Pastor Tunde Bakare, former presidential aspirant and Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at the latter’s private residence in Ikoyi, Lagos, in what is being described as a crucial engagement on the state of the nation.
The meeting came just weeks after Bakare publicly condemned the president’s policies, warning that the country was drifting dangerously due to worsening insecurity, economic hardship, and a lack of decisive leadership. During his April sermon in Lagos, Bakare had urged Tinubu to seek counsel, drop what he described as a "Messiah complex," and adopt urgent reforms to address the suffering of Nigerians.
However, following Wednesday’s meeting, Bakare addressed the press briefly, revealing that their conversation was frank, honest, and focused on Nigeria’s pressing challenges. While he did not disclose full details, the fiery cleric said he made his concerns known to the president directly.
“I came here not to flatter but to speak the truth to power as I have always done. Nigeria is in distress, and it will take sincerity, unity, and courage from the leadership to rescue her,” Bakare said.
He added, “We had a deep conversation about where we are as a country and what must be done to avert looming crises. I told Mr. President that though criticism may be uncomfortable, it is often a necessary mirror for leadership.”
When asked if he still stood by his earlier scathing remarks about the government’s performance, Bakare responded affirmatively.
“Nothing has changed in terms of what I said — the pain in the land is real. Nigerians are suffering. But we must keep dialogue open. I came here not to denounce what I preached, but to advance the same message face to face with the President.”
Bakare also noted that he was encouraged by President Tinubu’s willingness to listen, describing their meeting as “constructive and open.”
“We must all rise above politics and ego. We are in a national emergency. This is not about who is right, but about saving Nigeria,” he added.
Bakare, a former running mate to President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2011 elections, has long been a vocal advocate of good governance, often using his pulpit to criticise leaders across the political divide.
His recent criticisms of the Tinubu administration included strong rebukes of government inertia amid growing kidnappings, rising food prices, and what he described as ritualistic calls for prayer without actionable policy direction.
Although many expected continued confrontation, Wednesday’s meeting signals an attempt by both sides to open lines of communication and possibly find common ground on national issues.
Observers say the encounter could mark a turning point in the relationship between Tinubu and one of his most outspoken critics — a move that might either lead to policy recalibration or fuel further public scrutiny of elite negotiations amid deepening public frustration.
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