The General Overseer of Later Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has said that his call for a uniformed prayer at all meetings of the Conference was made in the interest of national unity, cohesion and mutual co-existence.
Bakare, who is a delegate at the ongoing National Conference had drawn attention to the short Arabic phrase that usually precedes Justice Kutigi’s speech at the Conference’s sessions.
He explained that there was no way he could hate Muslims having been born and raised a Muslim himself, adding that many of his relatives, friends and associates are Muslims.
The clergy man was reacting to a statement on Thursday, by a group, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) which alleged that Mr. Bakare’s “attack” on Justice Kutigi was a premeditated demonstration of his hatred for Muslims and Islam.
The Pastor said “What we are saying is that let us adopt one simple language so that no one reads any religious connotation into anything we say or do. We are not here for regional or religious issues. We must not be divided by tribal sentiments and religious prejudices. We must focus on building a new Nigeria.”
“If I hate Muslims, I would not have accepted to be a running mate to a Muslim in the last presidential election,” Mr. Bakare explained. “I was born and raised a Muslim. I’m well versed in the Qur’an having graduated from Islamic school on April 16, 1967.
“Many of my relatives are still Muslims. My older cousin was recently made the Are Adinni Musulumi of Egbaland and my family was well represented at the ceremony.
“I have no Islamophobia of any kind. Even in my businesses, I employ Muslims and non-Muslims and even those who don’t believe. I was born in the South but raised in Sokoto. My father was known as Sani Arewa and that is what is written on his tombstone. My uncle was Sarki Yoruba in the Sultan’s palace.
“So, you can see that I’m in no position to hate Muslims. All I’m saying is that we should be fair to one another. God created only one race. And that is the human race. We should not let religion or tribes to divide us.” He explained.
