Political actors must play by the rules —Pastor Tunde Bakare

What do you say about the state of the nation, especially about observance of democratic values in the polity right now?

Well, our nation is in dire state. Our democracy should be nurtured and not to be destroyed and, therefore, we are calling for calm on all sides from our legislature, from the judiciary and the executive arms of government because Nigeria is bigger than the sum total of these arms of government and they must do things with decency and dignity. No citizen is above the law and every citizen must be brought to book according to rule of law and according to due process. If we do that and also give and take, we would not set our nation ablaze.

Who will take the lead here when the three arms are at each other’s throat?

There would still be elder statesmen everywhere. A Yoruba adage says, agba kii wa loja kori omo tuntun o wo. There would always be elder statesmen that would call them to order and calm the nerves behind the scene because when an irresistible force comes in contact with another irresistible object, there would be a catastrophe and we don’t want catastrophe.

I remember one of my teachers thought me this clearly that, ‘when Warsaw saw war, Warsaw was seen no more!’ We do not want crisis and chaos in our lives and we gave them our votes so that they can help our nation to progress and there cannot be progress and productivity without peace. If you read your Bible, Isaiah 9 says: “As to the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end.” Peace is the foundation of increase and prosperity. Let us ensure that we have peace in our land.

Given the situation of things currently, some people are already saying that dictatorship is right here with us in the country. Do you also agree?

I will not join either side because anyone who is going to bring peace does not take sides. It is like when God shows up, He does not take sides; He takes over. So, I would not want to make any unverifiable comment at all about any arm of government because I am here for peace and my prayer is that may Nigeria win in the 2019 elections.

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Is there any role for the National Peace Committee headed by General Abdulsalami Abubakar in all that is happening?

Yes, there is a role for the committee and there is a role for everyone, especially those who have their ears behind the scene. They should talk to them and say ‘Nigeria is bigger than you; don’t destroy the opportunity given to you. Now it is your turn like they say in Yoruba land, oba to je ti ilu toro, o loruko, eyi toje ti ilu daru, o loruko.’ They need to be told this so that they would remember their legacy and remember that good name is better than positions and better than gold and better than silver.

You are seen as one of those who have the ears of the powers-that-be. Are you also playing any role?

By the grace of God, and with everything God has given me, I would do my best. Sometimes it is difficult to see us speaking to the press but we hope their ears would be on ground. On all sides, I am not talking to the executive alone; it is to all sides and, by God’s grace, we have access to as many as we could have and we are doing our best, but behind the scene.