Pastor Tunde Bakare: a son’s honest reflection, by Kayode Adebiyi
I will forever hold Pastor Bakare in high esteem. I can’t write the history of my Christian journey without mentioning his name. I wrote as much in my tribute to him during his 70th birthday celebrations.
I am one person who is obsessed with his Christian teachings because some of them sharpened my spiritual tentacles and prepared me for the journey of life.
His personal life and growth is a story of how God purposely prepared a man even before he was born and directed his life in an unimaginable way. I will forever sit under his biblical teachings because he does not joke with the undiluted word of God.
While I largely believe in the mandate God has given him concerning Nigeria and how his life is intertwined with the destiny of this nation, I have always had my reservations about how he believes—or thinks—is the right way to bring that mandate to pass, particularly in relation to how he engages with whoever is leading the nation at any given time.
It was Pastor Bakare who said, and I quote: “The best of men are still men even at their very best…” I look forward to meeting him one day to ask him a few questions concerning politics and the way he has played it so far. The last time I saw him in the UK, it was just to sit and listen to him teach, and such gatherings do not permit a one-on-one meeting.
I don’t agree with some of his pronouncements during his yearly State of the Nation address on Sunday because it’s glaring that it is Dr. Tunde Bakare, the politician speaking—not Pastor Tunde Bakare. I am glad he’s someone who respects strong opinions and does not feel bad when he is challenged.
The way Pastor Bakare parried the reckless and rude disposition of Dr. Obi Ezekwesili towards a Senator during the Ethics & Privileges Committee sitting—but would rather take on the Senator and the Senate as an institution and take them to the cleaners—baffles me.
Justifying Dr. Obi’s rude and uncouth disposition with biblical references is shocking! It is on record that Dr. Obi was the first aggressor and not the Senator. Reeling out her academic and professional accomplishments has nothing to do with her rude behavior at the sitting.
Glossing over her actions while finding the Senator’s response to her aggression unacceptable is shocking to me. He who must come to equity must come with clean hands. Just as I quoted him earlier, I think Pastor B’s personal friendship with Dr. Obi might have influenced how he approached the issue. The fact remains: good people can be wrong—and Dr. Obi was wrong. Why Pastor B refused to call it as it is remains shocking!
Other issues he raised against the President Tinubu-led government are neither here nor there. While I agree with some, I totally disagree with many—especially considering this is a government that is not even two years old. Yet we waited for a long time before Pastor Bakare raised any concerns about the Buhari-led government, and that only began around Buhari’s second term.
Like I said, I have questions for Pastor Bakare about his politics and the way he has played it so far. On the day fate brings me before him and he grants me just an hour of his time, I will ask them. Confidently, I can say I am one of his spiritual sons—and a son has the right to ask his father questions.
Until then, I rest my case.
