Pastor Tunde Bakare, founder of the Citadel Global Community Church, has clarified that there was no formal or written agreement between him and the late former President Muhammadu Buhari regarding a power handover.
Bakare, who served as Buhari’s running mate in the 2011 presidential election under the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), addressed longstanding public speculation during an interview with Channels Television on Monday.
“There was no written pact between us,” Bakare stated.
“He is late now, and I will never speak unfairly about him. He did his best.”
Despite their political alliance in the past, Buhari later became President in 2015 under the All Progressives Congress (APC), serving two terms until 2023.
Over the years, Bakare had hinted at succeeding Buhari, once declaring he would be Nigeria’s 16th president after Buhari, whom he called the 15th.
Bakare reiterated his long-standing political ambitions, noting that he had never stepped away from politics and even contested the APC presidential primaries in 2022, though he lost.
Recalling events ahead of the APC primary, Bakare said Buhari gave all aspirants a level playing field.
He shared how Buhari met with all the contenders the night before the primary election.
“He called us into the conference hall at the villa and said, ‘I have allowed governors to either run for a second term or choose their successors.
“I am now asking you all to allow me to choose who I want to succeed me,’” Bakare recounted.
Among those present at the meeting were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, then-Jigawa Governor Mohammed Badaru, and former Minister of Science and Technology Ogbonnaya Onu.
Bakare’s clarification comes days after Buhari’s death at the age of 82 in a London hospital.
The former President’s passing has triggered a wave of tributes from within Nigeria and around the world.
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