Dr.
Tunde Bakare was invited for questioning by State Security Service
(SSS) on Monday 23rd July 2012 following a sermon he delivered the
previous Sunday on How to Change Government Peacefully and Make the
Society Better. On Sunday 29th July, after the church service, Bakare
had an interactive session with selected journalists on what transpired
and his decisions on the request of SSS. ABIODUN ADEWALE, was there and
reports.Tunde Bakare, the General Overseer of Later Rain Assembly, Vice Presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, (CPC), in the last general election and Convener of Save Nigeria Group (SNG) has insisted that he will not tone down his messages on politics and those critical of the administration. He added that his present stand is against bad governance.
“If you think that my present stand is against Jonathan’s person, then you goof. It is against bad governance, misappropriation of state funds, embezzlement of public funds and spending money like water without appropriation. I am against whoever does any of such and similar things”, he said.
Pastor Bakare was invited by the State Security Service (SSS), in Shangisha, Lagos, on Monday following a sermon he delivered in his church,on Sunday, 22nd July, 2012 on how to peacefully change governments and make society better. He was invited for questioning over the content of his Sunday sermon asking President Goodluck Jonathan to resign from office.
A letter of invitation issued by the State Director of Security for Lagos State and signed by Mr A. Salami stated that “I am directed to invite you for interview by the State Director of Security, State Security Service (SSS) at the Command Headquarters along CMD Road Shangisha, Magodo, Lagos on Monday July 23, 2012 at 1400 hours. Accept the assurance of the State Director of Security highest esteem, please.”
Consequence upon this invitation, polity watchers are of the view that State Security Service (SSS) is attempting to silence the fiery Lagos pastor and activist.
In a face to face interrogation which lasted about 45 minutes, the SSS reportedly pressured the activist Pastor to soft-pedal his hard hitting political messages from the altar. Pastor Bakare’s Sunday sermons regularly delve into current political affairs, and the public waits expectantly to hear the latest from his pulpit on Sunday afternoons.
Speaking to journalists at the press conference after the Sunday service of 29th July, 2012, the activist pastor said at the SSS office, the director requested him to moderate his sermon given the huge following he enjoys nationwide.
It was gathered that Bakare was accompanied to SSS office by his lawyer and Mr. Yinka Odumakin, the Spokesperson of Save Nigeria Group.
At the press conference Pastor Tunde Bakare said he handed the director a signed copy of his Sunday sermon, and requested him to peruse it carefully.
“I then asked him whether there was anything in the sermon that was false or misleading, I then informed him that I won’t tone down my sermons.”
Mr. Bakare also said he handed an invitation to the SSS directors to attend his church where more critical messages would be delivered last Sunday(29th July, 2012).
But Pastor Tunde Bakare, disclosed that the State Security Service accused him of partisanship when he was invited.
Bakare said, “The state Director of SSS asked me to tone down my message, because in his words, I had become partisan. I countered his argument by saying that my message has not changed since the days of the military.
“A corrupt, perverse, wasteful, directionless and clueless government is offensive to me and should be offensive to every intelligent patriot in this nation. I asked him if he considered my activities and that of SNG in 2010 controversial and partisan when we marched the streets of Abuja and Lagos to protest the impunity being meted out to then Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan in the dying days of President Musa Yar’Adua.
“He did not answer me. Now is the time to answer him and the likes of him who think partisanship is a spiritual sin or crime that must not be committed by clergymen,” he added.
He said a partisan person meant someone who actively supports a party, cause or principle, stressing that people who do not stand for something, would fall for anything.
Bakare added, “Partisanship also means one-sided or biased. The message I preach are only biased in favour of righteousness, justice and truth.
“To this, I plead guilty because there is nothing anyone can do against the truth, but for the truth. If I’m being asked to tone down my message because of perceived partisanship, those asking me to do so have only succeeded in precipitating a tone up,” he stressed.
The lawyer turned politician said he was not against the person of President Goodluck Jonathan but against bad governance and corruption.
The disclosed that said he had a cordial interaction with the security agents, as all those who engaged him were civil.
“In fact, I spoke far more than they did,” Mr. Bakare, a vocal critic of the Goodluck Jonathan, said.
During the interaction with journalists, Bakare maintained that “God Knows what we do not know, and when we cannot trace Him, we must trust Him”. He added that “it is clear to him that in these perilous times, we need hearing ears, seeing eyes and obedient hearts more than ever before”. He is also of the belief that “when you stay within the boundary of your call, no evil shall befall you. In the same vein, when your words are choice words fitly spoken, your traducers will find no way of punishing you”, he added.
The man of God also disclosed that Apostles and Prophets must not only be accountable to their primary constituency, they must accurately report every encounter with the civil government authorities to their base for prayer cover and recharge.
He also added that the powers that be, including Satan and his human agents, can only do what God permits or allows them to do.
In his sermon he also warned that nobody should intimidate the prophet, because such efforts will infuriate the prophet and bring judgement upon the perpetrator.
Bakare also told journalists that since the beginning of this year, especially after the Ojota Freedom Park Rally spearheaded by Save Nigeria Group (SNG) and allies, there have been threats of arrest against his person from the highest quarters. He recollected that in November 2011 and on Monday, 23rd July, 2012, the State Director of SSS asked him to tone down his message because, he was alleged to be partisan.
“Secret service agents, men of the armed forces, and the police, hear the word of the Lord. Be careful how you carry out your assignment against genuine servants of God by any label- Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor or Teacher. Be careful not to obey the last order, especially if the last order is evil or against natural justice, you cannot obey such without bringing damnation upon your own head,” Bakare warned.
He added that he marched for constitutionality, for the constitution to be followed regardless of who that action favours or does not favour.
