Monday, 21 May 2012
PHOTONEWS: Save Nigeria Group Pushes Ahead With #OccupyNigeria Movement By Way Of A Townhall Meeting
Attendees
Femi Kuti and yinka Odumakin
Prof. Wole Soyinka in attendance
Pastor Tunde bakare
A Town Hall meeting with the theme: " Endemic Corruption: The bane of Good Governance" put together by Save Nigeria Group, held at the Memorable Hall in Lagos Nigeria today.
See full text of Pastor Bakare's Speech at the event:
Understanding How Power Works
Being text of speech delivered by the Convener of Save Nigeria Group (SNG) during a town hall meeting at Memorable Gathering in the Central Business District, Alausa, Lagos, on Monday, the 23rd day of January, 2012.
PROTOCOLS
“If there be any truer measure of a man than by what he does, it must be by what he gives.”
“Man’s capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man’s inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary.”
It was David, the shepherd boy who became a king, that penned the immortal words that best describe my feelings since the military occupation of Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, where millions of Nigerians from all walks of life gathered together in a civil protest against a tyrannical and punitive policy of President Jonathan’s government. These words were not penned in a hurry; they were penned during the period a young patriot and his companions were running away from the injustice of an insane king. David, the son of Jesse, said:
“Woe is me, that I dwell in Meshech, That I dwell among the tents of Kedar. My soul has dwelt too long with one who hates peace. I am for peace; But when I speak, they are for war.” (Psalm 120:5-7)
As it turned out, there was a regime change in David’s domain, and in favour of seemingly rag-tag soldiers at the beginning of the impasse; such a phenomenal turn around that makes the words of Robert Ingersol true and applicable:
“I am the inferior of any man whose rights I trample underfoot. Men are not superior by reason of the accidents of race or colour [and, if I may add – by reason of office, status, stature, or transient power]. Rather, they are superior who have the best heart, - and the best brain. The superior man stands erect by bending over the fallen. He rises by lifting others.”
As part of SNG’s efforts towards de-freezing social mobility and unblocking the minds of our people, my humble contribution to this town hall meeting is titled: “Understanding How Power Works”.
1. Power is first an idea, or, if you like, a perception. The power I face is the power I perceive. Someone else’s power over you is your perception of their power. Their power is your thought. The source of their power is in your mind. Jesus of Nazareth – a Man attested by God to Israel – responded to Pilate, the Governor General of Rome in Israel – after he spoke these words:
“Then Pilate said to Him [Jesus] Are you not speaking to me? Do you not know that I have power to crucify you or power to release you? Jesus Answered, You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given to you from above. Therefore, the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” (John 19:10 & 11)
So, you see, the power you face is the power you perceive.
2. The power others possess over you and I is the power we give them. Their power is our gift. Therefore, if I have endowed people with powers they do not possess, then I face my power, do I not? My own power has become my opponent; my enemy.
Under S.14 (2) of the Nigerian Constitution, it is stated that “power shall reside in the people from whom government shall derive its authorities and power”. The same Constitution also spells out that “the welfare and security of Nigerians shall be the primary purpose of government.”
So what do we now make of the arbitrary use of that power by the government against the citizens who gave that power to the government in the first place? It is simply the abuse of power.
Fellow Nigerians, the power we deliver to a power entity is akin to depositing our money at a bank. Before we open an account, the bank has no power over us or our money. The bank derives its power only after we deposit our money.
Therefore, you find that:
i) Your money is subject to the bank’s rules;
ii) Your bank can use your money as it chooses;
iii) It can co-mingle your money with other people’s money;
iv) It can lend your money and earn interest on it;
v) You can only take your money back if you follow certain procedures established by the bank;
vi) You can only enter the bank when it chooses and where it chooses;
vii) You must stand in line with others who have also given their money to the bank;
viii) If you attempt to withdraw more than your deposit without prior approval of overdraft facilities by the bank, you could face penalties, in spite of the bank’s profit from your money lent to others with interest;
ix) After you put your money in the bank, you become a mere account number alongside other account numbers;
x) If, due to mismanagement, the bank goes under, your money, without your consent, goes down with the bank. How much you are able to recover from your deposit is subject to the decision of the regulating bodies.
Fellow Nigerians, your bank deposit is like your vote, which is an acronym at the SNG for “Voice Of The Electorate” – V.O.T.E. Without we who bestow power on those in authority, those with power are powerless. If you are tired of any power entity – your bank, for example – you can withdraw your money before it is too late. In like manner, you can raise your voice against the abuse of power given by you to any power entity for the purpose of your welfare and security. Ladies and gentlemen, it’s all in your hands.
