The National Assembly has faulted the Overseer of The Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, over his criticism of the federal lawmakers and described him as a biased political cleric with corrosive criticism.
Bakare had on Sunday condemned the Senate’s suspension of Senator Natasha-Akpoti Uduaghan; the National Assembly’s approval of the emergency rule in Rivers.
But the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, has said the cleric was biased and crossed the line in his commentary.
In a statement made available on Tuesday, Adaramodu said, “While the Senate respects the right of every citizen – regardless of station – to express views on the state of the nation, we are constrained to respond when such commentary crosses the line into unwarranted invective and misleading assertions that risk eroding public trust in democratic institutions.
“We view his corrosive criticisms of the National Assembly as a biased and political ecumenical homily”.
The Senate spokesman also said Bakare’s aspersions on the National Assembly is “based on personal frustrations, ideological differences, or as positioning ahead of possible future political alignments are not only unfair but also counterproductive to our collective democratic journey.
“The challenges facing our country require dialogue anchored on truth, mutual respect, and a commitment to nation-building, not polarizing rhetoric that undermines confidence in our democratic institutions.”
“We are confident that, in time, with a nuanced review of the performance of the 10th National Assembly — within the context of the exigencies of this time and season — Pastor Bakare may, at some point in the future, commend us for acting in the best interest of the people of Nigeria, in line with our constitutional mandate,” the Senator added.
