Lagos, Nigeria — Prominent cleric and former presidential aspirant, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has sounded a cautionary note to President Bola Tinubu’s administration, warning that Nigeria may face a wave of public unrest if urgent steps are not taken to address worsening economic conditions and escalating insecurity across the country.
Delivering his annual Easter State-of-the-Nation address in Ikeja, Lagos, Pastor Bakare, a former All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential hopeful, described the current state of governance as “a descent into tyranny” and accused the Tinubu-led government of perpetuating what he termed “motor park politics.”
He expressed grave concern over the spate of violence in Plateau, Benue, and Enugu States, stating that Nigeria is approaching the brink. According to Bakare, the country is in desperate need of visionary leadership akin to the biblical Joseph, rather than political maneuvering focused on self-interest.
“What we have seen since the beginning of the year is a descent into tyranny and the brazen abuse of power. The country is being driven towards the edge by political banditry,” he said.
Economic Crisis and Soaring Insecurity.
Bakare highlighted the economic burden inflicted by recent policy decisions, including the removal of fuel subsidies, currency devaluation, and surging inflation. Despite a marginal drop in inflation to 23.18% in February, the naira continues to depreciate, now trading near ₦1,500 to the dollar—compared to ₦460/$ before exchange rate unification.
The economic crisis, he noted, has driven major corporations such as Diageo and Unilever to exit the Nigerian market, while the World Bank estimates that over one million Nigerians have fallen into severe food insecurity in the past year.
He recalled distressing scenes from late 2024, where food stampedes at charity events led to fatalities. In one harrowing incident in Ibadan, more than 35 children died after desperate parents reportedly threw them over a fence in a bid to secure food.
“These events were reminiscent of the biblical famine in Samaria. The desperation of the people is a tragic testament to the depth of the crisis,” Bakare said.
In Plateau State alone, over 120 people were killed in the first weeks of April, according to Amnesty International. Night raids in Bokkos and Bassa left dozens dead and more than 3,000 displaced. In Benue, attacks by armed herders reportedly claimed 56 lives in Logo and Gbagir.
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Criticism of Governance and Call for Reforms.
Bakare accused President Tinubu of reducing the National Assembly to an extension of the executive branch, calling it “the 48th member of the President’s cabinet.” He condemned the legislature for what he described as “legislative rascality” and rubber-stamping executive decisions, thus eroding the principle of separation of powers.
“Thanks to your political machinations, Nigeria is now bedevilled by a captured National Assembly—the most ineffective in its checks-and-balances role since the Fourth Republic began,” he stated.
He also condemned what he termed the abuse of office in Rivers State, where a cabinet minister is “acting like a third-term governor,” allegedly with the President’s support.
Five-Point Reform Proposal.
To reverse the current trajectory, Bakare presented a five-point plan aimed at stabilizing the economy and restoring public trust:
- Creation of a Consolidated Value Investment and Development Fund to attract diaspora capital and recover stolen public funds.
- Establishment of a Reform Amelioration Incentive Scheme to provide relief for the poor.
- Restructuring the nation’s security architecture into local, state, and zonal forces.
- Empowerment of a nonpartisan Directorate of National Intelligence for better coordination.
- Healing and uniting the nation through justice, equity, and reconciliation.
Bakare concluded by warning that the country is running out of time and patience, with faith communities weary from continuous prayer amid worsening conditions.
“Unless urgent and pragmatic steps are taken, the rage of the poor may trigger a social, economic, and political upheaval,” he cautioned.