Since the Ojota Freedom Park Rally, a new wind has been blowing across the Nigerian political landscape. It is the will of the people against the power of incumbency. Without a shadow of doubt, a new dawn of People’s Power is here. And, irrespective of how the fuel subsidy issue is concluded, Nigeria cannot be the same. Nigerians have discovered themselves this year. We must use our new-found strength:
i) To re-negotiate our union. The time is ripe for a people-oriented constitution;
ii) The system of governance must be restructured so that the rights, privileges, duties and responsibilities of the federating units are cleared spelled out;
iii) We must initiate the process of just remuneration of Nigerians and their public servants in all the arms of government;
iv) The prosecution of corrupt officials and their cronies in the corporate world must be on the front burner. In addition to ensuring that those found guilty are fully penalised for criminal enrichment, according to the law, we must equally demand just restitution.
Let me conclude this afternoon by drawing your attention and that of the government to what I call the three (3) rapid destroyers of any society, namely:
a) Ethnicity
b) Religious Bigotry, and
c) Economic Deprivation
We must rise as a people to quench these negative fires and prevent them from spreading further. If we don’t, a conflagration is at hand, the end-product of which may be national disintegration, instead of the much-touted transformation.
For us to transform this nation, leadership must disembark the arrogant horse of brutality and embrace civility. Power can only be exercised in the service of that which is ostensibly good. Power is like gasoline. Spread aimlessly over the landscape, it can result in an inferno, causing untold harm. Correctly contained, it can cook our meals or transport us and our goods from place to place. As Plato said, “Access to power must be confined to those who are not in love with it”. Nigeria will be a better nation when the power of love replaces the love of power.
Thank you for listening. God bless you all, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
PASTOR ‘TUNDE BAKARE
Comments
68 comment(s)
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Mr Anonymous could you identify your tribe
Submitted by Jay Don (not verified) on March 19, 2012 - 02:18.
Mr Anonymous obviously its by being faceless would you hide to castigate others
If you have a tribe worth comparing with others identify yourself.For I can assure you by whatever standards you chose, the ethnic group you have chosen to attack would outshine yours. I challenge you to show your face if you think you come from a family or ethnic group that can be compared and seen better than the ibos you have chosen to castigate.
Ignorant define it and show your tribe. Even the uneducated Ibo I can assure you would outshine the best brain from your part. If you doubt me identify your tribe I challenge.
A lot of you enten up by ignorance and the old wives tales given to you bu largely uneducated parents have nothing than hatred on ibos that led you and your parents to join with the hausas and fullanis killing then from every corner of Nigeria taking their properties denying them access to them even after the war yet till date burn with hatred and envy
Tribalism comes from ignorance and primitivity
Submitted by jAY dON (not verified) on March 19, 2012 - 00:43.
Most of the nigerians who frequent blogs and sites tend to be mostly those brudened with primitivity and tribalism.
Only few Nigerians come to comment on any issue with intelligence and objectivity and with an eye unto the issue.
The black man will continue to wallow in primitvity and underdevelopment with this mindset very prevalent even amongst the educated Nigerians
poverty knows no tribe
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on March 17, 2012 - 13:25.
As long as they still remain in power, a PDP hausa thief will see a PDP Bayelsa thief as his brother and not the poverty ridden folks from his region. get wise, Join the fight and save your future generatns from slavery. Hunger Poverty knows no Tribe!now, how do u save your own generation from becoming part of the NIGERIA PROBLEM?1.dont join them to celebrate anyone who succeed by destroying other people.2do you best to represent good value and integrity in your family.workplace,church and community.
Just being realistic
Submitted by Ladi (not verified) on February 21, 2012 - 16:13.
Am nt a die hard fan of Pastor Bakare bt I knw d lyks of Rev Martin Luther King, Bishop Desmond Tutu, Rev Jesse Jackson all came under heavy criticism wen they saw fighting 4 human rights as a way of serving God. History will judge this man. 4rm history we knw the south-south av never been in support of progressives. they were the 1st to drum support 4 Abacha to becom civilian president. SNG protested against Yar Adua's cabal for dis innocent looking criminal to bcom president, then it was fair. now that they are protesting against all this atrocities some folks are seeing it has a Yoruba affair. what we dnt realize is that tribal sentiments dnt cut into d circles of this political criminals. As long as they still remain in power, a PDP hausa thief will see a PDP Bayelsa thief as his brother and not the poverty ridden folks from his region. get wise, Join the fight and save your future generatns from slavery. Hunger Poverty knows no Tribe!
ndigbo are nonentity and selfish.
