*Presidency Reacts By Zainab Rauf Bakare lamented the nation’s plight, stating that the country’s suffering goes beyond poverty and extend...
*Presidency Reacts
By Zainab Rauf
Bakare lamented the nation’s plight, stating that the country’s
suffering goes beyond poverty and extends to a collective broken spirit.
Pastor Tunde Bakare, the founder of The Citadel Global Community
Church, expressed deep concern over Nigeria's escalating poverty and economic
hardships in a recent State of the Nation address.
Delivered at his church in Oregun, Lagos, on Sunday, Bakare, a
former presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), sharply
criticised President Bola Tinubu's handling of both the nation's economic
crisis and the ongoing political instability, particularly the situation in
Rivers State.
In his address, Bakare lamented the nation’s plight, stating that
the country’s suffering goes beyond poverty and extends to a collective broken
spirit. He observed that while many people of faith have fervently prayed for
Nigeria, the situation seems to have deteriorated to the point where prayer
alone no longer feels sufficient. Bakare emphasised that unless pragmatic
actions are taken, the anger of the poor could lead to political, social, and
economic unrest.
Bakare urged the Nigerian government to reflect on the leadership
example set by Pharaoh, as portrayed in the biblical story of Joseph in Genesis
41. According to Bakare, the Pharaoh demonstrated wisdom and humility when
faced with an impending crisis, which led to Egypt's recovery and prosperity.
He called on President Tinubu to emulate this approach by embracing humility,
seeking wise counsel, and making decisions that would ensure Nigeria's
recovery.
The pastor’s address also decried the leadership failures since
January 2025. Bakare accused those in power of exacerbating the country's
political and social crisis through authoritarian tendencies and the erosion of
democratic institutions.
“Dear Nigerians, the past few months, since that admonition in
January, I've shown that those responsible for sharing the cause of our nation
lack the humility and the character this moment demands of leaders,” he said.
“Instead, what we have seen since the beginning of the year is a
descent into tyranny and a brazen abuse of power. Those entrusted with power
appear determined to destabilise what is left of our political institutions,
and have committed themselves to obliterating the guardrails of constitutional
governance.”
He pointed to the governance in Rivers State, which he described as
a political "theatre" controlled by Abuja, and criticised the
National Assembly for supporting unconstitutional actions that undermined
Nigeria's democratic framework.
Highlighting the dysfunctional nature of the current leadership,
Bakare decried a "descent into tyranny" and criticised the National
Assembly for becoming a rubber-stamp institution under President Tinubu’s
administration.
He noted the stark contrast between the present legislature and
past assemblies, which had once stood up against executive overreach.
Bakare further lambasted recent developments in the Senate,
specifically the mistreatment of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who faced
attempts to silence her as she demanded greater accountability from the Senate
President. Bakare accused some senators of dragging the institution through
disgraceful behaviour and failing to uphold the dignity of their office.
In his speech, Bakare also took aim at the broader political
culture in Nigeria, which he described as a form of "motor park
politics" perpetuated by veteran politicians and amplified under Tinubu's
influence. He argued that under this style of politics, Nigeria’s institutions
had become tools of power consolidation rather than vehicles for effective
governance.
The pastor’s critique extended to President Tinubu himself, whom he
accused of fostering a political environment where the National Assembly had
become subservient to the executive. Bakare warned that the country’s political
system was at risk of transforming into a dictatorship, with the executive
branch wielding unchecked power.
He urged the president to reconsider his approach, stating that no
leader should be entrusted with unlimited power.
He said, “It is clear that our so-called leaders are determined to
turn Nigeria into a mafia state. The two main contenders in the ongoing
institutional immorality are the executive and the legislature.
“It's often said that these two arms of government suffered the
worst forms of arrest and development because they were the direct victims of
the era. But after 26 years of uninterrupted democracy, one must ask how much
longer before our institutions finally mature. While it is not in dispute that
our institutions and constitution are inadequate, it has become obvious that
our biggest problems in this nation are the occupiers of these institutions and
executors of the constitution.
“The quality of leadership in Nigeria has become so repugnant that
citizens must declare a state of emergency on governance, demanding that every
aspiring public office holder undergo rigorous psychiatric evaluation before
seeking election.”
Bakare also delved into the country’s economic challenges,
particularly the president's handling of critical reforms such as the removal
of fuel subsidies and the devaluation of the naira.
He expressed concern over
the hardship these policies had inflicted on Nigerians, with soaring inflation,
food insecurity, and a deepening economic crisis. The pastor highlighted the
alarming spike in food prices, the fall in foreign direct investment, and the
suffering of millions of Nigerians who found themselves trapped in a
cost-of-living crisis.
While acknowledging that difficult reforms often come with
hardship, Bakare urged the government to show empathy and transparency in its
approach. He suggested that the administration had failed to sufficiently
cushion the effects of its reforms, and he called for greater accountability
from those in power.
Bakare also pointed out the broader issue of leadership deficiency
in Nigeria. He proposed that public office aspirants should undergo rigorous
psychological evaluations to ensure that they possess the requisite competence
and character. He noted that the failure of Nigerian leaders to embody wisdom,
decorum, and decency had undermined the integrity of the nation's institutions.
Despite his criticisms, Bakare did acknowledge some positive
developments under the current administration, such as the increase in
Nigeria’s foreign reserves from $35 billion in May 2023 to $40 billion by
November 2024. However, he emphasised that these achievements should not overshadow
the broader governance challenges facing the country.
In his conclusion, Bakare proposed a model for economic recovery
based on the governance of Joseph in ancient Egypt. Drawing parallels with
Joseph’s handling of an economic crisis through careful fiscal policies, Bakare
suggested that Nigeria could learn from this approach by creating locally
managed networks of cities, industries, and reserves to weather economic
downturns.
He called for reimagining the nation’s governance structure to
ensure long-term stability and prosperity for all Nigerians.
Pastor Bakare's address was a call to action for Nigeria’s
leadership, urging a shift towards humility, accountability, and effective
governance.
— Presidency Reacts
The Presidency has responded to
comments made by the Founder of Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde
Bakare, during his Easter Sunday sermon, in which he criticised President Bola
Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership style, describing it as akin to “motor park
politics.”
Reacting to the comment, the Special
Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, acknowledged
the clergyman’s right to express his views, noting that while the Presidency
holds differing views on some of his positions, it appreciates the overall tone
and constructive intent of Bakare’s message.
In a post shared on his verified X
handle, @BwalaDaniel, the presidential aide said: “Pastor Tunde Bakare’s sermon
and speech delivered this morning in form of a message to @officialABAT is
quite objective.
“He gave his general opinion on
events and decisions of government; he critiqued certain polities and applauded
some; he further offered his suggestions on the way forward”, he said.
He continued: “Although we differ
with him in some areas and positions, we respect his right to say his mind, and
assure him, as with many Nigerians, that President Tinubu is determined to
deliver on the promise to the Nigerian people.”
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