The senior pastor of Citadel Global Community Church, Tunde Bakare, says it is time for war against President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime, saying he will no longer pay visits to Mr Buhari.

The fiery pastor did not specifically mention the president’s name in his latest tirade but before now, Mr Bakare had revealed that he visited Mr Buhari to advise him on national issues, but the president often failed to heed his advice.

But speaking during a church service on Sunday, Mr Bakare, who once claimed God told him that Buhari was coming to stabilise Nigeria, stated he was now ready for war and no longer interested in meeting with Mr Buhari.

“I’m not interested in meeting you any longer; no more visits. Now, it is war because Nigeria must be set free,” Mr Bakare asserted in a bold statement likely targeted at Mr Buhari.

He further stated, “I dare you to come after me since that is the usual style now. You might have done it to others. You are about to learn a lesson if you touch me.”

“If you know what I have done in secret, bring it to the open. I dare you to come after me if you can. I worked with you; I worked for you; I supported you to get there (where you are). When I talk now, I now have a smelly mouth.”

The cleric explained that injustice and lack of equity were responsible for calls for secession.

“We must realise that what has given rise to the agitation is lack of justice and equity. When there is justice, when there is equity, agitation will die down, Mr Bakare said. “How can you be expending so much energy on Igboho and Kanu? Igboho and Kanu are not Nigeria’s problems. Nigeria must restructure, and no one can stop that.”

In April, Mr Buhari’s media aide Femi Adesina accused religious leaders of preaching hate and propagating falsehood against Mr Buhari’s regime.

“I am surprised at some of our clerics, particularly the Christian ones since it is the religion I am more familiar with. They speak as if they read another Bible”, Mr Adesina said. “They preach hate from the pulpits, propagate falsehood, generate animosity against the government.”