Pastor Tunde Bakare, the presiding Overseer of the Global Community Citadel Church, has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the state burial accorded to the former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He also paid a heartfelt tribute to Oba Sikiru Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland, who passed away on the same day as the late President Buhari.
According to Bakare, the simultaneous demise of these two individuals was of great significance.
He recalled that the Awujale, despite being a nonpartisan traditional leader, played a crucial role in facilitating the merger of opposition parties that resulted in the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Buhari’s victory in the 2015 election.
Bakare delivered his state-of-the-nation address at the church’s auditorium on Sunday, titled “A Major Shift in the National Focus.”
He recounted how he approached the Awujale to speak with Tinubu regarding leadership of the merger, which he agreed to. He further asserted that had the late monarch, who died at the age of 92, not facilitated the merger discussions, the APC would not have come into existence.
“Without Awujale’s pivotal intervention, the APC would not have emerged as a political entity,” he stated.
“Kabiyesi convened a crucial meeting at the Oriental Hotel in Victoria Island and negotiated the agreement that led to the formation of the APC.
“Even then, Kabiyesi remained non-partisan, supporting any cause he believed would foster good governance, strengthen national interests, promote peace, and advance the cause of building a united Nigeria.
“To the very end, he was an elder statesman, a patriot, a mentor, a loyal friend, and a remarkable gift to this nation.”
Bakare reiterated that the merger which formed the APC marked the first instance of a handshake between the progressive North and the progressive South, a feat previously unachieved.
He expressed that the passing of these two esteemed figures signified a shift that only a select few could perceive.
Bakare, who was Buhari’s running mate in the 2011 election under the platform of the now-defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), described Buhari as one of the most tolerant and fair-minded individuals he had ever encountered. He noted that Buhari opened doors for many Nigerians, particularly clergymen like himself, to engage in the political arena.
He recalled that Buhari insisted on retaining him as his running mate.
He remarked, “We must awaken to the signs of the times. President Muhammadu Buhari and Oba Sikiru Adetona have left a legacy that resounds clearly—the giant of Africa cannot stand on one leg.
“We cannot construct Nigeria as a one-party state. The intersection of these two men played a pivotal role in the emergence of a robust political landscape with a sufficiently strong opposition party to challenge the then-ruling party.
“We can only build upon their legacy by ensuring that both the ruling party and the opposition are robust enough to guarantee good governance in the interest of the ordinary Nigerian.
“Their legacy also serves as a reminder that we cannot stabilise our beloved nation through divisiveness. We cannot build a truly vibrant nation unless we construct an inclusive one. Where we have been divided as a nation, let us recall the religious tolerance of a man who, for years, was wrongly branded as a religious fundamentalist, when in fact, he was one of the most tolerant and fair-minded Muslims to have walked this earth, who opened the door for Christian leaders – specifically Pastors – in politics and governance.”
He noted that the late President Buhari “left a legacy of an Electoral Act that opened avenues for Nigerian youth and individuals with disabilities, positioning them to break through glass ceilings via the Not Too Young To Run Act and the Disability Act.”
“Where we have previously polarised the political system and undermined political opponents, let us remember the virtues of a man who preferred to present his case to the electorate rather than engage in the politics of mudslinging.”
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**Version 2: British English – Conversational Style**
“Awujale’s Role in the APC Merger and Buhari’s Presidency – Bakare
Pastor Tunde Bakare, the leader of the Global Community Citadel Church, has given a thumbs-up to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the state burial held for former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He also paid tribute to Oba Sikiru Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland, who sadly passed away on the same day as Buhari.
Bakare pointed out that the coincidence of their deaths was quite significant.
He remembered how the Awujale, although a traditional leader who didn’t take sides politically, played a key role in bringing together opposition parties, which led to the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Buhari’s win in the 2015 elections.
Bakare shared his thoughts during a state-of-the-nation address at the church’s auditorium on Sunday, titled “A Major Shift in the National Focus.”
He recounted how he had approached the Awujale to speak with Tinubu about leading the merger, and the Awujale agreed. He insisted that if the late monarch, who was 92 when he passed, hadn’t helped with the merger discussions, the APC wouldn’t have been formed.
“Without Awujale’s crucial intervention, the APC wouldn’t have come into being,” he said.
“Kabiyesi held an important meeting at the Oriental Hotel in Victoria Island and helped broker the agreement that led to the APC’s formation.
“Even at that, Kabiyesi was non-partisan, supporting any cause he believed would promote good governance, strengthen national interest, foster peace, and aid in building a united Nigeria.
“He remained, right to the end, an elder statesman, patriot, mentor, loyal friend, and a unique blessing to this nation.”
Bakare emphasised that the merger that created the APC was the first time a handshake took place between the progressive North and the progressive South, something that hadn’t happened before.
He suggested that the passing of these two great men signified a shift that only a few could truly understand.
Bakare, who served as Buhari’s running mate in the 2011 election under the now-defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), described Buhari as one of the most tolerant and fair-minded people he had ever known. He noted that Buhari opened doors for many Nigerians, especially clergymen like himself, to engage in the political process.
He recalled how Buhari insisted on having him as his running mate.
He stated, “We must pay attention to the signs of the times. President Muhammadu Buhari and Oba Sikiru Adetona have left a legacy that speaks volumes—the giant of Africa cannot stand on one leg.
“We cannot build Nigeria as a one-party state. The collaboration of these two men was vital in creating a lively political landscape, with a strong enough opposition to challenge the then-ruling party.
“We can only honour their legacy by ensuring that both the ruling party and the opposition are strong enough to guarantee good governance for the average Nigerian.
“Their legacy also reminds us that we cannot stabilise our beloved nation on the basis of division. We cannot build a truly vibrant nation unless we create an inclusive one. Where we have been divided, let’s remember the religious tolerance of a man who, for years, was unfairly labelled a religious fundamentalist when, in fact, he was one of the most tolerant and fair-minded Muslims to walk this earth, who opened the doors for Christian leaders – specifically Pastors – in politics and governance.”
He also mentioned that the late President Buhari “left a legacy of an Electoral Act that opened up opportunities for Nigerian youth and those with disabilities, positioning them to break through barriers via the Not Too Young To Run Act and the Disability Act.”
“Where we have previously divided the political landscape and undermined our opponents, let us remember the virtues of a man who preferred to present his case to the electorate rather than engage in the politics of mudslinging.”