The Senate on Tuesday criticised the Senior Pastor and Serving Overseer of the Global Community Citadel Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, over his recent derogatory remarks about the 10th National Assembly, saying the cleric had “crossed the line”.
Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, issued a statement in Abuja detailing the Senate’s reaction.
Bakare, who ran for president of the All Progressives Congress against President Bola Tinubu in 2022, accused the president of reducing the 10th Assembly to “a haven for legislative rascality” during his Easter State-of-the-Nation broadcast in Lagos, comparing it to the 48th member of his cabinet.
He also decried the emergency rule proclaimed in Rivers State and chastised the National Assembly for adopting it.
The cleric also criticised the rising insecurity, citing a recent spate of killings in Plateau, Benue, and Enugu states.
However, Adaramodu characterised Bakare’s remarks as broad, insulting, and politically driven.
“We view his corrosive criticisms of the National Assembly as a biased and political ecumenical homily,” the statement read.
“The National Assembly cannot and will not be drawn into responding to issues that are already before a court of competent jurisdiction, out of respect for the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary.”
He emphasised that while some may regard antagonism between the legislature and the administration as a healthy element of checks and balances, such friction does not necessarily translate to effective monitoring.
“To cast aspersions on the entire institution based on personal frustrations, ideological differences, or as positioning ahead of possible future political alignments is not only unfair but also counterproductive to our collective democratic journey,” Adaramodu added.
While respecting Bakare’s constitutional freedom to express his views on national matters, the Senate spokesman claimed that the cleric had overstepped his authority with “aspersions and unsubstantiated claims”.
He stated that the legislative branch felt forced to act in order to protect the people from being deceived.
“Indeed, there are well-documented instances where the National Assembly has constructively disagreed with the executive—including on specific provisions of the presidential declaration on the Rivers State state of emergency, which Pastor Bakare referenced,” he noted.
Adaramodu also berated the pastor for comparing the current Assembly to the rejection of the infamous Third Term agenda during the Olusegun Obasanjo government.
“It’s noteworthy that the executive has never brought any unconstitutional agenda before the 10th National Assembly—like the unspeakable but infamous Third Term bid, which Pastor Bakare used as a benchmark for legislative performance.”
He concluded by emphasising the need for national dialogue rooted in truth and mutual respect.
“The challenges facing our country require dialogue anchored on truth, mutual respect, and a commitment to nation-building—not polarising rhetoric that undermines confidence in our democratic institutions.
“The Senate remains open to engaging with all Nigerians, including Pastor Bakare, in the spirit of constructive engagement,” he stated.
