Pastor Tunde Bakare of Latter Rain Assembly, Lagos Nigeria is perhaps, the only pastor in Nigeria who could look at any government in the face and say "you are wrong". The Nigerian populace get to hear of other pastors only when their comments are complimentary of governments. Who is this man?

It is not everyday that you have people who were born with a broken spoon but who laboured, to change the tune and become kings and queens who eat with golden spoons. It is not everyday also, that you see men or women who have very unique features surrounding their birth and childhood. When you do, such persons are always extraordinary in all that they do.

All these attributes fit Pastor Tunde Bakare of the Latter Rain Assembly who with a family background of near nothing rose from the dunghill to become an influential, figure in Nigeria 's Pentecostalism.

Bakare was born on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1954 as the only child to his mother, into a typical Moslem polygamous family at Iporo Sodeke, Abeokuta , characterized by conflicts and rivalry, with no one giving him the slightest chance of survival. He did not grow up to know his earthly father but was brought up by his mother, Madam Abigail Eebudola Bakare along with other siblings.

Through sheer hard work, determination and faith in God, he struggled through life and carved a niche for himself. He attended Lisabi Grammar School and also spent a year at Zumratul Islamiyya Grammar School where he had to re-sit for mathematics -a subject he didn't quite flow with.

He thereafter gained admission into the University of Lagos to read Law. His LL.B (Hons.) degree in Law is another proof of his absolute foqs as he had earlier rejected an offer of admission into another university to study another course.

As mentioned earlier, so many unique things are attached to his life. Normally, male children are circumcised on the eight-day of their birth according to the African culture. But his was done when he was 10 years, in 1964. Subsequently, every 10 years of his life has held some remarkable events.

It was at night of his circumcision as a little boy that God showed him a glimpse of his future, which manifested in a dream from which he woke up in a pool of his own blood.

Ten years later in September 1974, he was to be converted to Christianity. He had gone to a Baptist Church to take photograph of a friend being baptized. Again pillar of light he had seen in his vision 10 years earlier was replayed inside this church. It was so dramatic he could not hold back. He recognized it as a vision from God and as a call to service. Thereafter he was converted to Christianity.

Ten years later in September 1974, he was to be converted to Christianity. He had gone to a Baptist Church to take photograph of a friend being baptized.

In 1984, he had another milestone in his life, when he started his private law firm - EI-Shaddai Chambers and that same year, he got married to Olayide, a marriage that has produced five children - Oluwabunmi, Oluwafisayo, Oluwasegun, Oluwaseyi and Oluwarotimi.

It was in 1994 that the vision of establishing the Latter Rain Assembly, which he had nursed for over 15 years, was manifested. The Pentecostal movement was founded on the pillar of prophecy. Little wonder that today, he is regarded as one of Nigeria 's foremost prophets, even as many term him as a rebel with a just cause, because of the manifestation of many of his prophecies.

One remarkable one was the one before Chief M.K.O Abiola contested for the presidential election in 1993. Pastor Bakare made prophetic pronouncements dissuading him from participating in the election, warning whether there was no old man in MKO's house to restrain him because once he begins, he will not come out alive. MKO Abiola died in prison as a result of the fall out of that election.

Similarly in April 1993, while Nigerians eagerly awaited the emergence of a democratically elected president, Pastor Tunde Bakare came with the shocking prophecy that neither of the two existing political parties, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) nor the National Republican Convention (NRC) will attain political power. Eleven days after the June 12 presidential election, General Ibrahim Babangida, then Military President, annulled the election.

Particularly of note is that when the exit of Babangida from power was uncertain, Bakare prophesied that either on or before 27th August 1993, he (IBB) would make mistakes that would make him go. Eventually, IBB stepped aside and the Interim National Government chaired by Ernest Shonekan was installed.

Bakare did not stop here, he was to prophesy that the Interim National Government was the "Ishbosheth factor"; a mere stopover. to be soon overtaken saying that just as Ishbosheth was disgraced and his head cut off, so would the regime of Ernest Shonekan. Abacha eventually seized power from Shonekan through a palace coup in in November 1993.

Other notable prophecies include the humiliation of the Sokoto caliphate. Bakare was emphatic in his prophecy that 1995 would be the year of the unprecedented humiliation of the Sokoto caliphate, as its influence in the socio-political setup of Nigeria will not only wane, it will die. It is recalled that the then Sultan did not last in office till the end of the year.

His philosophy in life could be summarized under these five major aspects: His persuasion, which is that he would live long in health; having long life in health, and also be prosperous.

Other notable prophecies include the humiliation of the Sokoto caliphate. Bakare was emphatic in his prophecy that 1995 would be the year of the unprecedented humiliation of the Sokoto caliphate,...

His conviction that God will not justify the wicked, nor forsake the righteous; his passion to see that the true perspective of the gospel of Jesus Christ is given to people without any contamination or mixture. Then of course, his legacy, which is the grace to pr ay through problems. Surprisingly, as a young Christian he never had the desire to pray. It was the circumstances in his marriage that taught him how to pray. Secret of his success:

As pungent and direct as his prophecies are, they have always brought him into conflict with the authorities. In 1998, for instance, he went to Kano and at a Conference of Prophetic and Apostolic Churches (COPAC) while there, he prophesied that. It was not the first time that the corpse of a head of state would be brought to Kano for burial and it would not be the last, and that the city of Kano should expect the corpse of another Head of State. Eventually, Abacha died in the early hours of June 8, 1998.

On February 28 2002, while he was away to Ghana he called his lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi to inform him back in Lagos that on his arrival that he might be arrested. He was arrested upon arrival by the SSS, and released hours later after interrogation. More of a non-conformist Bakare today, ministers to over two million viewers through his television programmes.

Culled