It is true what
they say that we are mere circumstances of our birth. You are not born a
Christian, Moslem, Traditionalist, Atheist or whathaveyou. First, you are born
into a family with a settled way of belief, faith, philosophy or mind-set. You
are brewed in it, and as you acquire maturity, refinements and trust, which
only come with age and time, you develop your own standard - and thereafter
carry your own flag.
So I was born into the political topsy-turvy
of the 60s - and my first six years were blurry. For my first year of primary
education, I faintly remember being ferried to St. John's School, Aroloya - not
far from Okesuna, Lagos Island where I was born. I cannot remember which church
my parents attended - but before I could find out it was the ECWA Church, I had
been parceled out to my oldest sibling. My crime was that as the last
child, and at the rate I was going, I would become a spoilt brat with the clear
ambition of a miscreant in the near future.
So, at age seven, I was uprooted from Lagos
Island to Ebute-Metta, in the mainland. My sister - fair, strong and unthrifty
with the cane - was 17 years my senior. It was hardly surprising that I took
her as my mother. With her, we would attend ECWA church at Oyingbo or the more
convenient Eleja Methodist church near Ilogbo, off Apapa Road. But almost every
Friday, she would drag us to some dark and deep bushes fringing the new
Apapa-Oshodi Express Way, at very late sleepy hours for "Iso-Oru" (prayer vigil) led by some emergent
spiritual firebrand of the Cherubim and Seraphim order. Don’t despair yet, I will soon connect
all these strands - and you will understand the long introduction.
So I was throbbing with spiritual (no, religious)
activities without really anchored on any doctrine. And I liked all the
churches and their peculiar protocols.
It was in one of those spiritual
peregrinations of my sister that I met Baba Keji at Makoko, near Yaba. He was
definitely a peculiar character. With a hoarse voice and trenchant delivery, he
would praise God and hammer unrighteous acts. In my youthful estimation, Baba
Keji was quite charismatic. What eventually got me to sew my “sutanna” (white garment) many years after was the miraculous
healing of my leg injury. While in the last term of Form 2 (at Lisabi Grammar
School, Abeokuta), I kicked a stick on my way back to the hostel. And nicked
my right leg. That innocuous act turned into a two-inch wide sore that did
not heal even as I entered Form 5!
And then Baba Keji emerged in 1980, that was
our first contact. He prayed over the leg, and gave me a small jar of perfume
to use as ointment. At this stage, I believed anything apart from the regular
hospital. I had made the rounds: hospitals, health centres, herbal homes,
spiritualists' covens, etc,
within and outside Lagos - and yet the sore kept me in constant discomfort,
unhealed and mocking all efforts to go away!
Well, less than three weeks with Baba Keji's
perfume, the sore healed! Amazingly! My final year in Lisabi was a dream. I
almost refused to wear the navy blue trousers meant for seniors (hitherto my
favourite to cover my wound from mocking mates and juniors).
I was sold on Baba Keji. The man, in spite of
his hoarse voice, had the gift of the garb. And a strange thrill of hitting it
right in his regular end-of-year, 21-day fasting and prayer session. As usual,
on his "descent” from the “mountain” (bed
room), he would be filled with the grace, I supposed, and predictions,
prophecies galore followed.
So, in the early months of 1994 when the
anger over the 1993 election annulment was at its height, and as one founding
publishers of FAME Weekly magazine, I approached Baba Keji to pray and ask God
what would be the way forward for Nigeria. We would carry it, and the world
would know Baba Keji was a bold, true and gifted voice of God in Nigeria. He
liked it - and we published it. Of course, it was explosive and quite indicting
on the military authorities. Events later proved most of his predictions right.
But when the state security people came calling, arrested us (the reporters)
and Baba Keji - apparently they threatened to seize his license, close his
church and all sorts of hellish threats - the man capitulated. He denied us: He
didn't grant us any interview; he was innocent of all they were charging him
with! The poor man had never seen an interrogation room, not to mention a
detention cell! He simply lost his nerves, and threw us under the bus - poor
soul!
Of course, his voice was clear in the tape.
