Pastor Tunde Bakare, the Senior Pastor of the Latter Rain Church is no stranger to politics and the general affairs of the nation.

Bakare, who was running-mate to President Buhari in the 2011 presidential elections, has stayed off the political scene for the past few months.

Returning from his self imposed hiatus, the cleric granted TheNews an interview, where he discussed issues ranging from his relationship with the president, corruption and Nigeria, the cycle of old politicians in the corridors of power, among other things.

These are 10 things we learned from the interview.

1. Buhari is a political elephant and Bakare is an ant.

Pastor Bakare has a lot of respect for President Muhammad Buhari. Speaking on what it was like to contest with the former Head of state, he had very lofty words.

2. Pastor Bakare didn’t influence any ministerial nomination.

The relationship between the President and Bakare has been cordial since their paths crossed. Not even the Pastor’s self-imposed exile from politics and discussions on national issues could change that.

The nature of his relationship with Buhari has fueled many reports  that he had a lot of influence in the selection of Buhari’s cabinet.

“The president himself on the 1st of October did say to the nation, “after due consultation with the vice president and the party leadership”, and if he said that, he meant it. I do not hold any post in the party and I am not the vice president by the grace of God. Do you understand me? If anybody has a hand anywhere it should be directed to those he mentioned or else I will be violating a norm. I learnt from one of the icons of the evangelical mission in the world today, Billy Graham, he says whenever God gives you access to men in authority, what they share with you or what you share with them is not for public consumption. But I will be honest with you, as far as those bothering themselves whether I have a hand or not, my two hands are up here. The question to ask is, does Fashola merit to be appointed, does Fayemi merit being appointed? You can see for yourself whether those people had contributed to his emergence as a president of Nigeria today and if they deserve being given that opportunity to continue to serve. Anybody can put a hand in anything, if it is rubbish, President Buhari will not take it.”

3. Good leaders don’t need titles.

Speaking on why he did not need to be nominated for anything within the government as opposed to expectations that he should be given a portfolio, Pastor Bakare revealed that he does not need a title to function as a good leader.

“Those who know me very well know that I believe very strongly that good leaders don’t need title, or occupy any office to contribute their quota to nation building. Leaders focus on functionality. Am I being able to contribute my quota from behind the scenes, or am I being able to contribute my quota in the front-line? You don’t need a title to be a leader, you don’t need the paraphernalia of office to contribute your quota. As far as I am concerned, deep rivers flow with majestic silence. I will continue doing what am doing for the advancement of this nation whether now or in future in the way I have chosen to serve. Do you know God’s signature is upon the ocean but you can’t see it? The great Everest, Mt Kilimanjaro, when you see them, you don’t see his photograph on them. (The Yoruba say “Oba ta ori, tan ri ise owo re) the visible things illustrate the attributes of an invisible God. I prefer to be like my maker to just act out good things so that they don’t grow stale. Time will tell.”

4. Public fund looters should be ready to face the consequences.

Pastor Bakare has a lot of faith in the Buhari-led administration’s battle against corruption even in the face of widespread skepticism. He reveals how to effectively tackle the bane of corruption in the country.

“In the first place, we put restitution before prosecution, therefore we just drop money and give a slap on the wrist of those who are ruining the nation, sending them to a seven-star hospital to spend their jail term. They call it plea bargain – just get some money and go away. If I have stolen N40 billion and you were able to get N30 billion, I live on the remaining ten and still use the ten to invest times two and still punish you if I can by ensuring that crooked men are there. First and foremost there should be prosecution and then restitution follows and then everyone will line up and say “oh there are consequences for your actions. When chances present themselves and you make your choices, be ready for the consequences. That is the hallmark, in my opinion, of where President Buhari stands.”

5. Nigeria does not need a dime from America.

The pastor reflected on the journey President Buhari undertook to the United States of America to discuss with President Obama and he also recalled some of the conversations and revelations made at the meeting.

“I was by God’s grace, on the good will of Mr President, part of the delegation to Washington and the first meeting we had was with the late Ambassador Adefuye of blessed memory and, Madam Secretary, Madeline Albright. I said Nigeria does not need a dime from America, what Nigeria needs now is for America to help us with the kind of enforcement or legislation they have in America. That no American citizen anywhere in the world can put money in any bank anywhere in the world, which that bank will not report back to the American system. They know they have the loot of corrupt men and women, probably children who have been influenced by the corrupt tendencies of their parents, of hiding that stolen wealth. So we asked them to help Nigeria in those areas; to put prosecution before restitution because when judgement is not speedily executed the hearts of men are set to do evil.”

6. No matter how you invest or spend the stolen money you are still a thief.

On the ethical question of people who have stolen public funds investing these funds within the country and creating employment and improving the economy, the pastor declared: “That is not ethics. That is language of the syndicate of rot. It is annoying, so you can steal it and invest it here, what does that mean? Whether you take it abroad or you keep it here, you are a thief. You should be treated like a common criminal. I am sorry.”

7. It’s okay to recycle old politicians in the cycle of power.

Pastor Bakare thinks it is okay to recycle old politicians into power in retort to the condemnation of the Buhari administration that looks to be filled with old men.

“Audu Ogbeh was a minister, former chairman of PDP. Look, Moses was 40 years old when he killed an Egyptian. At the age of 80, God came to him and said you are still my man for the job. At the age of 40, Caleb alongside Joshua were sent with 10 others to spy the land. Ten  brought evil report, 2 brought good report. My mother gave birth to me, I gave birth to my daughter. My mother was 106 on October 28. Before my daughter got married, she had to go back to her grandmother to get blessing. It is called trans-generational impact. It is not recycled or old hand that is the issue. The queen of England has been in power since when? She is the longest reigning monarch in history of monarchy in Britain. The issue is not about old hands or whether he’s been there or not. I am not saying that we should not try young hands, but we should look for those who have been tested and rugged and who have this anti-corruption inclination. A new broom sweeps clean but an old broom knows where to go. So, we need a combination of both.”

8. Buhari is infallible because he’s not a new kid on the block.

The pastor also thinks that President Buhari will not be making any mistakes or pitfall during his tenure in government, owing to his experience in the matters of state.

9. The government is not concerned about the citizen’s security.

Speaking on the security situation of the nation, bearing specifically on the kidnap of Chief Olu Falae and the never-ending battle against terrorism, Pastor Bakare posits that the government has been lacklustre in its security duties to ordinary citizens, only swinging into action when ‘green tress’ became affected.

10. Yoruba leaders didn’t ask for revenge in Fulani killings.

Pastor Bakare was invited, but could not attend the meeting of Yoruba leaders which was called to discuss the security challenges that had been plaguing the Yoruba clan from rampaging Fulani herdsmen. Pastor Bakare weighs-in on the matter.

“I read the communiqué of the Yoruba leaders, they are not asking for revenge, they are only saying, in a nation where their people cannot fulfill their aspiration, it is time to renegotiate our being together as a nation and nobody will fault that reasoning.

For years, the Igbos felt left out and MASSOB is still there till tomorrow, for years the Ogoni land pollution that eventually led to the unwarranted killing of Ken Saro-Wiwa and all the things that had happened in South-South led to all the Niger Delta militancy. There is a perversion of protecting the rich while not providing for the poor. A society that cannot provide for the poor cannot protect the rich.

This has eventually led to what you call Boko Haram. At the beginning, they were attacking the police stations, but some other people had hijacked it now and they are telling people you don’t know where the next bomb is going to explode anymore even in the federal capital, I think time has come for us to know that to put a stop to all these menace is to sit down together and begin strategic thinking to renegotiate our peaceful coexistence.”

Adebayo Emuleomo