The Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has issued a stern warning to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to abandon what he described as an air of self-deification, and to embrace humility in governance.
He declared that the current administration is veering the country in the wrong direction.
The cleric made these remarks during a state of the nation broadcast delivered on Sunday at the CGCC auditorium in Ikeja, Lagos.
“Stop playing God,” Bakare stated pointedly, adding that his criticism of Tinubu does not stem from ill will or a desire to see him fail.
“The current administration is steering the polity adrift,” he added. “It is time for this government to embrace humility.”
Bakare explained that his message was not intended as an attack on the President but rather as guidance aimed at correcting the nation’s trajectory.
He expressed deep concern over the state of the legislature, which he described as a cornerstone of democracy now weakening under Tinubu’s leadership.
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.
The pastor also condemned the recent suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by the National Assembly, asserting that the action was punitive and politically motivated.
He maintained that her suspension stemmed from her outspoken demand for accountability within the legislative arm and called on the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to provide clarity on the issue.
Bakare insisted that Akpabio must “uphold principles of transparency” and explain the rationale behind the disciplinary action.
Throughout the address, Bakare maintained that his intentions were constructive, focused on nudging Nigeria’s leadership back on track through principled criticism and advocacy for democratic values.
