As a leader, Tinubu is not in the same class with Awolowo - Pastor Bakare

General overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly cum politician, Pastor Tunde Bakare is of an opinion that former governor of Lagos state and All Progressives Congress leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu deserves to be the leader of the Yoruba people but however, he does not belong to the same class with the former premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who was until his death, considered as the leader of the Yourba race.

Although Bakare acknowledged the role played by Tinubu in the development of the South west, he however said Awolowo belonged to a special breed of leaders ordained by God and was in the class of
world leaders like Mahatma Ghandi of India.

According to Bakare, Tinubu is yet to go through the hurdles Awolowo went through in his political life, he said: “What major river did he (Tinubu) cross?” He asked. Continuing, he said:

“Well, the answer is in the Bible. You are a preacher yourself. God first created the bird of the air and not eggs. The birds laid the eggs. If you see the picture of patriots and Nigerian leaders here, they are all a collapse of his.

“The people who are attempting to wear his (Awolowo) glasses do not have his vision, they attempt to wear his cap but do not have his brain, they attempt to wear his shoes but do not walk his ways. Show me the empire that Awolowo built with public funds. To a Yoruba man, there is no concept greater than Omoluabi.

If you get to my father’s grave in a hut he built in 1922, which is now a museum, there is an inscription ‘bibire koshefowora’ which means you cannot buy a good pedigree or familial background.

I am not trying to take the shine off Tinubu’s efforts; he had laboured but he is not in the same class with Awolowo. Regardless of how many rivers he crosses, he is still Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Awolowo is Awolowo.

I have seen some paintings and pictures out there of Mahatma Gandhi, Awolowo and others and I just laugh and wonder why people can’t be themselves. When God needed a Mahatma Gandhi, he created one. So he did when he wanted an Awolowo. He created a T.D Jakes when he needed one.

A young man once went to T.D. Jakes and said, ‘Pray for me that God will bless me and make me like you.’ T.D.Jakes asked him, “Are you sure.” “He said ‘Yes’ and T.D. Jakes said, “Let us pray. May you be homeless, go through hardship,’ and the young man jumped up and said ‘no, no, no, no, “and T.D. Jakes said, “That is what produces results.”

You need to see books he (Awolowo) wrote and how they are still relevant today, years after he left the scene, he is still the numero uno Yoruba leader. Eagles don’t flock. You see one at a time.”