Bakare defends Tinubu’s reforms, says president’s best may not be enough

Founder of Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying Nigerians should acknowledge the administration’s efforts even if they remain dissatisfied with its performance.

Bakare, however, said the president’s best might not be sufficient to address Nigeria’s challenges, leaving voters to decide whether he deserves another term in the 2027 presidential election.

The cleric made the remarks while speaking at Envoy Nation in Leicester on Sunday, where he discussed Tinubu’s leadership, economic policies and the country’s political future.
“ 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,” he said.

Bakare acknowledged that some of the administration’s decisions were necessary, adding that the president should learn from the shortcomings of his policies.

“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,” he added.
The former presidential aspirant said Nigerians had the constitutional right to either retain or replace their leaders, insisting that the decision ultimately rested with the electorate.

“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,” he said.
He added, “As you lay your bed, so 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.”

Bakare, who contested against Tinubu and other aspirants during the All Progressives Congress presidential primary in June 2022, also questioned whether the experience of established politicians had been sufficient to solve Nigeria’s longstanding problems.
Asked whether the country would have been better off if he had emerged as the APC presidential candidate and won the 2023 election, the cleric declined to make a definitive claim.

“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.
However, he recalled arguing during the APC presidential primary that Nigeria needed a different kind of leadership rather than relying on 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,” Bakare said.

He argued that the country needed leaders capable of making the right decisions from the outset.
“You need geniuses who will do the first thing the first time and they will get it correct,” he said, citing the biblical account of Joshua commanding the sun and moon to stand still during a battle.

Bakare also advised Tinubu to surround himself with people who would speak honestly to him about the country's challenges and his administration's performance.
The cleric 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.

Bakare 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.