Presiding Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for according a state burial to former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing it as a rare show of honour and statesmanship.
Bakare, a former running mate to Buhari in the 2011 presidential election, also paid glowing tributes to the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who died on the same day as the former president.
Speaking during his State of the Nation address on Sunday, titled “A Major Shift in the National Focus,” Bakare said the simultaneous passing of Buhari and the Awujale was not a mere coincidence but a symbolic moment for Nigeria’s democratic journey.
The cleric revealed that the late Awujale, despite being a non-partisan traditional ruler, played a pivotal role in the historic merger of opposition parties in 2013, which birthed the All Progressives Congress (APC) and eventually led to Buhari’s victory in the 2015 general election.
“Without Awujale’s pivotal intervention, the APC would not have emerged,” Bakare stated.
“Kabiyesi convened a critical meeting at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos where he brokered the political alliance that transformed the Nigerian political space.
He was a father figure who always acted in the national interest.”
Bakare described Oba Adetona as an elder statesman whose wisdom and patriotism transcended ethnic and political lines.
“He remained, to the very end, a mentor, a loyal friend, a patriot and a rare gift to this nation,” he added.
Reflecting on Buhari’s political legacy, Bakare described the late president as “one of the most tolerant and fair-minded leaders” he had ever encountered.
He recalled how Buhari insisted on retaining him as his running mate in the 2011 election under the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), despite intense pressure to do otherwise.
He said Buhari shattered many stereotypes by twice nominating pastors—himself and later, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo—as vice-presidential candidates, thereby debunking accusations of religious intolerance.
“Where others saw religious fundamentalism, I saw a man who twice opened doors to Christian leaders in governance. Buhari proved that faith should never be a barrier to leadership,” Bakare said
The cleric also praised Buhari for leaving behind landmark policies such as the Not Too Young to Run Act, the Disability Act, and the amendment of the Electoral Act, which he said have empowered Nigerian youth and marginalised groups to participate in governance.
“These men left behind a legacy that reads loud and clear: the giant of Africa cannot stand on one leg. We cannot build Nigeria as a one-party state. A vibrant opposition is vital to our democracy,” he said.
Bakare called for unity and inclusiveness, warning that Nigeria could not afford to return to divisive politics.
“We must build on the legacy of these great men. Their lives teach us that good governance thrives not in polarisation but in the fusion of diverse ideas and identities.”
He concluded by urging Nigerians to reflect on the contributions of the deceased statesmen, saying their departure signals a shift in national consciousness and a call to action for the next generation of leaders.
“The handwriting is on the wall. The baton has been passed. We must rise to the occasion,” Bakare said.
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