The Nigerian Senate has fired back at fiery cleric and political commentator, Pastor Tunde Bakare, over his recent remarks describing the 10th National Assembly as a “rubber stamp” institution and accusing it of serving merely as an extension of the executive arm.
In a strongly worded statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, condemned Bakare’s criticism as “unwarranted, unfair, and politically colored,” saying the respected pastor had “crossed the line” in his commentary.
Bakare, a former presidential aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC), had during his annual Easter State-of-the-Nation broadcast, launched a blistering attack on both the National Assembly and President Bola Tinubu’s administration. In his speech, he accused the President of “institutionalizing legislative subservience,” declaring that the 10th Assembly had become “a haven for legislative rascality” and likening it to “the 48th member of the federal cabinet.”
The cleric also strongly criticized the recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, labeling it unconstitutional and accusing lawmakers of complicity for failing to challenge it. He painted a grim picture of Nigeria’s current security situation, citing fresh waves of killings and violence in Plateau, Benue, and Enugu states. According to Bakare, the silence and inaction from the legislative arm in the face of national crises amounts to betrayal of public trust.
Responding, Adaramodu dismissed the allegations as baseless and politically motivated, cautioning that Bakare’s remarks bordered on incitement and were not in the spirit of nation-building.
“Pastor Bakare’s corrosive criticisms of the National Assembly come across not as genuine concern for democratic accountability, but as a partisan, ideologically driven outburst disguised as a moral sermon,” Adaramodu stated.
He defended the Senate’s independence, noting that while differences of opinion with the executive are a normal part of democratic governance, such tensions should not be interpreted as proof of effectiveness or failure.
“The National Assembly has on several occasions constructively disagreed with the executive. It is misleading for anyone to suggest that we are in the pockets of the presidency. Such sweeping accusations distort the reality of governance and erode public trust,” he said.
The Senate spokesman also addressed Bakare’s comparison of the current legislature with the era that opposed former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s failed Third Term bid, calling the analogy both false and inflammatory.
“The 10th National Assembly has never been presented with any unconstitutional proposition like the infamous Third Term agenda Pastor Bakare referenced. That comparison is historically inaccurate and rhetorically irresponsible,” Adaramodu said.
While acknowledging Bakare’s right to speak on national issues, the Senate maintained that public figures—especially those with large followings—must exercise that right responsibly.
“It is one thing to critique policies or actions of government, but quite another to engage in deliberate misinformation or political grandstanding. Pastor Bakare is entitled to his opinion, but he must not mislead the public or discredit the very institutions that uphold our democracy,” he added.
Adaramodu concluded by emphasizing the need for dialogue based on mutual respect and national interest, noting that Nigeria’s current challenges demand unity, not division.
“The Senate remains committed to working for the Nigerian people and welcomes engagement from all sectors of society—including religious leaders like Pastor Bakare—but such engagement must be constructive and anchored on truth,” he said.
As of press time, Pastor Bakare had not issued a response to the Senate’s statement. However, his remarks have continued to spark debate across political and civil society circles, with many weighing in on the delicate balance between free speech, institutional criticism, and democratic responsibility.
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