“Stop Playing God” — Pastor Tunde Bakare Slams Tinubu, Says Nigeria Is Sliding Into Dictatorship

Pastor Tunde Bakare has delivered a blistering critique of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing him of running a “mafia government” and dragging Nigeria into dictatorship.

He made the remarks during a church programme, where he openly condemned the current state of governance under the Tinubu administration.

“Tinubu, you are running a mafia government, motor park brand of politics. The National Assembly is now the 48th cabinet member of your cabinet. Nigeria is descending into a dictatorship under your watch,” Bakare declared.

He described the current political system as “political banditry,” rooted in a crude, street-style approach to politics. He claimed that this style, once associated with older politicians, has now been adopted and perfected by President Tinubu.

Bakare accused the President of manipulating the National Assembly, turning it into an extension of the executive arm of government.

“Mr. President, it is through your influence that the National Assembly has become a haven for legislative mediocrity. It now rubber-stamps your every move, abandoning its duty of checks and balances, all while chanting ‘On Your Mandate We Shall Stand,’” he said.

He warned that this pattern of executive dominance is eroding Nigeria’s democracy and violating the principle of separation of powers.

According to him, the current National Assembly is the weakest in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.

“Thanks to your political machinations, Nigeria now has a captured National Assembly — the most ineffective and spineless since 1999,” he said.

Bakare compared the present legislature to past assemblies that stood up against tyranny. He recalled the 2006 Senate that rejected a third-term agenda, the 2010 National Assembly that invoked the doctrine of necessity, and the 2015 Senate that resisted executive interference.

In contrast, he said the 10th Assembly is toothless and blindly endorses the President’s abuse of power.

“Through its conduct, the National Assembly has become the 48th cabinet member — with a wildcard minister pampered like a third-term governor in Rivers State, all because of presidential indulgence,” he added, seemingly referring to Minister Nyesom Wike.

Bakare warned that if this level of submission had existed in 2006, Nigeria’s democracy might have collapsed under a third-term plot.

He criticized the Senate President for refusing to subject himself to a neutral investigation, even amid serious allegations. He accused the National Assembly of hiding behind technicalities and dubious voice votes.

He quoted Frédéric Bastiat, saying: “When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men in society, over time, they create a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it.”

Bakare urged Tinubu to stop playing politics with national institutions and think deeply about the damage being done to the country’s democracy.

“Mr. President, Nigeria is too fragile for this kind of politics. If this state capture is what you meant by ‘Emi Lokan,’ then it is a disappointment that will only lead to chaos,” he said.

He ended his speech with a strong message:
“No man is wise enough or good enough to be trusted with unlimited power. Mr. President, please stop playing God.”