The Reason I Fought With Bishop Oyedepo - Pastor Tunde Bakare

Pastor Tunde Bakare of the Latter Rain Assembly in an  interview speaks on the  reason he fought with Bishop Oyedepo,  his experience as a running mate to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari at the 2011 general elections amongst other issues.

Pastor Tunde Bakare

In an interview with Punch, Pastor Tunde Bakare shares his opinion on the use of Anointing Oil by Christians saying:

“People like to create their own Tunde Bakare. I love God, I love people, I love the godly and the ungodly and I try within my God-given ability to teach the truth. The reason I fought with my friend, Bishop David Oyedepo, and tore his book, I remember when we resolved this problem in London, we came out of a plane, he took me aside and said he was angry with me because I tore his book. I said I didn’t tear your book, I tore my book.

That is fine, you wrote it, I bought it, so it was my book I tore. I saw errors in that book because he said the anointing oil is not a symbol of the Holy Spirit that it is the life of God in a bottle. How can you write that and I would let it pass.

No! If the anointing oil is the Holy Spirit, then Jesus is a lamb walking on four legs. These are metaphors and when you have the real, you leave the shadow. Besides it is for the sick in the New Testament. So, you can anoint the entire church if they are sick and I would wonder how a sick church can bring healing to a dying world.”

Tunde Bakare who was a delegate at the National conference said his decision to participate was as a result of elders and also Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who put his name down as a delegate to represent the South-West geo-political zone and insisted because of his relevance.

Earlier this year, Bakare said he would not take a penny of the N12m allowance by President Jonathan speaking further on his decision he said: “I would not take a penny from the conference; I would not be given any allowance and I wrote a letter to that effect and they replied me. I did this so that if anything went wrong, I would retain my freedom to express myself freely. That does not mean others who took the allowance are bad people. No! We see things from different perspectives”.
Pastor Tunde Bakare who is known for sharing his opinion on controversial political issues, however, said he is not a politician and he has no ambition or desire of becoming one. He said all he is after is to see things work out for the Nation.

Tunde Bakare who contested in 2011 as running mate to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, said before making up his mind on that decision prayed to God about it saying: “The truth is that if good people don’t participate in politics, then we will continue to endure the rule of idiots. he has no intention of seeking any elective office.

Tunde Bakare who spoke about his experience as a running mate to General Buhari recounted how he was called by the former head of state on January 15, 2011 and was asked but he rejected his offer. Not one to give up, Buhari told him to pray about it. Following the requests, Bakare said he called his wife, daughter and Pastor Adeboye twice about it who told him not to “be afraid, step in there, whether you win or lose, God is taking you somewhere.”
Despite Bakare’s reluctance to take Buhari’s offer he said Buhari’s decision to make him his running mate was based on “his passion for Nigeria, he was once a Muslim and now a Christian”.His understanding of the geography, being that he lived in the North and was born in the South. His positive influence to pull the nation together, integrity. And that he wants someone who was remain honest and should he die in office like the former President, Yar’Adua he is sure he would carry on with his vision.

Bakare said: “The day before the final submission of names, former President Olusegun Obasanjo told El-Rufai that he was ready to support Buhari if he could drop me and replace me with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as his running mate. El-Rufai ran to me, that this was what Obasanjo said.”

Seeing that as an opportunity to opt out he pointed out reasons to Buhari why he thinks Okonjo-Iweala was the best candidate but he said Buhari’s response shocked him saying: “Pastor Bakare, I have waited long enough and today is the last day, if you are not going to fill the form, give it to me, I will look for someone until we can get a person like you. At that point, I became overwhelmed and I signed the form and El-Rufai seconded. That was the process; it was not an overnight thing.”

Bakare who described Buhari has an incorruptible, reliable leader who loves his country said although they did not win the election he had no regrets working with Buhari, who he said gave him the opportunity to know he’s got love for both Christians and Muslim.

Pastor Tunde who was quoted in 2012 saying President Jonathan was on a mission to ruin in Nigeria, however saidPresident Jonathan himself is a victim of circumstances who has had to learn on the job. Speaking on his meeting with the President, Bakare said at the appropriate time, it shall be revealed.

“I think Jonathan is honestly doing his best but history would judge whether his best is good enough. The Nigerian issue is complex. It requires a level of capability and dynamism and that is not common among the current politicians.”

Pastor Tunde Bakare who said the issue of Nigerian Churches being Theatre doesn’t apply to him but said “the difference between the cinema and the church in Nigeria is that for the cinema you pay a gate fee before you enter but in the church, they let you come in before they take from you”.

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