The senior pastor of Citadel Global Christian Centre, Tunde Bakare, has accused President Bola Tinubu and his allies of plotting to turn Nigeria into “a mafia state”.

The fiery preacher in 2023 expressed his dislike for Mr Tinubu as the country’s president, describing him as someone who does not have “integrity”.

“It is clear that our so-called leaders are determined to turn Nigeria into a mafia state. The two main contenders in the ongoing institutional immorality are the executive and the legislature,” Mr Bakare said on Sunday.

The cleric and politician expressed deep concerns over escalating poverty and economic hardship in the country and ongoing political instability in some states, particularly Rivers, where the president declared a state of emergency in March.

“It has become obvious that our biggest problems in this nation are the occupiers of these institutions and executors of the constitution,” Mr Bakare stated.

He pointed out that Nigeria’s leadership quality had become repugnant that every “aspiring public office holder undergo rigorous psychiatric evaluation before seeking election.”

The former presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress highlighted some of the leadership failures of Mr Tinubu’s administration while describing its approach to governance as tyrannical.

“Dear Nigerians, the past few months, since that admonition in January, I’ve shown that those responsible for sharing the cause of our nation lack the humility and the character this moment demands of leaders,” Mr Bakare stated. “Instead, what we have seen since the beginning of the year is a descent into tyranny and a brazen abuse of power.”

The politician added, “Those entrusted with power appear determined to destabilise what is left of our political institutions and have committed themselves to obliterating the guardrails of constitutional governance.”

He urged Mr Tinubu to reconsider his approach to governance, stating that no leader should be entrusted with unlimited power.

Bayo Onanuga, the president’s spokesman, did not immediately respond to Peoples Gazette’s requests for comments.