Submitted by oosa (not verified) on February 21, 2012 - 13:41.
please don't say this again this government of Jonathan now is control by ndigbo and so call south/south, ndigbo have many minister,many Representative than ever , ndigbo are in power but they could not stop Hausa/Fulani of killing their people do you want bakare to speak foe your father wen they have federal government as minister,finance, power,labor shame of south east they know nothing for all this noise of them.
Thanx for reminding them
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on February 7, 2012 - 10:59.
Mr.Akinyele is an avowed and indeed a blind follower of IBB till date.
Isn't he a Yoruba man?
And the two governments you mentioned IBB and Abacha were the Yorubas not the kernel of those governments?
There's no ethnic group that
Submitted by Manfreed (not verified) on February 7, 2012 - 10:47.
There's no ethnic group that is left out in the destruction of this great country.But some folks single out an ethnic group/groups for an unfair attack.
It's never tribalism,nepotism or any of the 'ism that would thrust this country forward but it's the collective efforts of all that will see us there.
The earlier we learn to correct ourselves the better, names callings and hauling invectives on others will never solve anything.the predator are busy preying on the carcas.
YINKA ODUMAKIN STOP LAUGHING!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on February 1, 2012 - 17:06.
I AM BEGINING NOT TO LIKE THIS YINKA ODUMAKIN OF A MAN OO! WHY WAS HE LAUGHING WHEN PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING?
YINKA GET A LIFE AND BE SERIIOUS LIKE ACHEBE, SOYINKA, OKEY NDIBE,SOWORE,RUDOLPH OKONKWO AND STOP ACTING LIKE THAT SMILING WOMAN CHIKA EZEANYA ABI NA WETIN THEM CALL AM? THAT IS WHY I NEVER READ HER AND PIUS ADESANMI. IT IS ALWAYS ABOUT NICE CLOTHES AND SHOW-OFF FOR THE TWO. LET THEM GET MARRIED JARE!
OKU NA AGBA UNO NWATA ANA ACHU OKE.. FIRE DEY BURN HOUSE CHILDREN THEY CHASE RATS
Heart of the matter
Submitted by Crystal thoughts (not verified) on January 30, 2012 - 11:48.
The strategic move by SNG to town hall gathering is commendable.
A reality about leadership is influence. Its unfortunate that Nigerians have been infected with the tribalism virus. The same virus has made it difficult for the virtue of patriotism to evolve in our nation. A virtue that we so desperately need to secure the enduring change long desired and overdue for Nigerians.
When men speak on the premise of tribalism, it is evident that they are myopic, and therefore incapable of balanced, objective and holistic perceptions.
What we need are people who have the genuine interest of the nation Nigeria.
God bless Nigerians and the federal republic of Nigeria.
A UNITED NIJA IS THE ANSWER
Submitted by wole (not verified) on January 27, 2012 - 17:51.
i think Mr Anonymous should calm down a little, let's forget this Ibo,Hausa.., Yoruba...whatever thing and come together to address the truth. The position we found ourselves in this Nation is beyond ethnicity, we should all join together to stop corruption by not being biased in our judgment....East or West, North or South..we're Nigerian and until we start to preach this and sincerely correct ourselves we shall have no peace..thank you
A UNITED NIJA IS THE ANSWER
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on January 27, 2012 - 17:48.
i think Mr Anonymous should calm down a little, let's forget this Ibo,Hausa.., Yoruba...whatever thing and come together to address the truth. The position we found ourselves in this Nation is beyond ethnicity, we should all join together to stop corruption by not being biased in our judgment....East or West, North or South..we're Nigerian and until we start to preach this and sincerely correct ourselves we shall have no peace..thank you
Yorubalism
Submitted by Fatemaan (not verified) on January 27, 2012 - 10:16.
@robo...........|There is no one who is not tribalistic. The yorubas are tribalistic, yes, but so are other tribes. I dont know about their trying to use removal of fuel subsidy for their own selfish interest, but this interest is now a whollistic interest. There is very serious corruption in this country and instead of insulting people who are out there, KEEP SHUT. U r not making any sense or contributions for that matter. Yes the TINUBU, ADENUGAS, OTEDOLAS...... are bad. But some are good robo. U should remember that. Please fight for Naija and not against her.
Links
Submitted by TrutH (not verified) on January 25, 2012 - 15:34.
Eba like you Submitted by Anonymous; are you man enough??? come up with an ID so as to enable me respond accordingly. tunde bakare should call him yuroba people. If i get him in the east I will cut him offfffffffff
Links
Submitted by TrutH (not verified) on January 25, 2012 - 15:29.
