The senate leadership says Pastor Tunde Bakare’s recent remarks on the national assembly’s role in the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers state and suspension of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Kogi central senator, are misleading.
On Sunday, Bakare, the serving overseer of The Citadel Global Community Church, condemned the senate’s suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan, the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers by President Bola Tinubu, and subsequent ratification by the national assembly.
“It is clear that our so-called leaders are determined to turn Nigeria into a mafia state,” Bakare had said.
“The two main contenders in the ongoing institutional immorality Olympics are the executive and the legislature.”
However, in a statement issued on Tuesday, Yemi Adaramodu, chairman of the senate committee on media and public affairs, said the red chamber was compelled to respond to Bakare’s comments, describing the remarks as “crossing the line”.
“The attention of the senate of the 10th national assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has been drawn to recent public remarks made by Pastor Tunde Bakare, which included sweeping generalisations and disparaging commentary aimed at the institution of the national assembly,” the statement reads.
“While the senate respects the right of every citizen — regardless of station — to express views on the state of the nation, we are constrained to respond when such commentary crosses the line into unwarranted invective and misleading assertions that risk eroding public trust in democratic institutions.”
Describing Bakare as a cleric and political voice, Adaramodu said the senate acknowledged the cleric’s past contributions to national conversations but noted that his latest statements were laced with “contempt and unsubstantiated claims”.
“Pastor Bakare, a cleric and political voice in his own right, has previously contributed to national discourse in ways that have spurred reflection and debate,” the senate spokesperson said.
“However, his most recent statements veer away from constructive criticism into rhetoric, unfortunately laced with contempt and unsubstantiated claims.
“We view his corrosive criticisms of the national assembly as a biased and political ecumenical homily.”
While acknowledging his stature as a cleric, Adaramodu said Bakare’s political and legal background must be taken into account when assessing the implications of his remarks.
“While he remains a respected cleric, his role as a prominent political figure cannot be discounted when assessing the lens through which his comments are made,” he said.
“His position as a political leader influences the context of his statements, which are not only reflections of personal views but also carry significant political implications.”
He added that the senate expected Bakare, as a trained lawyer, to know the constitutional limits of public commentary, especially on issues that are sub judice.
“Pastor Bakare is not only a cleric and political figure but also one with a legal background,” he said.
“He is, therefore, well aware of the constitutional boundaries that guide public commentary — particularly on matters that are sub judice.”
He maintained that the senate would not engage in matters already before a court, out of respect for the rule of law and judicial independence.
He also addressed suggestions that the national assembly should engage in open hostility with the executive arm, calling such displays performative.
“While some may attempt to portray an unnecessary adversarial dynamic between the national assembly and the executive arm of government as a marker of virility in checks and balances, we must clarify that such tension, though it may entertain some, does not necessarily equate to effective legislative oversight,” he added.
“The true test of institutional maturity lies not in performative hostility but in principled engagements and results-driven processes.”
He dismissed Bakare’s reference to the “infamous third-term agenda” as a flawed benchmark, stating that the 10th national assembly has never been approached with any unconstitutional request by the executive.
“To cast aspersions on the entire institution based on personal frustrations, ideological differences, or as positioning ahead of possible future political alignments is not only unfair but also counterproductive to our collective democratic journey,” he said.
Adaramodu noted that Bakare had also been critical of previous assemblies, which he now praises.
“We are confident that, in time, with a nuanced review of the performance of the 10th national assembly — within the context of the exigencies of this time and season — Pastor Bakare may, at some point in the future, commend us for acting in the best interest of the people of Nigeria, in line with our constitutional mandate,” he added.