I led the interview, but didn't have the presence of mind to pre-warn him that
his explosive interview (done mostly in Yoruba) would cause some powerful
people headache - and that their usual palliative was to harass you and your
family, attempt arrest just before weekend, intimidate with evil intent,
arraign you before a hapless magistrate, and a series of needless adjournments
later, after some days in detention, the storm would pass. Surely, he was not
prepared.
Baba Keji later told me he caved in to fear
and threats - the prophet I had built respect for since my 'deliverance' in
1980! I forgave him when he apologised; but made up my mind to leave his
church.
Since Baba Keji's church (name withheld) was
outside the precincts of Ogba, and my family was living in Dopemu, we had to
pass through Akilo Road to get to church every Sunday. Each time we drove past,
I would hear a preacher of one of those Pentecostal churches screaming at the
top of his voice...most times, I unconsciously slowed to get in some seconds of
his talk - somewhat strange, quirky and different - but I would just chuckle
and shake my head on the way to my church.
Between 1991 and 1994, I had watched in
passing as the "on-the-road" church grew and the voice louder and
bolder. I was even more intrigued, especially when my wife, Iretunde informed
me she recognised the screaming voice as one of her elder brother's friends -
"that must be Broda Tunde," she said as soon as she heard him.
So, when the Baba Keji's thing happened, I
lost interest in religion; lost respect for spiritual leaders; hated
prophecies, and generally devoted myself to my work and family. But the craving
for fellowship; to receive the true word; to flow in the correct stream
overtook me. And in our usual practice on Sundays, we would leave for Baba
Keji's church (with our sutanas in the booth) but around Akilo, instead of
slowing down, we would park. And the man with the screaming voice would 'wash'
us with all sorts. Then we'd return home - strangely satisfied. After about
three "parkings", we were drawn by the polish of the delivery; his
command of English Language; his ease with Yoruba proverbs and critically, his
understanding of the Bible - but the man can shout! That was peculiarly
different!
By the fourth Sunday, we entered the church.
We were surprised that no one asked us what we were looking for... We simply
found seats close to the exit. The place was swanky, compared to Baba Keji's -
but not ostentatious. My main attention was the screaming man. When I saw he
was not really big, fat, tall or somewhat imposing - in fact, were it not for
his voice and his sprightly movement, I would be disappointed. I can't now
remember the day's message, I turned to my wife, when after the service they had
only collected offering (once or so), and declared, 'this is our church now'.
And she concurred.
Less than three years after, I met Babatunde
Gbolahan Bakare face to face, after another bout of detention. This time, it
was a spin-off of a boardroom battle in FAME. I gave my life to Christ at a
programme led by Bakare on December 29, 1996 at Excellence Hotel - no one
expect my wife knew about the transformation. Six months after, I went
underground with my erstwhile partner. We were being hunted for trying to start
another magazine (Encomium) while the all-powerful FAME was in comatose. Few
weeks after, we were arrested, arraigned and detained. While underground
though, I had written a long letter explaining our predicament and needed
spiritual intervention and support. The letter found its way to the church
(Latter Rain Assembly), but no response came back. Weeks later, while on bail,
I decided to challenge the church before leaving for another! Why would they
not meet us "at the point of our need"? After all, we were members of
the "Dominion Partners" - a support group for the church's
broadcasting activities.
By some special coincidence, we met with
Bakare who was berating some of his pastors for not acting decisively on the
letter, and making practical interventions beyond praying over the matter. He
was livid; and up close, I saw, even in my suppressed anger, that the man was
genuinely perturbed at their inaction. He appealed to us after hearing our side
of the issue, giving advice and counselling as a lawyer. He was very stunned to
see Iretunde (after over two decades) and instantly "adopted" me as
an "in-law under probation". He insisted we visited the next Sunday
when he heard Grandma was around. And that was our first encounter in late
1997. Much later, I found out he attended Lisabi Grammar School many years
before me.
Now, you see how detention took me away from
one man that I trusted as a minister of God, and trouble brought me into the
proximity of another that overtime has revealed himself as one totally sold to
Jesus.
I write as a chronicler of truth, as I know
them; not a proselyte; I study Bakare as a man who can be emulated; not to be idolized.
A man whose public and private conduct should be a beacon to draw others to
ethical adjustment and self-discipline - not a superstar to be hero-worshipped.
