Opinion: The kindred spirit of Femi Fani-Kayode and Pastor Tunde Bakare

by Tundun Sofoluke

Tunde-Bakare1

Let me at this point state clearly that I am not in any way implying that FFK and Pastor Tunde Bakare are one of a kind. No! I am simply trying to underline their similarities even though they have a contrasting value system.

 

“No pastor can pastor 2 churches, God created nations and imaginations, men devised denominations…, the opening of up to 7 different branches of a church belonging to the same organization in one street, is not different from a Macdonald Franchise.” –Pastor Tunde Bakare, on the establishment of multiple parishes or branches of a church.

“Like the great Achilles I feel that I have no match. Are there no Hector’s out there? Sadly it appears that my accusers and haters cannot find one. All they have is their hate, their ignorance, their insults and their inbred crudity and vulgarity.” – Femi Fani-Kayode

Pastor Tunde Bakare and FFK are brothers. Apart from the fact that they are both Yoruba, and they both profess the Christian faith, they also have a kindred spirit in how they thrive on controversies, their love for the Yoruba nation cum Nigeria, their stubborn streak amongst others.

Let me at this point state clearly that I am not in any way implying that FFK and Pastor Tunde Bakare are one of a kind. No! I am simply trying to underline their similarities even though they have a contrasting value system.

Femi Fani-Kayode (FFK) is famed for his heavy criticisms of Nigerian Presidents. But what differentiates him from other activists is his ability to vacillate from being an ardent critic to ban ardent fan, once the conditions are right. This he manifested during the Obasanjo presidency and he’s also exhibiting same trait presently in the case of Goodluck Jonathan.

FFK delves into a form of prophecy, which is usually in the form of conspiracy theories. Examples include his theories about the ‘Illuminati cult’, the North-South hegemony in Nigeria, amongst others.

He is also an unrepentant lover of his tribe i.e. the Yoruba race. He is a foremost trumpeter of the uniqueness and greatness of the Yoruba race. He is always quick to enunciate the achievements, strengths, and excellence of the Yoruba race, especially when anyone calls such to doubt. He is so ready to defend his tribe that some have pegged him as a tribalist. But he is always quick to reject such appellation, insisting that there is a difference between loving your tribe and being a tribalist; and I wholeheartedly agree with him.

Pastor Tunde Bakare on the other hand also thrives on controversies. is controversial nature starts from his stand on issues in the church, like the opening quote of this write-up credited to him.  His church, The Latter Rain Assembly, has only one branch in Lagos, Nigeria. He also has a penchant of speaking his mind to government even the dictatorial ones (Military). He is a man of God in the mould of the biblical Elijah, who says it as it is no matter whose ox is gored!

Pastor Tunde Bakare is also famed for his spot on prophecies. Prominent amongst his prophetic declarations include; his prediction that there will be no winner in the 1993 presidential elections in Nigeria, his prediction of the death of Nigeria’s military president in 1998(Sani Abacha) and the prediction of the death of President Olusegun Obasanjo, which did not come to pass. He put it forward that death was averted from President Olusegun Obasanjo because of the prayers of the saint after the prophecy came forth. At the time, thousands of pastors gathered to pray against the demise of the man.

Pastor Tunde Bakare is also the convener of the Save Nigeria Group (SNG). The group played a huge role in ensuring that an end was brought to the vacuum created by the protracted illness of President Yaradua, and they championed the cause to make Goodluck Jonathan an Acting President. This action of his probably gave him a pedestal to be chosen as a running mate of the main opposition Presidential Candidate- General Muhammadu Buhari in the 2011 Nigerian elections.

A further twist to the political visibility of Pastor Tunde Bakare is his support for the National Conference initiated by President Goodluck Jonathan, even though majority of his former party acquaintances in the defunct CPC are at the very least cynical, if not totally against the National conference. And of course it isn’t news that he has distanced himself from the new party formed from the merger of CPC with other parties i.e. the APC. His reason being that some distasteful elements are now in the party, as a result of the merger.

Finally Pastor Tunde Bakare and Chief Femi fani Kayode are 2 personalities that have some underlying similarities of boldness, and ability to speak the truth to any quarters. But what is clear is that they have contrasting values. One is a firebrand pastor whose integrity and high moral ground has been proven over and over; while the other is a chief, who tends to be fickle in his value system, which is usually at a price of appointment to the cabinet of his immediate past contender/opponents. A little shadow might have been cast over Pastor Tunde Bakare due to the fact that he has been less critical of the present Jonathan Administration, despite its many foibles, and his support of the National conference. But what is clear is that he isn’t doing any of the above for any pecuniary benefits. The same cannot be said of FFK.

In conclusion, Nigeria needs courageous leaders that can speak the truth, and also have the will to carry out the truth when they get to power. Nigeria needs leaders that will not only serve for pecuniary benefits, but those that are selfless! Nigeria needs more in the mould of Pastor Tunde Bakare to sow the seeds of such courage, forthrightness and selflessness into Nigerian youths. Nigeria needs to produce youths that will seek her progress, even at great risk to their lives. To paraphrase JFK of the US, Nigeria needs youths that ‘seek what they can do for their country, and not what their country can do for them.

Yes we need such in large numbers!

 

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Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.

 

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