In a strongly worded State of the Union address at the Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of perpetuating a culture of rewarding mediocrity and bad behavior in the Nigerian political landscape.
Bakare’s critique focused on the president’s cabinet appointments and shed light on what he saw as a disturbing trend within the government.
He said, “Truth be told, certain ministerial appointments and that of the current APC chairman by consensus, illustrate the error that proceeds from the ruler as stated by the preacher in Ecclesiastes Chapter 10:5-7, and I quote There is an evil I have seen under the sun, the sort of error that arises from a ruler: Fools are put in many high positions, while the rich occupy the low ones. I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
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“It does appear, Mr. President, that by your appointments, there’s a reward for bad behavior and mediocrity in our polity,” declared Bakare, addressing the congregation.
Bakare’s charge came in the context of his larger criticism about the potential size of Tinubu’s cabinet. The pastor questioned the necessity of a large cabinet and challenged the government’s commitment to efficient governance. He criticized the plan to appoint 48 ministers, a move that would potentially lead to a cabinet of nearly 70 individuals.
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He said, “A government that’s asking the poor to tighten their belts cannot afford a bloated waste line. A reduction in the size of government will ultimately translate to a reduction in the cost of governance. By nominating 48 ministers, the president is about to set a record for the highest number of ministers since 1999.
“This is not a kind of record expected of a supposed reform-minded government in a world of cutting-edge nations in which governance is becoming lean and agile. What does the President need 48 ministers or a cabinet of close to 70 persons for, other than the distribution of patronage?
As he continued his address, Bakare delved into the implications of such appointments. He highlighted the paradox of a government implementing liberal policy prescriptions that burdened the citizens with economic hardships, only to subsequently expand the size of the cabinet. This, in his view, contradicted the principles of genuine reform and efficient governance.
“It is hypocritical for a government that has subjected Nigerians to untold hardship by adopting new liberal policy prescriptions to then turn around and expand the size of government, thereby violating a core aspect of the same new Liberal principles. That, Mr. President, does not constitute genuine reforms. It is governance by political convenience.