In speaking the truth and drawing a clear
picture on a personality, the writer may sometimes step on sore areas he
believes are necessary to full understanding of an assumed complicated individual
- and yet the subject is unmistakably embarrassed or distraught thereof. If in
the course of these following comments, I make some awkward testaments, we
should take it in the words of Indian great, Mahatma Gandhi: "Truth never
damages a cause that is just".
As Bakare clocks 60 this November 11, I seek
to throw a little light on the man many believe deliberately courts controversy
and is unduly harsh on his fellow religious leaders. A man some claim draw
anomie to himself, and blind loyalty in equal proportion - like ants to sugar.
By his choice of words, subjects of his vitriol and characters of his umbrage -
in most cases, Bakare may declare himself guilty - but with well- articulated
reasons. If you can control your indignation and hear him out, you are likely
to concede him the space necessary for truth and logic to soar.
Ordinarily, I am drawn to people who are not
afraid to speak what they believe is the truth - at all times; who do not
succumb to the pressure of impressing others so as to gain their adulation;
people who are not bothered about the enormity of your anointing if your
obvious actions and conversations give you away as a charlatan - you will be
hung out to dry. Oh, I like such people.
Yes, people who see Bakare as a "noise-maker"
or "rabble-rouser" may have a point. He does cause trouble with his
statements... and more often than not
rabbles are roused on account of his diatribes. The point to linger on is not
what he does, but why he does those things. In private discussions, as I sought
to probe the spine of his position on this issue...with a mischievous twist of
his lips, he would labour to give words to the cascading thoughts in his heart
- his glowing face reveals a man thoroughly at peace with the severity of his
commentaries. Well, 15 years may not be long enough to write a profound
character guide on a person, but I can state categorically that he writes down,
dwells over, bounces off people, almost all his so-called controversial
statements…. He does not use the old and tested
lacuna: “touch not my anointed...” in escaping troubling issues and scenarios
when he is called to account. Bakare would over-prepare for contestation of
ideas and understanding of the Word - whether the challenge comes from a peer or neophyte.
Oh, he does have a temper. Is there a man
without blemish? Excuse it the way you want, he can be a bolt of fire against
the devil in one instance; and if an associate, his child or acquaintance steps
over or pulls down what ought to be carefully arranged or garnished - the
tongue of correction comes sharp and long… touching the recesses of your inadequacy, purging you
almost instantly of any dreg of incompetence. Oh, he detests incompetence in
any situation - more avidly if he suspects incompetence, insensitivity or high
corruption at the citadels of political power. He surely must share the same
sentiment with the 26th American president, Theodore Roosevelt, who said:
"Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by
the president or any other public official, save exactly to the degree in which
he himself stands by the country. It is patriotic to support him insofar as he
efficiently serves the country. It is unpatriotic not to oppose him to the
exact extent that by inefficiency or otherwise he fails in his duty to stand by
the country. In either event, it is unpatriotic not to tell the truth, whether
about the president or anyone else."
Religious hypocrisy and political charlatanism
irk him most. Since "performers" of both "arts" prey on the
minds and hopes of people; his most vitriolic deprecations are reserved for
them - irrespective of their status, influence, motives or familiarity. When
people say 'why wash your dirty linens in public?' 'Why doesn't Bakare call his
“brothers” to order in private brotherly love?' 'Even the Bible
says so...'. Let me reassure you, on
most occasions, he would bend backwards to reach out privately and poignantly
point out these “infringements” and “perversions" - especially within the body of Christ. Often, the others chuckled over
it with glib assurance of acceptance… yet the issues fester, the complicity deepens…then Bakare explodes, and most people take
off in pursuit of ringworm with leprosy left unchecked.
Like Apostle Paul, Bakare's teachings are
hard: in the pursuit of happiness and prosperity, 'live holy, depend completely
on God, repay evil with good, do unto others much better than they to you'. He
not only lives what he preaches, he challenges others to take him up on his
convictions and cross notes afterwards. He is bemused when people find it
almost impossible to differentiate between principles (issues he vehemently
attacks) and relationship (usually committed by his friends and older
associates in faith). He is hurt when hare-brained policies and exertions of
governmental powers deliver more hardship on ordinary folks - and he explodes
where most leaders merely grumble and vacillate in soporific acquiescence. He
is undaunted and scarcely embarrassed when no one believes or even regards what
he says God has shown him in visions or dreams - he simply pivots ahead using
same as launch pads to more declarations.
