Bakare: Those around Buhari look tired, Nigeria needs change of guard

The Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has said that there will be a change of guard in the government of President Muhammadu Buhari before December 31, 2021, stating that those around the president appears tired to handle critical issues.

This is as the clergyman announced the inauguration of Nigeria for Nigerians, a.k.a N4N, Movement, which he said indicates that “it is time for Nigerians to take back Nigeria.”

Bakare, who spoke on Sunday during his state of the nation address titled, ‘The black box of Nigeria’s politics’ in Oregun, Lagos, also stated that competence and capacity should be amplified in leadership, and not zoning.

While stating that the 2023 general election should not be a priority as at now owing to the tension in the country, he lamented the tense build-up to the forthcoming Anambra State governorship election and the outcome it may produce.

Explaining what he meant by a change of guard in government before December, he said: “A change of guard means we need fresh heads and insights if we have to fix the problems of Nigeria. Everyone looks tired around the President and we need a change of guard to bring in competent people to handle critical issues and that is what I mean by change of guard.”

On the debate over zoning ahead of the 2023 elections, he said: “For almost 40 years out of 62, the North has been in power and the people there are impoverished. Former President Jonathan was in power but it didn’t benefit the South-South. When Obasanjo was in power, was it not local government allocation of Lagos that was withheld? If there is rotation as accepted policy to make Nigeria peaceful, so be it. But shouldn’t we be more concerned about who leads us than where they come from?”

He said that the N4N Movement was inaugurated because “it is time for Nigerians to take back their nation;” adding, “There will be a change of government in 2023.”

Urging the President to restructure the country before the 2023 elections, Bakare said: “I say to President Muhammadu Buhari: Mr President, stop passing the buck to the National Assembly. Tear down this inhibiting concoction of a constitution; tear it down so we can build a truly great nation! This is one enduring legacy your administration can still secure before your time in power draws to a close.

“If you do, present and unborn generations of Nigerians will remember you for it and write your name in gold when the history of this period is written. If you don’t, history will record that you failed to rise to the occasion and squandered a great opportunity.

“What we need is a geo-political structure that will provide an enabling environment for every zone in our nation to maximize its geo-economic opportunities and potentials under a strong and united Nigeria. This can be achieved by a pragmatic approach to restructuring Nigeria, rather than by mere zoning of the presidency.

“Please note that those clamouring and waiting for genuine change to happen through the upcoming 2023 presidential election, without first insisting that our imposed sham of a constitution must be torn and discarded, are merely putting the cart before the horse.

“This is nothing but a prescription for retrogression. No tangible progress can ever be made by such an exercise in futility. It would be tantamount to building a superstructure on a faulty or shaky foundation,” he said.