The bond of friendship and cordial relations may have broken between President Muhammadu Buhari and Pastor Tunde Bakare, Senior Pastor of Latter Rain Assembly, Lagos; vice presidential candidate to President Buhari in the 2011 general elections on the platform of the Congress of Progressive Change (CPC). It would appear that President Buhari has shut the door against his political ally, Pastor Bakare. The renowned Pastor has, accordingly, declared war against the president, proclaiming a protectionist mass movement – “Nigeria for Nigerians Movement”. Pastor Bakare asserted that Nigerians would rise to retrieve Nigeria from the oppressors.b
Pastor Bakare on his usual broadcast medium, Sunday Sermon in Latter Rain Assembly, Lagos, aroused the curiousity of the worshippers for agitation for liberty, declaring the “Nigeria for Nigerians Movement” insisting that the time to save Nigeria has come. He volunteered to lead the emergent movement for better governance in the country. The Senior Pastor, unequivocally, declared: “Nigeria for Nigerians Movement is about to start, I am going to champion it.”
Bakare revealed that the movement would be greater than the “Save Nigeria Group” and would spread across the country like wildfire.
According to Bakare, “It is going to go like wildfire across the nation.
“Nigeria for Nigerians will be bigger than the Save Nigeria Group.
“You have never seen anything like it before.”
Pastor Bakare added that there is a divine directive to the Movement, noting that it would be a total fight. He maintained that he would not die in the emergent struggle but will be alive to see a better Nigeria.
“It is a Movement propelled by God – Nigeria for Nigerians to deliver us from the hands of oppressors.
“This is a fight to finish; I am not going to die for this country.
“I am going to live for it. “Nigeria will prosper in my lifetime; Nigeria will be saved, Nigeria will change, Nigeria will become great. “It is the wicked that the land will vomit,” Bakare declared.
Citing Biblical tenets to demonstrate that things have fallen apart, and the centre can no longer hold, the Senior Pastor stated: “The people said to your tents oh Israel; we have no portion in the hands of Jesse anymore.”
He emphasized the sovereignty of the people in whose trust political leaders hold offices to serve the people.
“Sovereignty is not in your hand; you are commander-in-chief of nothing except the people put you there.
“The highest office in the land is the office of the citizens, not the office of the president.
“Nigerians are going to rise; they are going to demand for their rights – Nigeria for Nigerians Movement,” Bakare asserted.
He expressed his confidence in divine protection, causing the government against coming for him.
“And I dare you to try to stretch your hand against me like you have done to others; then, you will know whether God sent me, or I am just empty or I am just making noise.”
He affirmed that the time to save Nigeria has come, stating that it has become obvious that neither the government nor the military can save Nigeria, insisting that Nigerians would rise and ask for their rights in the country.
According to Bakare, “Nigeria for Nigerians, the time to save this country has come.
“The government cannot save us; the military cannot save us; we have seen it.
“Nigerians must rise to demand for what is rightly theirs.”
The Senior Pastor reiterated his admonition against harassment, intimidation, and oppression. He narrated that he had served the president, respected him and made things work for him to become president. He admonished the president to get out of his way. He observed that after all he did for the president, he turned against him, adding that God has turned against the president too.
“Get out of my way! Get out of my way! This is the final warning. Get out of my way!
“I loved you; I served you; I respected you; I did everything to make things work you; then, you turned against me, and God has turned against you. Get out of my way!”
Bakare maintained that it is time to tell the truth, adding that he would no longer hold dialogue with the president because it is now war time. He added that when God speaks, he fears no one, adding that, however, he respects people.
“Time has come for the truth to be spoken…
“I am not holding dialogue with anybody anymore. I will not come to you; you will come to me because it is war.
“When the time comes for God to speak, God speaks; I don’t fear no jack. I only respect people and I wait for God’s bidding.”
Pastor Bakare subsequently revealed his private meeting with the president and how he worked out the framework that made the president win the election in 2015, having lost hope after the 2011 loss. Bakare explained why he sacrificed being vice presidential candidate to Buhari, and how he initiated the merger negotiation with other political parties that gave birth to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“I remember in that bedroom of the president, when I told him, I have come to tell you, you will be president, and this is the way it will take place and work.
“I will excuse myself completely and give room to others. But right in my lifetime and this next time around, we are only two in the room.
“He said no, I have seen it publicly, there is never how we can get it done, we are cancelling it.
“And I laid it on the table; I moved the motion for a merger at the Eagle Square,” Bakare narrated.
He decried that the president now does not give him audience, citing that the same Prophet Samuel that anointed Samuel King of Israel was also sent by God to anoint someone else, David, King of Israel while Saul was still alive.
“So, you became president, now, my mouth is smelling; it is the same mouth.
“The same Samuel that anointed Saul that God sent to go and anoint somebody else. Nigeria for Nigerians movement begins from now,” Bakare declared.