If his
person is not violated, if his faith is not compromised; if his loved ones are
not in doubts; if his God does not keep silent, then the whole world united in
blatant antagonism against him, will not stir the little hair still remaining
on his head. An enigma indeed.
Though little of frame, Bakare's heart is large. Very large. His
generosity sometimes bothers on thick-headedness. Somehow, if you investigate
the strands of his magnanimity, you will find narratives of his humble
beginnings. He obviously suffered growing up... well, like most successful
Nigerians of his age... but his has diverse colorations that will make a
book on his formative years a best seller. So, in his generous spirit hides a
desire to help people about to fall into extreme poverty. Don't get it wrong:
weepy, needling, obsequious appeal for mercy-cash will not move him. With
obvious compassion and keen intelligence, he would probe the circumstance of
your situation and the potency of your peril. And to make sure you are not in
any doubt about his position, he will ask that help should be given you, but
'this and that' are what you should focus your energies on so you can
stand on your feet; but if on his reading, you need more than a token, he will
invite others who can effectively intervene in your affairs, so you can stand
strong.
Bakare lives his life in the open (a rare
condition in this climate) - the hunger to share and teach makes him tell it
all. He fixes his own stories, warts and all, in all his public narratives as
he criss-crosses the world teaching and preaching. While most of us will repent
of our mis-steps and keep it mum between us and God; not Bakare. After repenting, the man will
"call" the "whole world", confessing his mishaps. And
somehow drawing out a lesson or two why no one else should have any excuse for
falling into same. He is quick to do that for his few mistakes; but ironically
zips his mouth when he does any of his sundry good deeds. A peculiar man!
When Bakare talks – it is deliberate;, studied and hardly ever
spontaneous. So when he says he does not depend on the church to exist, I made
effort to ascertain it. With carefully placed questions and interjections
during visits and other contacts; I was surprised that he was not bluffing.
Needless to say, I don’t know of
any other person who leads a successful ministry and does not take a
hefty stipend from it – and that
is not saying those who do so are unworthy!
Once at the dining table, I saw only two small
pieces of yam, some stew and a cup of freshly squeezed fruit before him -
and wondered aloud if that was all he would have for a
late breakfast. He also wondered what I needed plenty food for when I
would still return time and again, to eat…he could not eat as if he would not be able to eat for
the rest of the day. Then it struck me: those who have it all don’t have to eat it all.
When Bakare chose to accept General Mohammadu
Buhari’s offer to be his running mate for the 2011
presidential election, he called to hear our opinion. And we didn’t mince words in assuring him that we were
not in support of his going into politics.
Of course, we accepted his position on the roles of religio-political
leaders in the Bible - and personally, I would be glad to be on fast-dial mode
with Nigeria’s Vice President - nevertheless, we didn’t like him entering politics. He must have had similar
chats with quite a number of people – and at the end of consultations, he made his decision
very clear: with an opportunity to save Nigeria and restore her glory, he would
not equivocate. He accepted to serve. Not strangely, he invited me to be his
spokesman. I made all sorts of excuses: I would not travel with his
cross-country campaigns because of my inability to travel by air within
Nigerian airspace. He simply jokingly promised to get my old spiritual leaders
(I've mentioned the two early in this piece; and he knew one of them well!) to
conduct deliverance service on me.
As Babatunde
Gbolahan Bakare marks his 60th birthday, with millions of his silent admirers
(and of course, millions of the "others"), a constant train of thought is that he will live
long to give of himself to his God and his country - with calm boldness, profound power and
enduring grace... such that if
the Lord arrives on November 11 and asks if there's a trusted and courageous 'errand-man'
ready for him to use - Layide's husband
may confidently step forward and say: "Here am I, send me!"
A tribute to Pastor Tunde Bakare on his 60th birthday
(11/11/2014)...
by Femi Akintunde-Johnson (fajswhatnots2011@gmail.com
- Tel: 08033150547)
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