By Funsho Arogundade
There is no gainsaying that Pastor Babatunde Gbolahan Bakare’s reach has extended beyond the pulpit into every facet of the Nigerian polity. The firebrand lawyer turned radical preacher has lent his star power to law, politics and activism. And along the way, he has earned huge recognition —and opprobrium as well. It has been a stunning ride, one that has taken Bakare from his humble childhood in the heart of Iporo Sodeke in Abeokuta, Ogun State to his power seats alongside the titans of Nigeria’s politics and episcopacy.
As a young lawyer who trained under two of Nigeria’s legal icons—late Gani Fawehinmi and Rotimi Williams— his principals were happy their hook caught a big legal fish. In the courtroom, young Bakare was a beauty to behold because of the way he marshalled his points and argued his case. Even, between October 1984 when he established his own law firm, Tunde Bakare & Co (El-Shaddai Chambers) till April 1989, when he dropped the bombshell of quitting the bar for the pulpit as he had received the call to serve God, Bakare’s brilliance and advocacy distinguished him from others.
Since Bakare dropped the wig for the cassock and started his own ministry —Latter Rain Assembly now Citadel Global Community Church— he has exemplified practical Christianity. His trajectory speaks volumes on some of the actions he takes on issues. Bakare speaks truth to power and walks where angels fear to tread. Over the years, Bakare has shown with his conduct, his ministry and his politics that he is a man of honour with the love of the people in his heart. In return, this has earned him tremendous respect and love among the elites and the ordinary man on the street. That was demonstrated on a large scale on Monday 11 November when he turned 70. It was a glorious celebration on the day Bakare joined the Septuagenarian Club as the crème of Nigerian society gathered to honour the man whom President Bola Tinubu described as “one of Nigeria’s most influential voices.”
During the special thanksgiving service laden with tributes, songs and worship to God, a cocktail of amity, love and sweaty eyes of joy could be felt inside the auditorium of The Citadel in Oregun, Lagos. At the event, Bakare’s autobiography ‘The Last, But Definitely Not the Least’ was launched as he later donated a whopping N250 million to charity —the money was a birthday gift contributed and presented to him by church members. “I will employ God’s wisdom and channel the N250 million to the needy, that way the seed you have sown in me today will continue to multiply to God’s glory,” elated Bakare said as he commended them for the kind gesture.
King Sunny Ade later dazzled the guests as Bakare hit the floor with his immediate family.