TUNDE BAKARE, you have nothing to say. you are conversing nonsense. while igbo are being killed in the north you are telling us what?? to forget our ethnicity??? go and tell English,French, Spanish, Germans, Nippon Japanese, Mandarine Chinese to forget their Ethnicity. The problem with nigeria is not ethnicity. As a pastor you have to say the truth. THE PROBLEM of nigeria is that the british kingdom gave power to fools and idiots hausa/fulani to rule over clever people, until they remove that power nigeria will die.
Mr Anonymous
Submitted by Oluwole (not verified) on January 25, 2012 - 12:37.
well, it is only a matter of IQ. But come to think of it, who are you, oh I forgot Mr Anonymous that means a NOBODY. You cannot even identify yourself. Meaning your views and comment are irrelevant. If Tunde was going to go thruogh the back door he would not joined the CPC.Because you are spiritually bankrupt, you will definitely not have spiritual understanding of prophecy. So Mr Nobody, keep your mouth shut and let those who have genuine concern for this nation forge ahead.
tell the idiots!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on January 25, 2012 - 10:29.
the shameless cowards and worlds greatest ignorant people will never appreciate that others fight for them to have freedom. they will never understand that these freedom fighters do so at their own expense.Tunde Bakare should not come to the east? Ahahahaha. i laugh. where are your eastern leaders? chukwumerije? All the impeached senate presidents? traitors who can not even fight for you? if you are ever going to become president or anything meaningful in this country called nigeria, it is the yoruba man that will help you there...the same one you are disregarding , you fools! for the records, i am not yoruba... i am from delta state. if you can't say thank you sir, pastor tunde bakare and all freedom fighters, please keep your dirty pit of a mouth shut. Eba like you.
Yinka Odumaikin CPC/SNG spokesman, TB cpc VP/SNG convener, Hmmm
Submitted by Worried (not verified) on January 25, 2012 - 09:57.
Can someone tell me how the spokesperson of CPC Yinka Odumaikin and VP of CPC have are also the spokesperson of SNG and the convener of SNG.
I need answers, is SNG no sharing staff with CPC, are the eating from the same pot?
Well wrtten, I am glad that
Submitted by nonyerem (not verified) on January 25, 2012 - 00:51.
Well wrtten, I am glad that there are a lot of us that still look beyond race and acknowledge that wrong is wrong regardless of who is perpetrating it. Unfortunately a lot of people are so biased that they refuse to accept the truth when it is somebody from their ethnic group. The president and his cabinet, the senate and house of assembly are corrupt and these people refuse to accept that fact. They pretend as though president Goodluck Jonathan is innocent. Does he not know what is going in nigeria with regard to corruption even his justice department minister? Let the truth be told. This administration must flushed out of office and dealt with too.
It is a big problem in this
Submitted by nonyerem (not verified) on January 25, 2012 - 00:26.
It is a big problem in this country, the problem of ethnicity. I am thinking now that our problem can only be solved by reckless and indiscriminate killing of anybody in authority and their families for them to realize the seriousness of the suffering they are inflicting on nigerians. Rev. Bakare spoke the truth and you are so about it, perhaps because President Jonathan probably is Kinsman and therefore should be criticized for having the worst of all the worst regimes that nigeria ever had. Do younot know that Buhari rule was the best government nigeria ever had, the first time cowards like you saw the rule of law and religiously followed it by the book. WE NEED PATRIOTIC MILITARY LEADER WHO WILL COME INTO POWER AND KILL ANYBODY THAT HAS LOOTED THAT COUNTRY AFTER THOROUGH INVESTIGATION AND TRAIL BY JUST MILITARY TRIBUNAL. These politicians have no conscience at all, they do not care about anybody, theirs is a government of oppression and corruption.
SNG Town Hall
Submitted by Stella (not verified) on January 24, 2012 - 16:38.
A big thank you to SNG for intimating us with the state of the nation and leading the way. Thanks also to Pastor Bakare and all the speakers and volunteers.
Nigerians need to wake up from slumber and stop allowing corruption in our society. We already have a bad name and the way out is to speak out and stand on the side of truth despite popular opinion.
Nigeria in a quandary it is afflicting Rev. Bakare also!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on January 24, 2012 - 15:24.
[The same Constitu... spells out that “the welfare & security of Nigerians shall be the primary purpose of government.”
