Tinubu Has Tried His Best, But It May Not Be Enough for Nigeria — Tunde Bakare

Pastor Tunde Bakare, founder of Citadel Global Community Church, has said President Bola Tinubu has tried his best to address Nigeria’s challenges, but his efforts may not be sufficient to meet the country’s needs.

Bakare made the remarks on Sunday while speaking at Envoy Nation in Leicester, United Kingdom, where he discussed the Tinubu administration, its economic policies and the country’s political future ahead of the 2027 general election.

The cleric acknowledged that some of the president’s major economic decisions, including the removal of petrol subsidy and the devaluation of the naira, were necessary, cautioning Nigerians against dismissing all the policies introduced by the administration.

According to him, although some decisions were appropriate, the government must learn from areas where its policies have not produced the expected results.

“For me, Tinubu has tried his best. His best may not be good enough for Nigeria but that does not give right to any person to just rubbish what he did like the subsidy removal, naira devaluation and other reforms,” Bakare said.

He added that the president had taken some difficult decisions and expressed hope that he would learn from the experience.

Bakare also maintained that Nigerians have the right to decide whether Tinubu should remain in office for another term or whether the country should elect a different leader in 2027.

“Nigerians have the right to change their leaders. They also have the right to affirm their leaders. It is up to them to decide what they want,” he said.

The former presidential aspirant, who contested against Tinubu during the All Progressives Congress presidential primary in June 2022, also questioned whether the experience of established politicians had been sufficient to resolve Nigeria’s longstanding problems.

He argued that the country needed leaders with the ability to make sound decisions and address national challenges effectively from the beginning.

Bakare further advised Tinubu to surround himself with individuals who would speak honestly about government policies and national issues rather than merely agreeing with him.

The cleric also recalled his involvement in political consultations that preceded the formation of the APC, although he later withdrew from active politics to concentrate on his ministry.

He disclosed that he remains a registered member of the ruling party and is willing to contribute to national development through private consultations with the president.

His comments come as political activities gradually intensify ahead of the 2027 general election, with questions surrounding economic reforms, leadership performance and the country’s future becoming increasingly prominent.