Kill Corruption, Not Nigerians, Tunde Bakare Tells Tinubu

The Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, on Sunday, urged President Bola Tinubu to root out the corruption that has bedevilled the nation’s economy and save Nigerians from sufferings.

Bakare, in an ideologically charged “State of the Nation” address broadcast on Sunday, said, “Mr President, even though you have announced some palliatives, let me remind you that palliatives cannot address the root cause of the problem.

“Therefore, we demand that you address the root cause of the problem. Take the yoke off the neck of the poor, go after the loot, recover the loot, and retool it to the benefit of Nigerians. In simple terms, Mr President, kill corruption, not Nigerians.”

Bakare’s comments echoed sentiments across the country, which have played out in a shortlived nationwide protest and protracted negotiations between organised labour and the Federal Government, following fuel price hikes occasioned by the removal of subsidies and the rising cost of living.

In reaction, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Ajibola Basiru, questioned Bakare’s competence to criticise such economic decisions by the President.

“I must quickly comment on what you played that Pastor Bakare said, although I don’t see him as a politician and, with respect to him, I don’t see him as even competent to say what he has said.

“The fact that you are talking of palliatives does not mean that we’re not confronting the headlong of correcting the dysfunctions and imbalances in the economy. So, we’re both addressing the issue of palliative as an immediate step and addressing the fundamental problem,” Basiru said.

Alongside former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and 12 other aspirants, Bakare contested the APC presidential primary on June 7, 2022, which Tinubu won.