Former presidential aspirant and pastor, Tunde Bakare, has raised serious concerns about the current state of Nigeria’s democracy, accusing President Bola Tinubu of having too much control over the National Assembly. Speaking during his state of the nation address at the Citadel Global Community Church (CGCC) in Lagos, Bakare urged the president to “stop playing God” and respect the principle of separation of powers.
Bakare, who leads the CGCC and once ran for president under the All Progressives Congress (APC), warned that Nigeria is moving in the wrong direction due to what he sees as a disturbing power imbalance between the executive and legislative branches.
Addressing President Tinubu directly, he said, “Mr. President, Nigeria is too delicate for this kind of politics. Under your leadership, the institution of legislative oversight is collapsing, and our democracy is facing a serious threat.”
Bakare went further to question the meaning behind Tinubu’s well-known political slogan, emi lo kan (Yoruba for “it’s my turn”). He said if that slogan was meant to justify taking full control of both the executive and the legislature, then it would only lead to negative consequences.
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“If this state capture was what you meant by emi lo kan, it is an anti-climax that can only be counterproductive in the end,” he said. “Please, stop playing God.”
The pastor argued that the Tinubu and National Assembly relationship has become unhealthy, claiming that the legislature is no longer independent and instead acts under the president’s influence. He described the National Assembly as a “haven for legislative rascality” and accused it of violating the separation of powers by constantly approving decisions from the presidency without proper checks.
He cited recent examples like the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State as proof that the National Assembly is now simply endorsing the president’s decisions without debate.
“This National Assembly, the Tenth, has by its unconstitutional endorsement of the president’s abuse of powers, proven to be the most spineless in our recent history,” Bakare said. “Through its actions and inactions, the National Assembly has, in effect, become the 48th member of the president’s cabinet.”
Bakare also criticized the role of a cabinet minister in Rivers State, suggesting the minister is acting like a state governor with the full support of the president — another example of unchecked executive power.
His warning adds to a growing number of voices calling for a more balanced and accountable government in Nigeria. The Tinubu and National Assembly relationship, Bakare stressed, should not weaken democratic institutions but instead uphold the country’s constitution and the rule of law.
As Nigeria continues to navigate its political challenges, Bakare’s message is clear: the Tinubu and National Assembly relationship must be reset to protect the future of Nigerian democracy.
