I was seen as traitor for running with Buhari in 2011 — Bakare

Serving Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly and Convener of Save Nigeria Group, Pastor Tunde Bakare, said he was viewed by church leaders as a traitor for accepting to run with Muhammadu Buhari for the 2011 presidential poll.

Bakare spoke yesterday in Lagos during the public presentation and launch of three books written by media mogul and CEO of Ovation International, Mr. Dele Momodu in honour of the acclaimed winner of the June 12 1993 election, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola.

Bakare in his keynote address, said however that the media contributed in changing the perception of Buhari and the story changed in 2015 with the pairing of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) with Buhari as running mate.

He said: “However, I do not think the effort (in 2011) was in vain. Instead I thank God that I took up the challenge and became a barrier breaker.

“Yet, four years later when the mantra became anything but Jonathan, the same church leaders who had said it was inconceivable for a pastor to participate in politics especially in an alignment with a perceived Islamic fundamentalist ate their words and threw their weight behind the same President Muhamamdu Buhari with my brother, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) as running mate.”

He stressed the need to address the fundamentals of the nation’s challenges bordering on restructuring.

Momodu said Abiola whom he honoured with the books fought for the unity of Nigeria, noting that Nigeria died the day the June 12 1993 election was annulled.

He said Abiola, who was recently conferred with posthumous honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (GCFR), would be disappointed by the state of the nation.