The Serving Overseer of Citadel Global Community Church, aka, Citadel, Pastor Tunde Bakare may emerge the consensus presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the 2023 presidential election.
Top sources within the Presidency revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari is favourably disposed to Bakare’s candidature for many reasons.
Apart from Bakare agreeing to run with the Daura-born General in 2011, when it was considered a political harakiri to do so, the man of God and the General share a very close bond, and this Bakare has told those close to him in the Pentecostal fold that he’s close to the power hierarchy in Nigeria, a fact he has reiterated in his church many times.
Bakare is also very close to some power brokers in the APC, especially in the North.
Recall that Bakare caused a stir in 2017 when he released the famous video that “Buhari is no 15 and your sincerely is no 16.”
He said matter of fact then that he will not oppose Buhari if he seeks re-election in 2019, which he sought and won.
Also, it was Bakare who moved the historic motion for the merger of the legacy political parties in 2014 that fused together and became the APC.
Bakare has also said repeatedly that he’s joined the hierarchy of power in Nigeria and will not be pushed aside.
Was there any agreement between Buhari and Bakare that the latter will succeed the former? Those privy to the arrangement said there’s likelihood of a pact between the two men.
A source, who oeladed anonymity, because he is not authorized to speak on the issue said, “Part of the Strategy is to pitch the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo against his former boss and benefactor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the run up to 2023. Also, Buhari has allegedly told Bakare in one of his private meetings with him to make peace with Tinubu as soon as possible, so that the former governor, who wields tremendous political influence across the country, especially the South West would not oppose him when the time comes.
“Recall how pleasantly surprised Bakare’s followers were last year following his sudden and seeming rapprochement with Tinubu, who he has tongue lashed many times in the past. It’s part of the script.
“Buhari’s last joker is asking the APC governors and other stalwarts to give him a parting gift which is to accept Bakare as his consensus presidential candidate in May, according to the timetable.”
Findings also lent credence to the emergence of Bakare as a consensus presidential candidate of the APC.
Reacting to the story published about his presidential ambition recently, when he said he’s not contesting any presidential election that God has already elected him, the revered man of God spoke said that he was speaking in parables, that it would take a wiseman to understand him.
He had said, “Adonijah had already prepared everything to be King in Israel and when Solomon got the information, he went to his father and reminded him about the pledge he made to his mother that he will succeed him. David told his men to put Solomon on his Mule and pronounced him king and that was all.”
Though, the example above looks simple, a trend in all those who have become President in Nigeria looks similar. Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Ebele Jonathan followed this pattern. The duo were not even prepared before they were drafted to run as President and Vice President respectively.
Even in the Second Republic, Alhaji Shehu Umoru Usman Aliyu Shagari, who eventually became the President wanted Senate before the power brokers drafted him into the presidential race and all the front runners were made to support his candidacy.
Already, the Osinbajo/Tinubu supporters are at dagger drawn. They have torn each other to shreds over the Presidency that picking anyone among them may polarized the party further. This may affect the electoral fortune of the party in 2023.
Bakare, who was at the dinner organized by President Buhari for the founding fathers of the APC last week in Abuja, was also at the Eagle Square for the party’s National Convention.
Below is Pastor Bakare’s Whatsapp message on the story published, which was reproduced here.
“Dear Victor, Good evening. Hope you are doing great.
“I am not the type to deny whatever I say or have said but your conclusion that I have confused my congregation or the people is absolutely inaccurate.
That at best is your interpretation or deduction. Speaking in parables is not the same as confusing any one.
“As the Yoruba say: ‘L’owe L’owe la n lulu agidigbo, ologbon l’onjo, omoran l’onmo’.
“Only those conversant with the talking drum can understand what the drummer is saying.”
“Please listen to the whole message preached today and if you have questions please feel free to ask.
“God bless you richly.”
