President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday met with Pastor Tunde Bakare, the Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, at his residence in Lagos. The meeting, which was held behind closed doors, focused on matters concerning the future of Nigeria and national development.
The visit was made public by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who shared a photograph of the encounter on his X account, formerly known as Twitter. In the image, President Tinubu is seen standing alongside the cleric in what appeared to be a cordial atmosphere.
After the meeting, Pastor Bakare addressed reporters briefly. He said the conversation he had with President Tinubu was centered on ideas and concerns about Nigeria’s progress. Bakare noted that he shared his personal thoughts on how the country could move forward but said it was now up to the President to act on them.
He stated, “It’s not about just reservations. It’s about how the country will go well. My personal vision is to see a nation that works in my lifetime… 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.”
Bakare, who once ran for the APC presidential ticket against Tinubu in 2022, also shared his hopes for a more united Nigeria. He expressed a desire for deeper cooperation between regions and a national spirit of brotherhood among citizens.
“I’d like to see Nigerians being their brother’s keeper. I like to see good collaboration between the best of the north and the best of the south to steer Nigeria in the right direction,” he added. He further called for bold steps to address poverty and push the country toward stable and steady growth.
The meeting comes not long after the Senate publicly criticised Bakare for his sharp remarks about the 10th National Assembly during his Easter message. In his address, Bakare accused Tinubu of turning the legislature into what he described as the “48th member” of his cabinet and a center of “legislative rascality.”
In response, the Senate, through its spokesperson Senator Yemi Adaramodu, said the cleric’s comments went too far and were considered a step beyond acceptable boundaries.
