‘SSS wants Bakare to tone down his messages’

Spokesman for the Save Nigerian Group, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said the officials of the State Security, who met with the Convener of the group, Pastor Tunde Bakare, at their Lagos office on Monday wanted the pastor to “tone down” his sermons.

Bakare is reputed for criticising government policies perceived to be unpopular. Through the SNG, the pastor led the Lagos protest against the removal of subsidy on fuel by the Federal Government in January.

Odumakin, who spoke with our correspondent on the telephone, confirmed that the state Director of the SSS invited Bakare on the account of his Sunday sermon.

The sermon by Bakare at his church, The Latter Rain Assembly, on Sunday, was entitled, ‘How to change government peacefully and make society better’.

Odumakin said, “The meeting lasted for about an hour. The State Director of the SSS received him (Bakare). The meeting went peacefully without any intimidation. They invited him because of his message on Sunday.

“He actually showed a copy of the message to the director to prove that there was nothing outrageous about it. They talked about the message and they were craving that he should tone down his messages.”

According to Odumakin, Bakare, received the SSS letter of invitation on Monday morning for a meeting scheduled for 2pm.

But he said due to “prior commitment”, Bakare’s arrival at the Lagos office of the SSS was delayed till after 3pm.

He said, “Early this morning, SSS officials came to tender a letter of invitation to him (Bakare) that he should meet with the state Director at 2 O’clock. But because of prior commitment he could not get to the venue until after 3 pm.”