The founder of Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has said President Bola Tinubu has done his best for Nigeria, leaving the decision on whether he deserves another term in office to the electorate.
Bakare, who contested the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket against Tinubu and other aspirants in June 2022, also defended some of the administration’s economic reforms, describing them as difficult but necessary decisions.
The cleric spoke on Sunday at Envoy Nation in Leicester, United Kingdom, where he said Nigerians had the constitutional right to either retain or replace their leaders through the ballot.
“Nigerians have the right to change their leaders. They also have the right to affirm their leaders.
“It is up to them to decide what they want. As you lay on your bed, you will lie on it. Sometimes, the devil you know is better than the angel that is not tested yet. But I leave it to every man to do what he pleases,” he said.
However, Bakare questioned whether the experience of Tinubu and other established politicians had been sufficient to resolve Nigeria’s longstanding challenges.
He argued that the country needed leaders capable of making the right decisions from the outset rather than relying solely on political experience.
Asked whether Nigeria would have been better off if he had emerged as the APC presidential candidate and won the 2023 election, Bakare said it would be difficult to make such a claim.
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“I would be very careful with my words. I do not think Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is an uninitiated politician. He has been tried and tested. He is a man of experience,” he said.
He, however, recalled that during the APC presidential primary at Eagle Square in June 2022, he had argued that Nigeria needed more than experienced politicians.
“The difference that I emphasised in that campaign, especially at the Eagle Square primary of the APC, is that we do not need men of experience anymore. Their experience has brought us into the disaster that we have found ourselves.
“You need geniuses who will do the first thing the first time and they will get it correct,” he said.
Bakare cited the biblical account of Joshua commanding the sun and moon to stand still as an example of the kind of bold and unconventional leadership he believes the country requires.
He also advised Tinubu to surround himself with people who would offer honest counsel rather than merely endorse his decisions.
The cleric cautioned Nigerians against dismissing all the policies introduced by the Tinubu administration, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy and the devaluation of the naira.
According to him, although the president may not have met public expectations, some of the decisions were necessary and should not be dismissed outright.
“For me, Tinubu has tried his best. His best may not be good enough for Nigeria but that does not give right to any person to just rubbish what he did like the subsidy removal, naira devaluation and other reforms.
“There are some things he did alright and I hope he learns. If God feels his time is up, He will bring other people to power,” Bakare said.
He added that it was difficult to predict how he would have governed if he had become president, noting that the challenges of leadership often become clearer only after assuming office.
Bakare also disclosed that he played a role in the political consultations that preceded the formation of the APC.
He recalled facilitating a meeting involving Tinubu, the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona; the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu; and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola.
The cleric said he subsequently withdrew from active politics to concentrate on building Citadel Global Community Church, although he remains a card-carrying member of the APC.
He added that he had informed Tinubu of his willingness to contribute to national development through private consultations.