August 13, (THEWILL) – The Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, formerly known as Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, on Sunday, said Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, is drifting towards authoritarianism in his quest for vendetta against Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Abdulrasheed Bawa, the suspended chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Bakare declared this position in a State of the Nation address, titled “Vice, Virtue And Time: The Three Things that Shall Never Stand’.
According to Bakare, the suspended CBN boss and Bawa are being persecuted, rather than prosecuted, over their involvement in the naira-redesign policy meant to halt vote buying and ensure a free, fair election.
Emefiele, who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), since his arrest on June 10, 2023, was suspended as CBN Governor by President Tinubu on June 9, 2023.
Also, Bawa has been in the custody of the DSS without trial since his arrest on June 14, following his suspension by the President over what he described as “weighty allegations” of abuse of office levelled against him.
Speaking on Sunday, at the church auditorium, located on Kudirat Abiola way, Ikeja, Lagos, Bakare accused President Bola Tinubu of engaging in a vendetta by unleashing the DSS on Emefiele and Bawa and perceived political enemies.
Speaking specifically on Emefiele, the clergy and political activist, said all the policies of the CBN under Emefiele were approved by the immediate-past President, Muhammadu Buhari.
He challenged Tinubu to prosecute Buhari instead of Emefiele if his actions were not a vendetta.
Bakare further tackled Tinubu over the suspended EFCC boss, saying that his ordeal was not unconnected to his determination to ensure the effectiveness of the naira-redesign policy and prosecution of some former governors facing corruption allegations.
Bakare, who accused Tinubu of shading corrupt individuals, questioned his decision to appoint former Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle, as a ministerial nominee, despite allegations of corruption against him.
On the fuel subsidy removal and its harsh economic impact on Nigerians, Bakare said, “Mr President, kill corruption, and not Nigerians.
No economy can thrive on impunity.”
Bakare also faulted the proposed military intervention in the Niger Republic by ECOWAS.
He said: “Local support for Nigeria by Nigeriens is at an all-time low. It is, therefore, counter-productive to engage in warfare. While we condemn coup d’etat in West Africa, we recognise that the situation calls for deep, introspection on the part of African leaders.
“We call upon Nigeria at this time to provide good leadership. The real question is whether President Tinubu has the capacity to provide moral leadership even in the domestic context.”
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