By Ayodele Oni
Igbo Board of Deputies, one of the leading Socio Cultural Groups of Elders in the Eastern part of the country, has written to Tunde Bakare, a Lagos based Pastor, to withdraw some inciting speech during his sermon early this month.
The Group, through its lawyer, Okeke Attorneys, in a letter dated April 19, noted that the remark which contained in a sermon by the Pastor, is capable of inciting other ethnic groups against the Igbo people.
“We are advised that on and about April 2022, you on the pulpit of Citadel Global Community Church in Lagos, Nigeria, your church and before a multitude of congregants, worshippers and viewers allover the world made some inciting and provocative remarks against the Igbo.
“We have waited without success for you to, own your accord, recant your hate Speech which were made deliberately at a very fragile and tensed period in the history of Nigeria when insecurity and killings are rife.
“It is very obvious that your speech on the day was well thought out, planned, and executed so as to achieve the purpose it was designed.
“We are of the view that your comments on the day were calculated to rouse and stole hatred against the Igbo by a region of the country.
“It inciting comments against the Igbo people in the following manner: ‘on the day the late Tafawa Balewa was killed the Igbo soldiers arrested him, removed his turban, poured wine on his head and forced him to drink then shot him.
“While he was being killed, he cursed the Igbo race; particular the death of the then Prime Minister of Nigeria; Alhaji Tafawa that justified and resulted in the mass murder and subsequent pogrom against the Igbo people.
“Your position on the death of Balewa is false because you were not present and therefore cannot qualify as a credible witness.
“The fact that we have not exhaustively dealt with this matter at present should hereby do, to recant your statements using the same pulpit within 7days from the date hereof.
“Failing which, we have instructions to approach the appropriate forum, both local and international, for all available legal relief.”
Bakare, who has just declared his interest in running for the office of the President in 2023, has come under tremendous criticism for the ill-advised and ill-thought out sermon.
