Current Nigeria’s National Assembly led by Senator Godswill Akpabio has been described as the weakest in the history of the country since the return to democracy in 1999.
Pastor Tunde Bakare, the presiding overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, raised alarm on Sunday, accusing the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of steering the nation toward tyranny and unchecked power, while the National Assembly remains silent and inactive.
Delivering his Easter State of the Nation address at the church auditorium, Pastor Bakare — a former vice-presidential candidate under the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) — criticized what he termed “state capture” under President Tinubu, lamenting the increasing decline of the legislative arm of government.
According to him, Nigeria’s legislature, once a critical pillar of democracy, is now on the brink of collapse due to a lack of independence and courage. He described the recent developments in Rivers State, where the President reportedly considered a state of emergency, as deeply troubling — a move he labeled “theatre of the absurd,” shamefully sanctioned by a legislature he deemed “spineless.”
Bakare also condemned the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Red Chamber, asserting that her suspension stemmed from her legitimate call for transparency and accountability from the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
He went further to express concern over the conduct of lawmakers during the hearing related to Senator Natasha’s suspension. The controversial remarks made by Ebonyi Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi towards former Education Minister, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, drew strong criticism from the cleric. According to him, the exchange reflected a decline in intellectual and moral standards within the Senate, adding that such behavior shows that the institution is increasingly unwelcoming to individuals of character, competence, and credibility.
Pastor Bakare asserted that the National Assembly has become a “rubber stamp” body, routinely endorsing all proposals from the executive without adequate scrutiny or opposition — a situation he attributed to President Tinubu’s political influence over the legislature.
He didn’t mince words, telling the President that his political maneuvering has rendered the current National Assembly one of the most unproductive in the nation’s democratic history.
“This National Assembly, by its unconstitutional backing of executive overreach, has become the most spineless we’ve seen in recent memory,” Bakare stated, contrasting it with previous assemblies that were more assertive in checking executive powers.
Bakare described the President’s perceived consolidation of power as a dangerous trend that could eventually backfire. He explained that his decision to speak out was not out of opposition but from a place of concern — emphasizing that he wants the President to succeed.
He called on the current administration to embrace humility, govern with fairness and justice, and revisit its policy direction before it’s too late.
According to him, the “Renewed Hope” agenda of the Tinubu-led government lost public trust from the outset, particularly following the abrupt removal of the fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira — economic decisions that have driven millions of Nigerians deeper into poverty.
