Senate replies Bakare, describes comments as “contemptuous” criticism

MaTaZ ArIsInG
Dallas, Texas

The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday rebuked Pastor Tunde Bakare, an outspoken cleric and former presidential aspirant, for comments it labelled “sweeping generalisations and disparaging commentary” against the National Assembly.

Bakare’s criticisms, delivered during an Easter Sunday address at The Citadel Global Community Church in Lagos, targeted the Senate’s handling of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s sexual assault allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and its endorsement of President Bola Tinubu’s emergency declaration in Rivers State. He called the legislature “spineless” and a “48th member of Tinubu’s cabinet”, accusing it of enabling executive overreach.

Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu responded in a statement, saying, “While the Senate respects the right of every citizen — regardless of station — to express views on the state of the nation, we are constrained to respond when such commentary risks eroding public trust in democratic institutions.” He described Bakare’s remarks as “rhetoric laced with contempt”, adding, “We view his corrosive criticisms of the National Assembly as a biased and political ecumenical homily.”

Adaramodu focused on Bakare’s political history, noting, “It is also important to acknowledge that Pastor Bakare was a presidential aspirant in the last general elections and a vice-presidential candidate in a previous electoral cycle.”

He suggested the remarks were politically motivated, stating, “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.”

The Senate cited instances of executive oversight, including disagreements over Tinubu’s Rivers State emergency declaration, asserting, “There are well-documented instances where the National Assembly has constructively disagreed with the Executive.”

It rejected Bakare’s comparison to the third-term agenda under Olusegun Obasanjo, noting: “It’s noteworthy that the executive has never brought any unconstitutional agenda before the 10th National Assembly, like the unspeakable but infamous Third Term agenda, the rejection of which the Pastor used as a benchmark for performance.”

Regarding the Akpoti-Uduaghan’s case, Adaramodu referenced Bakare’s legal background, stating, “Pastor Bakare is not only a cleric and political figure but also one with a legal background. He is, therefore, well aware of the constitutional boundaries that guide public commentary — particularly on matters that are sub judice.”

The Senate avoided discussing court-related issues, respecting judicial independence.

Adaramodu concluded, “We are confident that, in time, with a nuanced review of the performance of the 10th National Assembly — within the context of the exigencies of this time and season — Pastor Bakare may, at some point in the future, commend us for acting in the best interest of the people of Nigeria, in line with our constitutional mandate.”

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