Pastor of the Citadel Global Community Church, Tunde Bakare, says he paid N100 million for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential nomination forms to make APC the only dominant party in Nigeria.

Speaking during a Channels TV programme hours after formally declaring his interest in running for president, Mr Bakare said he obtained the fund from his personal bank account.

The N100 million doled out for the presidential nomination forms was a price paid to make the ruling APC “formidable,” Mr Bakare asserted though admitting that he did not expect the forms to cost up to N100 million. 

According to him, the N100 million had to be paid as he likened the form purchase to obtaining a university degree.

“By the grace of God, we paid without having to borrow or beg. And it is not money thrown away; this is part of the investment in a party that needs resources actually to be a formidable party,” Mr Bakare reasoned. “Do I consider that fee or cost very cheap? Not at all. Not in the least. Just as everything in life that is highly valued comes with a price, that was the price the party fixed, and those who want to join will have to pay the same price.”

The APC presidential aspirant, a former ally and critic of President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime, said his decision to run for president was based on his capability to make life comfortable for Nigerians.

Mr Bakare also compared the N100 million he paid to obtain the APC presidential nomination forms and political ambition with the biblical Jesus’ sacrifice.

“Look at the price Christ paid. He left the whole of heaven and the glory of heaven to come to the earth to pay a huge price to save mankind,” Mr Bakare sermonised. “To birth a new nation, to serve in a way that will raise standards and at the same time make life more comfortable for others, you will have to go through pain.”