Pastor Tunde Bakare
Buhari had yesterday chosen Bakare as his running mate for the April presidential polls.
Following mixed reactions that trailed the decision of Bakare, a man from the pulpit, to abandon God’s calling for politics and for choosing to run with Buhari, P.M.NEWS got across to him to get his reaction
He told P.M.NEWS this morning that God had a hand in his decision to join politics and become a running mate to Buhari, quoting Psalm 78: 70, 71 to back up his claims.
Psalm 78:70,71 reads: “He (God) chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: from following the ewes great with young, he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.”
Bakare also quoted Romans 13:1, which says “…For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God, to further back up his claims.
With this the cleric said any power that be were ordained by God and that people were just being sentimental about his decision to contest as running mate to Buhari, adding that like God took David from being a shepherd to become king, he also could go higher.
“A shepherd can transit from pasturing a church to ruling a nation. When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice. There is no authority not ordained by God,” he said.
When asked that Jesus Christ rejected the position of being a king when the Israelites wanted to make him one and that he should emulate the example of Christ, Bakare said Christ rejected that because he had a mission to die for the whole world.
“Christ came for a purpose and he even said my kingdom is not of this world,” he said, saying that should not be misconstrued for Christians not to go into politics.
“I did not accept the offer to be Buhari’s running mate because of fame and popularity; I already have that. I took it because I want to serve my generation according to the will of God and to change things.
“I did not lobby for the position but when Buhari called, I accepted the offer. I consulted with those who mattered and with top echelons in christendom and they gave me the go ahead. We want to change Nigeria perpetually,” he stated.
He had told his congregation last Sunday that among those he consulted was Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeem Church.
Meanwhile, mixed reactions have continued to pour in from ministers of God over Bakare’s decision to go into politics and become running mate to Buhari.
Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria , Dr. Ola Makinde said there was nothing wrong if church members should go into politics but that ministers of God who pastured congregation should not go into politics.
He said it was wrong for Bakare to have joined a party and go into politics, saying that men of God should be apolitical.
According to him, such a thing could spark a row in the church, especially when some of his members belonged to other political parties different from his.
Primate Elijah Ayodele, founder of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church said “we have career pastors, divine pastors and ‘I wish pastors.’ If God chooses you, you don’t need to go into politics.
“Bakare is a career pastor; he can do anything to make himself relevant. This election will be a mirage because Jega will disappoint Nigeria .”
Dr. Olagoroye Faleyimu, General Overseer, Mountain of God said: it is not good for a minister to leave the pulpit for politics.
“But God can choose a leader if there is crisis. God had warned Bakare to choose between politics and being on the pulpit. He should choose one.”
Rev. Oladapo Daramola of the Methodist Church Nigeria said he did not see anything wrong for Bakare going into politics, saying that it is Biblical for Christians to go into politics.
“In those days, priests act in political capacity. If there is a word from God, there is nothing wrong for him to go into politics. Joseph was a Prime Minister in Egypt and Daniel was a minister in the cabinet of Babylon .
“We need people that are righteous in politics; people who will not steal and take our money away or to countries overseas,” he stated.
According to Pastor Wale Adekoya of the Christ Redemption Bible Church, Ketu, Lagos going into politics depended on the call of God, stressing that God could call out a minister to go into politics.
Reactions
More Nigerians have been reacting to the choice of Pastor Bakare as the running mate to General Muhamadu Buhari. Nigerians from within and outside the country made their views known through the internet.
According to Dr. Deji Ogunjobi who resides in the UK, the ruling PDP has overstayed and should be voted out. He said prefers Buhari/Falae or Buhari/Fashola or Buhari/Ngige or Ribadu/Adebayo or Buhari/Adebayo ticket to rout PDP.
“Religion should not come into the picture here,” Ogunjobi further comments.
Another Nigerian reacted thus: “I can clearly see that the time has come for Nigeria to be delivered. This ticket, Buhari/Bakare is it. We are surely close to the promised land. I must vote for this.”
Another one says: “I will rather vote for a Christian president and a Muslim vice president. Come to think of it, the Muslims have dominated this position for too long. God bless Nigeria.”
A Nigerian simply says: “The best ticket, no doubt, you guys have my vote.”
“Fantastic! I had already planned to vote Buhari. Now, with Tunde Bakare as a running mate, it’s clear that the much needed anti-corruption team we have been praying for has emerged. They have my vote. Hope they have all Nigerians’ votes too,” another Nigerian comments in the internet.
Another writes: “A vote for a Christian, Moslem, pagan, buddhist, none of my business. Buhari and Bakare have demonstrated love and patriotism to Nigeria for years. I will vote them to achieve the necessary change used.”
Another Nigerian believes that “Buhari is old and weak. Religious balance should not be a priority for Nigerians today”.
But to another it is a nice combination. But he opined that Buhari could get more votes if he had beamed his searchlight on credible people from the south-south or south-east.
“Good! with the combination of these duo, a new Nigeria is possible. But will Nigerians especially the affluent allow them?” another Nigerian questioned.
“Two anti-establishment insiders taking on a corrupt status quo. This is really the change we need,” another says.
One ‘Bob Marley’ comments: “The Buhari/Bakare platform is my choice.”
“I believe the change we have so much desired is within reach now,” says a commentator while another writes: “The selection is the best in order to show that Nigeria is for all be you Christian or Muslim.”
One comments: “It’s a great combination though…but Nigeria and Nigerians?” while another says: “Now we can hope again!”
“An academic and idealistic choice, wrong political calculation. North/South West alliances hardly work,” a Nigerian comments but another reasons: “The Igbos can continue to collect money from contestants, the North and South West will vote for Buhari/Bakare.
One writes: “Hahahaha! Hallucinations of desperadoes. President ko, Deputy President ni.”
“Please, can someone help me out, because I am confused? I thought Bakare alleged Jonathan wanted to bribe him last year. May be it’s a dream.”
One Nigerian nicknamed Jekereal comments: “It is obvious you have got it all wrong. Bad leadership has nothing to do with religion. Buhari/Bakare are men who have shown integrity over time. Don’t be deceived, our problem is not Christian or Muslim, but bad leadership.”
—Kazeem Ugbodaga
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