Pastor Tunde Bakare, the Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, has criticised Nigerian politicians for asking citizens to endure economic hardships while they continue to live lavishly.
Speaking at the Wilson and Yinka Badejo Memorial Lecture 2024, held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Lagos, Bakare condemned the lack of empathy shown by the political class.
He emphasised that leaders should “sit where the people sit” and share in their struggles.
“An empathetic leader does not feed fat while asking the people to tighten their belts. Nigerian political leaders have mostly not demonstrated empathy. Otherwise, how do you live so large while your people are ravished in (penury)?” Bakare questioned.
The cleric also addressed the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests, stating that hunger unites people across all divides, regardless of religion, tribe, or political affiliation.
“Hunger does not ask whether you are a Muslim or a Christian, male or female, Yoruba, Hausa, Fulani, APC, PDP, or Labour Party,” he said.
The cleric further criticised the lack of ideological difference between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying, “What’s the difference between the APC and the PDP? Two sides of the same coin.”
Debola Deji-Kurunmi, the opening speaker at the event, also highlighted the importance of unity in diversity, urging Nigerians to value collective heritage over individual differences.
The event, which honoured the late General Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church, Wilson Badejo, and his wife, Yinka, also saw the presentation of scholarship awards to 52 students from various universities.