Fellow Nigerians, your bank deposit is like your vote, which is an acronym at the SNG for “Voice Of The Electorate” - V.O.T.E. Without we who bestow power on those in authority, those with power are powerless. If U are tired of any power entity – your bank, for example – U can withdraw your money before it is too late. In like manner, U can raise your …to any power entity for the purpose of your welfare and security.]
Like families all of them can’t perform exactly same in financial issues. The govt wants to cut back & repair refineries thereby gaurantee us steady jobs! Rev. Bakare is to be reminded that his Boss Buhari partly caused D collapse of the refineries by ousting Shehu Shagari illegally, reason why we withdrew our VOTE 4 them & wll not even vote 4 them; Buhari preaches Sharia 4 Nigeria; they are killing us in Nigeria lest he forgot!
GOD BLESS TUNDE BAKARE, GOD BLESS SNG
Submitted by Toba Bankole (not verified) on January 24, 2012 - 14:48.
Has Tunde Bakare committed any crime against humanity? I see tribalism and sectionalism here, but we shall overcome. Solidarity!
Tunde Bakare
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on January 24, 2012 - 12:03.
Please go and pastor your church dont disturb people with this your SNG please tell us whether it is not a tool for you to enter aso rock through the back door?
Please Sahara reporters please ask Tunde Bakare what has happened to all his prophecies during OBJ rule we did not see any of them coming to pass which means that he was not really saying what God told him to tell us so please beware.
Tunde Bakare please dont disturb us in the east
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on January 24, 2012 - 11:57.
No noise when they were slaughtering southerners in the north but because of fuel subsidy you want to put Nigeria in problems please do what you are doing in Lagos dont go to the East we would pursue out of that area.
@ DAN GIWA don't mind the
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on January 24, 2012 - 06:26.
@ DAN GIWA don't mind the useless yorubas let keep on wasting their time on fuel subsidy while there's security challenges in the country.without that they ll be the next victim of boko boys. useless mother fuckers.
BIBLE SAYS BAKARE IS A DUBIOUS CHARACTER, NIGERIANS BEWARE
Submitted by Ken Mani (not verified) on January 24, 2012 - 05:51.
Remember Bakare and his false prophecies against OBJ and Nigeria? In this regard, my Bible tells me that Bakare is a dubious character in the 419 category. He has the skills to 419 anybody. Check this out: Can you imagine men like Soyinka and other so called Human Rights Activists listening to Bakare who is bedfellow and partner to a man with the worst human rights record in Nigeria - Buhari. It only takes the 419skills of Bakare to make this absurdity to happen. In the days when Human Rights Activists in Nigeria were genuine and committed, a man like Bakare who is Buhari’s closest associate will never have the privilege of becoming the Oga of Human Rights Activists.
BAKARE SAVING NIGERIA BY MURDERING NYSC MEMBERS
Submitted by Ken Mani (not verified) on January 24, 2012 - 05:32.
Bakare is a common criminal who must be brought to justice for his role in the CPC brutal murder of NYSC members and other Nigerians from the South during the 2011 Presidential elections. His recent treasonous call for regime change reveals his desperate and mad desire for political power. Opportunists like Bakare will do anything to gain cheap popularity. This a man who had to render false prophecies against OBJ and Nigeria in order to gain cheap national attention. According to the Bible concerning persons who render false prophecies, Bakare is a dubious character.
Solidarity to all
Submitted by SoCal (not verified) on January 24, 2012 - 03:10.
“If Nigeria must reform on corruption, it must start from the legislature. We are talking of a system change where some legislatures are earning more than the US President. The present system of governance in Nigeria is a total disaster.”
Is there a YouTube Upload of this event
Submitted by Alli Pedro (not verified) on January 24, 2012 - 02:31.
Please is there a video youtube upload of this event? if so please can someone post a link.
aluta continua, victoria acerta
@robo the robot: Name one achievement anyone in your family has
Submitted by tundemash (not verified) on January 23, 2012 - 23:53.
@robo
I had listed Wole Soyinka, Falana and Tunde Bakare's achievements for you; name one thing your father has achieved? YOU SHOULDN'T ASK WHAT YOU CAN'T GIVE.
You are on this site because of the foresight of that youngman Sowore and yet you, who has nothing to point to as achievement, berate the young man. I refer to people like you as time wasters. You can't achieve anything in life and yet you want to slow others down. We didn't see you during June 12,you were not there during the Abacha/NADECO days, you were not there when Jonathan was being saved from Turai so no one would miss you in this struggle too. Go look at the list of people in those struggles, it's same people. Keep being a prisoner of tribalism. Please crawl back into the cave you came from. NONENTITY !!!
