Tension Soars As Senate Claps Back At Pastor Bakare’s Bold Remarks

The Senate leadership has strongly rejected recent statements made by Pastor Tunde Bakare regarding the National Assembly’s involvement in the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Senate described Bakare’s remarks as “misleading” and laced with “unwarranted invective.”

Pastor Bakare, who is the overseer of The Citadel Global Community Church, had on Sunday denounced the Senate’s approval of the emergency rule in Rivers and the suspension of the Kogi Central senator. He accused the country’s leadership of steering Nigeria towards a “mafia state,” and condemned what he termed the “institutional immorality” of the executive and legislative arms.

Describing the situation as a contest between the two arms of government, Bakare said, “The two main contenders in the ongoing institutional immorality Olympics are the executive and the legislature.”

Reacting through its Chairman of the Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, the Senate emphasized that while it respects citizens’ rights to express opinions, it cannot remain silent in the face of statements that, according to the Senate, “cross the line.”

The Senate noted that Bakare’s criticisms amounted to “sweeping generalisations” and “disparaging commentary” capable of eroding public trust in democratic institutions.

“The attention of the Senate of the 10th National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has been drawn to recent public remarks made by Pastor Tunde Bakare, which included sweeping generalisations and disparaging commentary aimed at the institution of the National Assembly,” the statement read.

While acknowledging Pastor Bakare’s past contributions to national conversations, the Senate asserted that his recent comments deviated from constructive dialogue and instead reflected “contempt and unsubstantiated claims.”