Pastor Bakare Recounts Role in APC Formation, Tinubu's Conditions for Buhari

Pastor Tunde Bakare, Serving Overseer of Citadel Global Community Church, has revealed his role in facilitating a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Sikiru Adetona, before the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The meeting took place at the Oriental Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, and involved other prominent figures, including the Oba of Lagos and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola.

According to Bakare, Tinubu was encouraged to work with former President Muhammadu Buhari during the negotiations. Tinubu reportedly indicated that he would either become Buhari's running mate or be given the right of first refusal. This meeting was a significant step towards the merger of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to form the APC.

Bakare also recalled visiting Tinubu's residence on November 4, 2022, alongside Aregbesola to remind him of his contributions to the political alliance that produced the APC. He claimed to have personally initiated the motion for the merger of the political parties that formed the APC but later withdrew from active politics to focus on building the Citadel Global Community Church.

The cleric explained that the church's building project was financed through loans obtained from five Nigerian banks. He disclosed that the church borrowed N4 billion from Wema Bank, N1.5 billion from Zenith Bank, N500 million from Fidelity Bank, N250 million from United Bank for Africa (UBA), and N100 million from Unity Bank.

Bakare stated that the church had repaid the principal amounts, leaving approximately N3 billion in interest to be settled with Wema Bank under an agreed arrangement. He emphasized that the church's building project was debt-free and that no public funds were used for its construction.

Bakare's revelation provides insight into the early days of the APC and the roles played by key figures in its formation. His account highlights the negotiations and conditions that shaped the party's early years. The APC has since become a major political force in Nigeria, with Tinubu and Buhari playing significant roles in its history.

The formation of the APC marked a significant shift in Nigeria's political landscape, bringing together various opposition parties to challenge the then-ruling PDP. The party's success has been attributed to the strategic alliances and negotiations that took place during its formation, with Bakare's account offering a unique perspective on these events.

Key points

• Pastor Tunde Bakare facilitated a meeting between Bola Tinubu and Sikiru Adetona before APC formation.
• Tinubu wanted to be Buhari's running mate or be given the right of first refusal.
• The APC was formed through the merger of ACN, CPC, ANPP, and a faction of APGA.