Present Buhari and Pastor BakereA renowned religious leader in Nigeria, Pastor Tunde Bakari has said that having pastored a church for 33 years and created new leaders, he would now concentrate on nation building, probably as President if he is called by God to lead
“Every Nigerian, who is of age and who is not disqualified by any means, is free. I’m a nation builder, if God wants me to do that, and the people of Nigeria will appreciate that, why not? (I will be President).
” I’m as free as anybody to do anything with my time. I’ve pastored a church for 33 years, now we raise new leaders. I want to focus on nation building.”
Pastor Bakari, who had a chat with newsmen today, October 15, at the presidential villa, Abuja shortly after a private audience with President Muhammadu Buhari, admitted that since the Office of the President is only one, there are so many other things he can do as person to support whoever is there to make sure that he doesn’t go into retrogression, but begin to make steady progress .
“I have already communicated clearly, my future plans to Mr. President, and it stays between us.”
Pastor Bakari, who clearly does not favour the idea of rotating presidency amongst the regions of the country, said: “it is our immaturity, politically and otherwise, that makes us say power must either be in the North or be in the South, instead of looking for the best, the fittest, the most competent, and people of character, who love this nation.
“If where the President comes from will make the place he has come from to be better, the Northern part of Nigeria should be richest and should be the most progressive and the most developed because out of 61 years, the north has produced either the president or heads of state for 40 to 41 years and yet, see the retrogression in the North.
“If it is from the South, why should a person like President Obasanjo freeze and seize the account of Lagos State in his own tenure? If it’s from South-South or Southeast why couldn’t President Jonathan use all his powers to develop South-South/Southeast?
“Not where they come from, it’s what they carry and what they have to offer. May the best of the best of Nigerians rise, whether they are from the East, from the West, from the North or from the South.
“If there are agreements between politicians among themselves on rotation, a bargain is a bargain. That is between them. But as far as this country is concerned, what we need at this stage is man who can drive us to the Eldorado.”
The Pastor said that one of the best things the present National Assembly has done, especially the Senate, is the legislation on electric voting.
According to him, with that, Nigerians can vote and then results can be transmitted so easily. “Not only that, part of the State of the nation address that I did on October 10, I emphasised how Nigeria youth, especially undergraduates, are disenfranchised in our country.
“22.3 million students are registered, but during election, campuses are shut, they will not be able to return there to vote, therefore disenfranchised. If we can do not just transmitting results, but to be able to vote electronically, that will be wonderful. It will deepen and enhance our democracy.
“Not only that, the Diaspora sends above $25 billion to Nigeria. “Nigeria in Diaspora should also be able to vote like they do in every other country in the world. The more the merrier.
“Yes, democracy is a game of number, but our people should have the final say, so the office of the citizen must be as important, if not more than the office of the governor or the president because they are the people who put them in power. Sovereignty still lies in the hands of the people of Nigeria.”
