General Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has dispelled speculation about a supposed agreement between him and former President Muhammadu Buhari regarding succession plans.
During an appearance on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme aired on Monday, Bakare stated categorically that there was no written understanding for Buhari to hand over power to him after his tenure.
“There was no written pact between us,” Bakare clarified. “He’s late. I will never say anything unfair about him. But there was a kind of look, ‘you’re one of those I would love to succeed me’ and he did his best.”
Buhari, who served as Nigeria’s president from 2015 to 2023 and was also a military ruler from 1983 to 1985, had reportedly shown preference for Bakare as a potential successor.
Bakare further disclosed that prior to the All Progressives Congress presidential primaries, Buhari had invited all aspirants to a meeting where he urged them to make their choice independently.
“I have allowed governors to choose those who will succeed them or go for a second term. I’m asking you today to freely choose the person I desire to succeed me,” Bakare quoted Buhari as saying.
