By Olatunosun Obafemi
LAGOS — Pastor Tunde Bakare, founder of The Citadel Global Community Church, has clarified recent comments directed at President Bola Tinubu, stating that his intention was not to condemn the president but to offer constructive criticism aimed at strengthening the nation’s democratic foundations.
Delivering a state of the nation address on Sunday, April 20, at the church’s headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos, the outspoken cleric expressed concern over what he described as a gradual erosion of democratic institutions under the current administration. He accused President Tinubu of adopting a domineering approach to governance and warned against what he termed “playing God.”
“The current administration is steering the polity adrift,” Bakare said, urging the president to adopt a more humble, transparent, and accountable leadership style.
While noting his personal disagreement with Tinubu’s leadership methods, Bakare emphasized that his comments were motivated by a desire to see the nation succeed, not to see the government fail.
The former presidential aspirant also took aim at the recent suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the National Assembly, calling the move retaliatory and politically motivated. He challenged Senate President Godswill Akpabio to publicly justify the decision and reaffirm the legislature’s commitment to democratic ideals.
Bakare’s remarks come amid growing public dissatisfaction with economic hardship and perceived governmental overreach, intensifying calls for greater accountability and respect for democratic processes.
