The Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church (CGCC), Pastor Tunde Bakare, has come to the defense of late former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing him as far from being a religious fundamentalist.
Pastor Bakare, who was Buhari’s running mate in the 2011 presidential election, shared his personal experience with the former Nigerian leader.
Bakare, said he only began to see the former Nigerian leader, who died in London on Sunday, differently when he got closer to him.
“I thought he was a religious fundamentalist until I came close,” Bakare said on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday.
Bakare revealed that he initially thought Buhari was a religious fundamentalist until he got to know him better.
He said that an encounter during their 2011 presidential campaign changed his perception.
After flagging off their campaign in Kaduna, Bakare rode in the same car with Buhari and witnessed the former dictator’s expression of gratitude to God, saying “Jesus Christ of Nazareth.”
Bakare was surprised by Buhari’s response, and this encounter revealed a different side of the former president.
Bakare narrated that Buhari’s bodyguards were all Christians, and his driver of 10 years also professed Christianity.
He said during their campaign, Buhari never interfered with his Christian faith, allowing him to attend church services on Sundays before heading out for campaign activities.
Bakare described Buhari as a man of few words but decisive action.
”Once convinced of a valid point, Buhari would immediately approve it, ” he said.
The cleric praised Buhari’s leadership, stating that he never witnessed corruption in him during their interactions.
Bakare commended Buhari’s efforts against corruption, saying that although opinions may vary about the effectiveness of his approach, Buhari fought the battle to the best of his ability.
The cleric emphasised that despite numerous accusations, nobody could pin any corruption charges on Buhari.
