Return to politics, Adebanjo, El-Rufai, others beg Bakare

Some prominent Nigerians including Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Malam Nasir El-Rufai on Friday urged renowned cleric, Pastor Tunde Bakare, to return to active politics.

Bakare had bowed out of active politics after his election bid as a running mate to the Presidential Candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), in 2011.

Speaking at the launch of Bakare's biography in Lagos,  Adebanjo, also a lawyer, said that Bakare would be doing disservice to Nigeria if he refused to go back to politics.

"Bakare has been wonderful on pulpit, and will be excellent as a leader.

``Bakare made a point when he joined Buhari for the presidential race in 2011, and they were my choice,’’ he said.

The elder statesman said that Bakare pursued the issues of Nigeria with much passion, and should not be a bystander.

"Being part of a political decision is very important. We appreciated Bakare so much at the National Conference for his wonderful contributions.

"Bakare's foray into politics is not for personal aggrandisement. Bakare practises what he preaches.

``There   is no scandal about him. That is the type of man we want in Nigeria," Adebanjo said.

Also speaking, El-Rufai, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, described Bakare as a true leader.

He said that Bakare was instrumental to his (El-Rufai's) foray into politics, and should not back out now.

"I met Bakare about five years ago but it is as if I have known him all my life.

"We have struggled together but, more importantly for me, he has been an inspirational leader," El-Rufai said.

 Gov. Mimiko of Ondo said: ``Bakare is an epitome of a true leader. I see him becoming president in Nigeria someday."

Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, represented by his deputy, Mrs Adejoke Orelope–Adefulire, reiterated that leaders must rule or lead by example.

"We must always do things with the fear of God.

"Bakare led and is still living a truly remarkable life," he said.

The book, "Moment of Truth’’, is a life story of Bakare.

It was written by a journalist, Mr Victorson Agnenson.

In his remarks, the Biographer (Agnenson), said that Bakare did not tell him to write the book.

"I never met Pastor Bakare one-on-one before the book.

``I wrote it on my own, and when he saw the manuscript,  he adopted it.

"The book is not just about Bakare but about Nigeria and about moving the country forward, and the challenges we have been facing as a country,’’ he said.

Responding, Bakare said that he would ensure that Nigeria would fulfill its destiny.

"It is part of my destiny; so, I  cannot shake off Nigeria from me," he said.

Chief Segun Osoba, a former Governor of Ogun;  Mr Fola Adeola, Chief Femi Okurunmu, Dr Amos Akingba, Mr Yinka Odumakin and Dr Ayo Olude, were among the dignitaries at the event.

El-Rufai not from Kaduna, say PDP chieftains

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hassan Ahmed Rufai, and other members of the party have alleged that All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, Nasir el-Rufai, was originally from Katsina State and should stop heating up the polity in Kaduna, where the people had helped him grow from obscurity.

Speaking in an interview, Rufai recalled that el-Rufai, former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, had once told some inhabitants of Unguwan Sarki in Kaduna North Local Government Area, who had visited him in Abuja that he was not an indigene of Kaduna State.

According to him, their investigation had revealed that the guber hopeful was from Daudawa, a village in Katsina State, but grew up in Kawo, Kaduna North Local Government Area, under the guardianship of a retired federal permanent secretary.

“We know him as a person that was raised by the respected elder statesman. We in Kaduna, we are liberal and accommodating. But sometimes many people take that for granted. El-Rufai had told the Kaduna people that he was not their minister, why should he now come to seek for their votes? He should go to Katsina,” he said.

On the recent assurance by el-Rufai that he would not demolish people’s houses if elected governor, reminiscent to what he did in the Federal Capital Territory, Rufai declared that the former minister was not a friend of masses but had been promoting the elite class and those in high authority. He concluded that in an attempt to impress his class, el-Rufai had the tendencies of coming up with policies that might not augur well for the common people.

“If el-Rufai could muster the courage and demolish places of worship in the FCT when he was minister, what assurance do we have that he will not demolish people’s houses in Kaduna? I pity petty traders and artisans, those doing business by the roadside to eke a living. They are at risk; God save us,” Rufai said.