    That is why there is usually more emphasis on loyalty and competence than political gravitas in making this sort of decision. In 1999, the then Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, General Olusegun Obasanjo, was confronted with names like Atiku Abubakar, Abubakar Rimi, Bamanga Tukur, Abba Kyari, Jibril Aminu and Adamu Ciroma – all heavyweights as he sought to make his choice.

    As legend has it, Obasanjo sought the counsel of former Minister of Works, Chief Tony Anenih, who famously advised that if he chose Rimi he should ensure that there was a police orderly waiting outside the door at all times as they would quarrel often. However, if he wanted unalloyed loyalty he should go for Atiku. The rest is history.

    All that Buhari needed to do for his choice to be considered correct was name a Christian and Southerner. This balances the ticket nicely given that for months the flirtation with a possible Muslim-Muslim slate had stoked controversy. The candidate, perhaps miffed by the fact that he was being forced to overlook several excellent candidates because of the religion issue, seemed to equivocate in several public statements on the matter.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which had been salivating at the prospect that Buhari would make the fatal mistake of picking a fellow Muslim in spite of being painted a fundamentalist by his foes, must have been sorely disappointed. The former head of state sidestepped the trap. His enemies have now moved to the option of deriding Osinbajo as APC leader, Bola Tinubu’s puppet. That is when they are not dismissing him as a political lightweight who adds nothing to the ticket.

    We have been reminded that this is the second time Buhari would be pairing with a clergyman. In 2011 he ran with popular pastor and activist, Tunde Bakare of The Latter Rain Church in the vain hope that it would give him the much-needed Southern breakthrough. It never happened.

    By settling for Osinbajo, a senior pastor with The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) – Nigeria’s largest Pentecostal congregation, Buhari has triggered inevitable comparisons  with what happened four years ago.

    Those who compare the 2011 and 2015 picks and assume the result would be the same this time ignore the context. Although Bakare was a popular clergyman, he had no political structures to speak of.

    Before the general selected him he was not a member of any party and was not known to associate with politicians. If anything, he was more likely to lampoon them in one of his fiery sermons. It was the height of naivete on the part of Buhari and those who advised him to think that Bakare’s celebrity alone would translate into votes.

    The pastor was a kind of Gani Fawehinmi type of personality who was incredibly well liked in media and activist circles, but whose popularity never translated into political muscle. That was why in spite of his immense popularity on the streets, the late radical lawyer’s National Conscience Party (NCP) was, and remains, largely a fringe player in the polity.

    Osinbajo, on the other hand, is a totally different case. For eight years he served as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice under the then Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu. Back in 2011 when the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) were flirting with some late-hour electoral collaboration, his name featured in the calculations for running mate.

    But the most important thing is that he’s not on the ticket because of his personal political weight but as the face and representative of a political tendency within APC. He is a member of the Tinubu political family and longstanding confidant of the former governor. His presence on the ticket keeps both Tinubu and the South-West caucus in the party engaged and committed to the Buhari challenge.

    I will just mention in passing the fact that he’s related by marriage to the family of the late acclaimed Yoruba leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. While his political influence has waned with his passing many years ago, sentimental attachment to that famous name can only help and not hurt the APC running mate.

    Aside his political and familial connections Osinbajo’s selection disrupts the PDP’s bid to make Jonathan the main beneficiary of the Christian vote. Buhari’s running mate is a pastor in RCCG whose General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has become one of the most influential religious leaders in the land.

    During the last election cycle all presidential candidates of key political parties beat a path to his door to seek his blessings. Many would remember the famous photograph of President Jonathan kneeling with eyes closed while Adeboye prayed over him.

    Knowing the RCCG leader’s reserved and statesmanlike style, don’t expect him to openly take sides – even when one of his spiritual children is involved. In such a huge assembly you’re likely to find people from diverse political persuasions. It would be inappropriate for a father to take sides. Though I would love to be a fly on wall when Adeboye casts his vote for president and VP!

    But even without overt official backing, it would be naïve to think a very senior pastor in this massive congregation contesting for such a high profile position would not influence a chunk of the millions who worship in this church.

    This, again, is another difference between Bakare and Osinbajo. Whereas the former, with all due respect, presides over a one-branch church in Lagos – by design maybe – the latter can potentially tap into a support base with nationwide presence.

    Anyone who then tries to analyse Osinbajo’s impact without factoring in this backdrop is ignorant, mischievous or engaged in a fruitless exercise in self consolation.