Abuja/Leicester, November 9, 2026 – The Serving Overseer of Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has disclosed that he turned down an offer from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to serve as a minister in his administration, saying he considered himself too old for the position.
Bakare made the revelation on Sunday while speaking at an event organised by Envoy Nation in Leicester, United Kingdom. He explained that although he declined the formal appointment, he assured the President of his readiness to support the government from behind the scenes.
“I told Tinubu I’m too old to be a minister, but I will help in the background in any way I think will help my country,” Bakare said. “I have never been part of the opposition. I am a propositional platform; if I see something wrong, I will suggest a solution.”
The cleric emphasised that his approach to national issues is solution-oriented rather than oppositional. He maintained that whenever he identifies shortcomings in government policies or actions, his priority is to recommend practical alternatives rather than merely criticise.
Bakare also reaffirmed his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and dismissed any suggestion that he might switch political affiliations. “I can’t change sides quickly by joining one party today and another tomorrow. I am a full member of APC, and I will vote when the time comes,” he stated. In some accounts of the speech, he described himself as a “card-carrying member” of the party who would not “jump from bed to bed.”
The pastor’s comments provide insight into his relationship with the Tinubu administration. Despite occasionally offering public critiques of government policies, Bakare has positioned himself as a constructive voice willing to contribute privately to national development without holding public office.
Bakare, a longstanding figure in Nigerian politics and religion who previously served as the running mate to then-candidate Muhammadu Buhari in the 2011 presidential election, has largely focused in recent years on his pastoral work while remaining engaged in national discourse.
There has been no official response yet from the Presidency regarding Bakare’s disclosure. The development comes amid ongoing discussions about cabinet composition and political alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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