Pastor Tunde Bakare, the Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, held a private, closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday at the President's private residence in Ikoyi, Lagos. The visit, which was revealed by presidential aide Bayo Onanuga via a post on X (formerly Twitter), saw the cleric engage with the President on pressing national issues.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Pastor Bakare explained that his conversation with President Tinubu focused on national development and the future of Nigeria. He reiterated his commitment to fostering national unity and contributing meaningfully to the country's progress. "It’s not just about expressing reservations," Bakare stated. "It’s about how the country can go well. My personal vision is to see a nation that works in my lifetime, and those things I’ve discussed with the President." He emphasized that the discussion centered on practical strategies for moving Nigeria forward and achieving "predictable progress."

While Bakare confirmed he was "warmly received" and "received well" by President Tinubu, he declined to disclose the specific details of the proposals shared, stating that such private conversations are left to the discretion of the person in charge. "When you discuss with the person in charge, you leave it with him to do whatsoever he wills with what you have suggested," he noted, adding that his recommendations were offered in good faith. The cleric stressed the need for collaboration across regions, particularly between the "best of the North and the best of the South," to steer Nigeria in the best direction. "I’d like to see a peaceful Nation, I’d like to see Nigerians be their brother’s keeper," Bakare added, expressing his desire to see concrete action taken on subjects the nation has "danced around for too long."

The visit garnered significant attention as it came against a backdrop of Pastor Bakare's recent and vocal criticisms of President Tinubu's administration. During an address in April at his church in Lagos and an Easter State-of-the-Nation broadcast, Bakare had called for urgent interventions to steer Nigeria away from mounting crises, which he characterized as a descent into tyranny and abuse of power. He had specifically criticized key economic policies such as the removal of the fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira, arguing these actions had plunged millions of Nigerians into poverty.

Bakare's past critiques also extended to the administration's perceived undermining of democratic institutions. He had condemned the suspension of Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, along with the National Assembly’s ratification of the latter measure. He described the 10th National Assembly as "the most spineless in Nigeria’s history" and a "haven for legislative rascality," even likening it to the "48th member" of Tinubu's cabinet. Furthermore, Bakare, who contested the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket with President Tinubu in 2023, had also recently accused the President of “playing God” amid concerns over the executive’s perceived grip on the legislature.

These strong remarks had previously drawn a response from the Senate, whose spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, stated that Bakare had "crossed the line" with his comments about the National Assembly. Despite this history of outspoken critique, Pastor Bakare described his latest meeting with the President as forward-looking and rooted in his vision of a united Nigeria where citizens look out for one another and progress is not left to chance. He reaffirmed his desire for President Tinubu to succeed and for God to grant him wisdom, emphasizing that his critical remarks were motivated by a commitment to the nation’s welfare. He expressed optimism about Nigeria's future, trusting that the nation would "bounce back" so that the President could "live a mark that cannot be erased."