THE Nigerian government on Wednesday denied ordering the arrest early this month of a controversial preacher who had hinted at a change of government in the country. Pastor Tunde Bakare was freed on May 4 after being detained for two days, when he was interrogated about his predictions and “critical prophesies”, his lawyer said last week. But Information Minister Jerry Gana denied that President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government had ordered the arrest. The so-called “calamity preacher” had predicted that Obasanjo’s government would be terminated last February 28. His passport was confiscated by agents of the State Security Service (SSS) on his arrival in the country March 2 from Ghana, said lawyer Gani Fawehinmi last week. Bakare told his congregation that those who arrested him claimed to have received orders from the presidency. Another senior minister, Ojo Madueke, described calamity preachers as “theological mercenaries”. – AFP
Wednesday March 13, 2002