Bakare accuses Tinubu  of playing God, warns against ‘mafia state’ governance

Pastor Tunde Bakare, the Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, has called on President Bola Tinubu to adopt a more humble posture in leading the country, cautioning that the administration is steering Nigeria off course.

Delivering his state of the nation address on Sunday in Lagos, Bakare expressed concern over the direction of the current government, urging the president to shift away from what he described as a godlike approach to leadership.

“I do not want President Tinubu to fail, but he must stop playing God,” Bakare said.

He warned that the federal government appears to be pushing the nation toward a form of governance resembling a Mafia state.

“It is clear that our so-called leaders are determined to turn Nigeria into a Mafia state. The two main contenders in the ongoing institutional immorality are the executive and the legislature,” he stated.

Bakare reflected on the challenges of Nigeria’s democratic evolution, questioning how much longer it would take for the nation’s institutions to mature after more than two decades of uninterrupted democracy.

“It’s often said that these two arms of government suffered the worst forms of arrest and development because they were the direct victims of the era. But after 26 years of uninterrupted democracy, one must ask how much longer before our institutions finally mature,” he said.

He further argued that while structural reforms are necessary, the deeper issue lies with those currently holding power.

“While it is not in dispute that our institutions and constitution are inadequate, it has become obvious that our biggest problems in this nation are the occupiers of these institutions and executors of the constitution,” he said.

Lamenting the current state of leadership, Bakare called for urgent reforms, including psychological assessments for political aspirants.

“The quality of leadership in Nigeria has become so repugnant that citizens must declare a state of emergency on governance, demanding that every aspiring public office holder undergo rigorous psychiatric evaluation before seeking election,” he added.