President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday, welcomed Pastor Tunde Bakare, the Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church (CGCC), during a private meeting in Lagos.
The visit was disclosed via a post on X (formerly Twitter) by Bayo Onanuga, who serves as the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy.
Bakare, a former presidential hopeful who contested for the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2023, shared that the central focus of his conversation with the President was Nigeria’s development and future progress.
“It’s not about just reservations. It’s about how the country will go well,” Bakare stated. “My personal vision is to see a nation that works in my lifetime, and those things I’ve discussed with Mr President, they’re not hidden things, but I’ve learned that when you discuss with the person in charge, you leave it with him to do whatsoever he wills with what you have suggested.”
He expressed satisfaction with how he was received by Tinubu, adding, “So I’ve had a private conversation with Mr President and I’m glad that he received me well and I trust that God will help our nation.”
This meeting came months after Bakare openly criticized the President in April. At that time, he accused Tinubu of leading Nigeria down the wrong path and raised concerns about the dynamic between the country’s executive and legislative branches under the current administration.
“To the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, under whose brand of politics the institution of legislative oversight is collapsing and our democracy is faced with an existential threat, I say: Mr. President, Nigeria is too delicate for this kind of politics,” he said at the time.
He continued, “If this state capture was what you meant by emi lo kan, it is an anti-climax that can only be counterproductive in the end. I urge you, Mr. President, to think deeply and reflect on these words: ‘No man is wise enough nor good enough to be trusted with unlimited power.’ Please, stop playing God!”
Bakare went further to criticize the state of the National Assembly, attributing its conduct to Tinubu’s influence. “Mr. President, it is through your influence that the Nigerian National Assembly has become a haven for legislative rascality,” he claimed.
Despite these previous remarks, Bakare’s meeting with Tinubu suggests a willingness to engage directly and offer counsel on the direction of the country. He emphasized that his suggestions were made privately and left for the President’s consideration, underscoring a belief in constructive dialogue even amid disagreement.
What you should know
Pastor Tunde Bakare, once a vocal critic of President Tinubu’s leadership style, recently held a private meeting with the President to discuss national development.
While his past statements were strongly critical, his latest remarks signal an approach grounded in consultation and hope for Nigeria’s progress.
