Govt is after me, says Bakare

The Save Nigeria Group (SNG) convener, Pastor Tunde Bakare, said yesterday he has been receiving death threats.
He also declared that protests against the petrol price increase will continue at the Gani Fawehinmi Park in Ojota, Lagos because of government’s refusal to revert the price of petrol to N65 per litre.
The SNG is the arrow–head at the Lagos protests at the park, which attracted thousands of people last week.
Bakare told the congregation at the Latter Rain Assembly, Ogba, Ikeja that since government is adamant, Nigerians have no option than to intensify the demonstration against injustice.
The activist-cleric, who alleged that government is after his life, denied that SNG is being sponsored by politicians. He vowed not to succumb to intimidation and blackmail.
“We are not motivated by another force than the belief that this land must be free and Nigerians must enjoy, if we (SNG) are sponsored by any political force, you will not see such crowd at Ojota.
“I was reluctant to protest, we wanted to dialogue. We contacted those in the corridor of power. When the time comes I will name those I contacted to give the president a soft landing. We are not protesting the removal of subsidy only, but corruption, waste in government.”
He also accused the government of threatening his life and key members of the SNG.
 “In the past one week, there have been threats to my life. My wife was called upon one night to tell me not to sleep at home, while arrangement was made for me to go into hiding, Yinka Odumakin also received an anonymous call saying don’t sleep at home this night but that night I slept in my bed room. It’s only the wicked that flee when no man pursues but the righteous is as bold as lion.
“There were threats of death and arrest, the latest one this morning (yesterday)  was a text message sent to me which reads: ‘you are the one motivating the labour not to accept government offer, we are coming after you, we are going to investigate your early years of legal practice’.”
Bakare, who spoke on the topic titled: Subsidy Made Easy (SME) faulted government claims that N1.3 trillion is spent annually on subsidising petroleum for Nigerians.
“Nigerians have been paying N65 per litre for fuel. Therefore, cost borne by the consumers is N807 billion, consequently, the true cost of subsidy borne by the government is: N943 billion not N1.75 trillion
He said the Federal Government cannot explain the difference between the amount actually disbursed for subsidy and the cost borne by Nigerians (N1.56 trillion minus N943 billion = N617 billion).
He urged the citizens to hold the government accountable and demand “the prosecution of those bleeding our nation to death. Until this government downsizes, cuts down its profligacy and leads by example in modesty and moderation, the poor people of this country will not and must not subsidise the excesses of the oil sector fat cats and the immorality cum fiscal scandal of the self-centred and indulgent lifestyles of those in government.”
The Joint Action Front (JAF) also said mass action will resume today in form of street protests in all states.
JAF Secretary General Abiodun Aremu told reporters at the NLC House in Lagos yesterday: “We want to assure that there is no negotiation than reversal to N65, unless there is overnight reversal, the protest continues.”
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