Politicians Feed Fat on Nigerians Sacrifice – Pastor Bakare, …WYBF  awarded scholarships to 52 students from various higher institutions

The Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, and the Convener, of Save Nigeria Group, Pastor Tunde Bakare have lamented that Nigerian politicians are living fat on the citizens they asked to sacrifice for the country by enduring the present economic hardship.

The outspoken cleric and politician made this known while delivering his address as a Keynote Speaker, with the theme: “Cultivating a Culture of Dialogue: Nurturing Understanding in a Culturally and Socially Diverse Nation.” at the 17th Wilson and Yinka Badejo Memorial Lecture held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The annual lecture organised by the Wilson & Yinka Badejo Foundation was in honour and memories of the founders and former General Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, Rev. Wilson Badejo, and his wife, Rev. (Mrs.) Yinka Badejo (both of blessed memories).

Pastor Bakare stressed the need for dialogue to resolve the country’s challenges rather than confrontation.

“All parties must approach the dialogue table with open minds, effective communication and empathy. Open and honest communication helps to establish transparency, making intentions and actions clear. When leaders communicate transparently, they demonstrate that they have nothing to hide and that they build trust”, he said.

“Empathy is a bedrock of dialogue. It requires us to see beyond our perspective and seek to comprehend the experiences of others with the ability to feel with others and share their joys and sorrows. “It also means sitting where the people sit, as in the book of Ezekiel – feeling their pains and sharing their burdens. 

An empathetic leader does not feed fat while asking the people to tighten their belts. Nigerian political leaders have mostly not demonstrated empathy. Otherwise, how do you live so prodigious while your people are living in poverty?

Bakare also spoke on the heels of #Endbadgovernance and noted that at the root of every religious crisis was a struggle for economic resources that manifests itself in politics. “Protests in Nigeria, hunger knows no religion, tribe or political party”, he said.

He further stressed, “This is why it’s often said that hunger is a unifier. This is why citizens are responding or reacting to the hashtag #EndBadGovernance protests across the land, from the North to the South to the East to the West. Hunger does not ask whether you are a Muslim or a Christian, male or female, Yoruba, Hausa, Fulani, APC, PDP, or Labour Party.”

Bakare decreed the two major political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for lack of ideology. “I did not believe the two major political parties All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party have any ideology, they are the same”.

“The process of disagreement of methodologies is how political parties are formed around ideologies. I don’t think the PDP and the APC have any ideology”, he said.

He cited the example of Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, who had been a member of the APC before joining the PDP.

Bakare said, “Obaseki contested on the platform of the APC for his first term and he won, and he contested on the platform of the PDP for his second term and won. What’s the difference between the APC and the PDP? Two sides of the same coin.”

Meanwhile, in her address as the opening speaker, Mrs Debola Deji-Kurunmi (DDK), a renowned author, public policy advisor and activist, emphasised the need to foster unity in diversity.

She said, “Imagine we were more interested in what the other tribes bring to us even when they don’t speak our language or look like us. Imagine we esteemed our collective heritage higher and greater than our differences. What manner of nation could we build? And the question begins with us again, what will I do from where I stand within my sphere of influence to make a difference without thinking that my difference is too little to resonate in the country?”

DDK, as it is fondly called, noted that the foundation since its inception had rehabilitated several youths and offered hundreds of scholarships to poor students.

Highlights of the Lecture were the presentation of scholarship awards to 52 poor students from various higher institutions of learning in Nigeria.

Also, the Stewardship Excellence Award was presented to honour the Managing Partner, PAC Solicitors, Rev. Peter Ameadaji for his support, dedication and commitment to humanity.

Among the dignitaries that graced the WYBF Memorial Lecture are, the General Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, Rev Sam Aboyeji; Chairman, BOT of the foundation, Rev. Akin Akeju; Vice Chairman of the foundation, Mr. Femi Badejo, the Treasurer of the foundation, Miss Ore Badejo, the General Overseer of Glory Christian Ministries, Pastor Iruofagha James and his wife, Pastor (Mrs.) Laide Bakare, former MD/CEO, Oceanic Bank Plc., Chief (Mrs.) Cecilia Ibru, the former SSA to the former President Muhammad Buhari, and now the Vice Chairman, SUN Newspaper Ltd., Chief Femi Adesina, the former Deputy Governor of Central Bank and Chairman, Lotus Bank, Mr Tunde Lemo, former Secretary of WYBF, Prof. (Mrs.) Kehinde K. Kemanbota, the Chairman of the Scholarship Award Committee, Prof. Bayo Oladipo and others.