If you watch the recent performance of Burna Boy in Paris where he was teaching the audience the lyrics of his song that says “Wahala for who nor bow for Nigeria” you will understand what legacy and being a blessing or a curse to your generation or the younger generation is all about. From the Grammy Award winner Burna Boy to the sonorous Simi, Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s footprints can be seen if you investigate the fine prints of what is happening in the Nigerian music industry today. If you do an in-depth analysis of the entrepreneurial exploits of the entrepreneurs who are exploring the opportunities of Nigeria’s population, the name of entrepreneurs per excellence like Olorogun Michael Ibru will popup. He used his entrepreneurial skills to combat protein deficiencies through the marketing of frozen fish and made a fortune while doing so. Your life is either a blessing or a curse on a net analysis to your family, community, or nation. These were the thoughts going through my head when I saw a post on social media recently celebrating the birthday of Tunde Bakare. While reading the ego massaging birthday post, I understood one of the reasons why Nigeria is presently this backward. I checked the comments to see if anyone would write the truth about what Tunde Bakare truly represents. I found none.
If you do not reasonably know Tunde Bakare, is a Nigerian lawyer and pastor. He was the running mate of Muhammadu Buhari in the 2011 Nigerian presidential election. He was formerly a pastor at the Deeper Life Bible Church before he left to join the Redeemed Christian Church of God. And eventually founded his ministry. Bakare was born a Muslim but converted to Christianity in 1974. He attended All Saints Primary School, Kemta, Abeokuta, and subsequently Lisabi Grammar School, Abeokuta. He studied law at the University of Lagos between 1977 and 1980. Afterward, he was called to the Bar in 1981. He practiced law with Gani Fawehinmi Chambers, Rotimi Williams & Co, and Burke & Co, Solicitors which were arguably the best Law Chambers in Nigeria at that time. He established his law firm Tunde Bakare & Co in October 1984. With such mentorship and pedigree, one would expect a man with values that are above board. Unfortunately, the reverse is the case. Starting from the decision to be the running mate of a terrorist sympathizer, coup plotter, democracy truncator, and abuser of human rights and rule of law, to how he continues to endorse and hobnob with Muhammadu Buhari and the likes of Nasir El Rufai who have presided over the gruesome genocidal murders going on in Kaduna State especially in Christian communities, it is not difficult to know the software running Tunde Bakare’s hardware.
Unprincipled men like Tunde Bakare, Festus Keyamo, and Femi Fani-Kayode who are blinded by ambition and greed and are ready to dine with evil and unreasonable men regardless of their conduct and the conditions they have left their constituencies, is one of the reasons Nigeria and indeed Africa remains backward. Men like Buhari dare to run for office because seemingly credible men like Bakare are ready to sell their souls for thirty pieces of silver to endorse or partner with them. When you see the present state of Nigeria with regards to the number of people who have gone below the extreme poverty line, the daily killings, kidnapping, and raping, and the fact that a man with Bakare’s education, experience, and calling entered a covenant with the same man who is presently and principally responsible for the continuation these acts, you begin to understand one of the ways Tunde Bakare will be remembered. He will be remembered as one of those who helped in making Buhari president of Nigeria. He will be remembered as a biased social activist who becomes active only when it is convenient for his ambition. Believe this, your summarized narrative will be written one day, what will it be, that you are a blessing or curse? Electioneering has started again and Bakare has declared prophetically that he is the next President of Nigeria. Watch out, similar prophecies by respected and unrespected clergymen will continue to flow from theirs exalted enterprises where they deceive gullible members and diehard fans. Any clergyman who supported and endorsed Buhari in the past is not worthy of being taken seriously in the present and future.
Ata Ukuta – Editor, Towncryyers