Rumours were flying that both presidential candidate of the CPC, General Muhammadu Buhari, and his running mate, Bakare, were Northerners, implying that theirs is a North-North ticket since Kwara State is located in the North-central zone of the country, while Buhari hails from Katsina in North-western part of the country.
While dismissing the insinuation as an outright falsehood, Bakare, who told THISDAY through a telephone conversation Wednesday night that he was a bonafide indigene of Abeokuta in Ogun State, added that he hails from Sodeke village in the state capital which was established by Sodeke, one of the founders of Egba in 1830.
Sodeke was one of the notable warriors in Yoruba land in the 19th century, whose fame and heroic acts brought glory to Egba community.
To establish the altruism of his claim, Bakare said he could trace his genealogy up to the fourth and even fifth generations of Egba, recalling that he even built a cenotaph in honour of the memory of Sodeke, his ancestor, which he said was inaugurated by the Ogun State government.
While explaining that both his father and mother were from Abeokuta, the cleric said his father built his house in Iporo, Sodeke in 1922 where he was born 55 years ago, adding that his father’s grave is still in the house “till today”.
Bakare said while his father is now dead, his mother, who is 110 years old, still lives in Abeokuta, saying “without prejudice to the good people of Ilorin”, he has no root whatsoever in the town as being rumoured.
Bakare. who also said he had his primary and secondary school education in Abeokuta, named the schools as All Saints Primary School, Kenta and Lisabi Grammar School, Idi Aba, both in the town, adding that he is well known as a full-fledged indigene of Egba by the Alake of Egba land, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, as well as the Olowu of Owu, Oba Dosunmu.
According to him, both monarchs can attest to his claim of Egba indigeneship. He also said among his school mates in Abeokuta is the incumbent governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.
Bakare, who said his parents were Muslims from the outset, added that his mother only got converted in 1984, while his father died as a Muslim.
THISDAY also learnt that Bakare had once declared his ambition to run for the chairmanship of Abeokuta Local Government area of the state.
While dismissing the insinuation as an outright falsehood, Bakare, who told THISDAY through a telephone conversation Wednesday night that he was a bonafide indigene of Abeokuta in Ogun State, added that he hails from Sodeke village in the state capital which was established by Sodeke, one of the founders of Egba in 1830.
Sodeke was one of the notable warriors in Yoruba land in the 19th century, whose fame and heroic acts brought glory to Egba community.
To establish the altruism of his claim, Bakare said he could trace his genealogy up to the fourth and even fifth generations of Egba, recalling that he even built a cenotaph in honour of the memory of Sodeke, his ancestor, which he said was inaugurated by the Ogun State government.
While explaining that both his father and mother were from Abeokuta, the cleric said his father built his house in Iporo, Sodeke in 1922 where he was born 55 years ago, adding that his father’s grave is still in the house “till today”.
Bakare said while his father is now dead, his mother, who is 110 years old, still lives in Abeokuta, saying “without prejudice to the good people of Ilorin”, he has no root whatsoever in the town as being rumoured.
Bakare. who also said he had his primary and secondary school education in Abeokuta, named the schools as All Saints Primary School, Kenta and Lisabi Grammar School, Idi Aba, both in the town, adding that he is well known as a full-fledged indigene of Egba by the Alake of Egba land, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, as well as the Olowu of Owu, Oba Dosunmu.
According to him, both monarchs can attest to his claim of Egba indigeneship. He also said among his school mates in Abeokuta is the incumbent governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.
Bakare, who said his parents were Muslims from the outset, added that his mother only got converted in 1984, while his father died as a Muslim.
THISDAY also learnt that Bakare had once declared his ambition to run for the chairmanship of Abeokuta Local Government area of the state.
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