The Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church (CGCC), Pastor Tunde Bakare, has said Nigeria will continue to struggle with development unless its leaders focus on building strong institutions and ensuring continuity in governance rather than relying on individuals.
Bakare made the remarks on Sunday in Lagos during the public presentation of his three-volume book titled Strategic Intervention in Governance, a collection of his speeches and interventions on governance, leadership, constitutional reform and national development spanning nearly two decades.
Speaking at the event, the cleric argued that Nigeria’s challenges cannot be solved simply by changing political leaders, stressing that lasting progress depends on leaders who are committed to building systems capable of surviving beyond their time in office.
“Nation-building is impossible without leadership continuity. Vision without succession eventually dies,” Bakare said.
The three-volume publication contains 104 speeches delivered between 2008 and 2025 across five different presidential administrations, addressing issues such as corruption, public accountability, constitutional reform, leadership and governance.
The event attracted several prominent Nigerians, including former governors Segun Osoba, Kayode Fayemi and Victor Attah, former Minister of Health Olorunnimbe Mamora, human rights activist Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, University of Lagos Vice-Chancellor Prof. Folasade Ogunshola, and Pastor Jimi Odukoya, among others.
Reviewing the publication, Elder Olabode Adekanye described the trilogy as more than a compilation of speeches, saying it challenges Nigerians to move beyond merely identifying the country’s problems to actively becoming part of the solution.
“Strategic Intervention in Governance is not a book about politics. It is a book about the cost of silence, and the price a nation pays when its conscience stays in the church and never enters the chambers of power,” Adekanye said.
According to the reviewer, the books document Bakare’s long history of speaking out on national issues, including his opposition to military rule, the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, the constitutional crisis during the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration and several governance reforms.
The review also highlighted Bakare’s transition from what it described as “prophetic protest” to “institutional renewal,” pointing to initiatives such as the Citadel School of Government and its partnership with the University of Lagos Business School as practical efforts to develop future leaders.
Bakare explained that the objective of the publication was not merely to criticise governments but to offer practical ideas that could help address Nigeria’s governance challenges.
He also encouraged young Nigerians to take responsibility for creating opportunities, contribute to national development and remain committed to building a better country despite existing challenges.
“The future of Nigeria depends on citizens who are willing to make sacrifices for the country,” he said.
Chairman of the event and former Ogun State Governor Segun Osoba praised Bakare for consistently speaking out on national issues, describing him as someone driven by genuine concern for Nigeria’s progress.
“Bakare’s book is not just to criticise but to proffer solutions to the nation’s challenges,” Osoba said.
Bakare disclosed that copies of the three-volume publication would be donated to universities across Nigeria, including the University of Lagos, where he studied law.
