On Wednesday, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, criticized Nigerian politicians for failing to live lean or sacrifice like the citizens enduring economic hardship. He made these remarks at the Wilson and Yinka Badejo Memorial Lecture 2024 held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The event, organized by the Wilson & Badejo Foundation, honored the late Wilson Badejo, former General Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church, and his wife, Yinka. Bakare delivered the keynote address titled “Cultivating a Culture of Dialogue: Nurturing Understanding in a Culturally and Socially Diverse Nation,” emphasizing the importance of dialogue over confrontation to resolve the country’s challenges.
“All parties must approach the dialogue table with open minds, effective communication, and empathy,” Bakare said. “Open and honest communication helps establish transparency, making intentions and actions clear, thereby building trust. Empathy requires us to see beyond our own perspective and understand others’ experiences, sharing in their joys and sorrows.”
Bakare criticized Nigerian political leaders for lacking empathy, stating, “An empathetic leader does not live large while asking the people to tighten their belts. Nigerian political leaders have mostly not demonstrated empathy. Otherwise, how do you live so large while your people are ravaged by penury?”
Addressing the recent #EndBadGovernance protests, Bakare highlighted that hunger transcends religious, tribal, and political lines. “This is why it’s often said that hunger is a unifier,” he noted. “Hunger does not ask whether you are a Muslim or a Christian, male or female, Yoruba, Hausa, Fulani, APC, PDP, or Labour Party.”
Bakare also expressed his belief that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lack distinct ideologies. He pointed out that Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki’s switch from APC to PDP without ideological change exemplifies this, saying, “What’s the difference between the APC and the PDP? Two sides of the same coin.”
Reflecting on the 2023 elections, Bakare asserted that the results indicated Nigerians’ frustration with the ruling APC. He lamented that the APC had deviated from its founding principles.
Debola Deji-Kurunmi, an author and Public Policy Advisor, opened the event with a speech on fostering unity in diversity. She urged attendees to value collective heritage over differences and contribute positively within their spheres of influence.
The event also featured the presentation of the Stewardship Excellence Award to Rev. Peter Ameadaji, Managing Partner of PAC Solicitors. Additionally, 52 university students received scholarship awards. Notable attendees included Rev. Sam Aboyeji, General Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church, foundation chairman Rev. Akin Akeju, and vice chairman Femi Badejo.
