Tunde Bakare, a prominent cleric and former presidential aspirant, met with President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday at the president?s private residence in Lagos, where he said he expressed hopes for national renewal and unity during a private conversation.

Speaking to journalists after the closed-door meeting, Bakare, known for his fiery sermons and public critiques of government performance, declined to disclose the specifics of their discussion. However, he emphasised that his interest was in the progress of the country.

?It?s not about just reservations, it?s about how the country will go well,? Bakare said. ?My life?s personal vision is to see a nation that works in my lifetime, and those things I?ve discussed with Mr. President? they are not hidden things.?

The pastor said he believed it was wise to allow the president to process and decide what to do with the ideas he presented during the conversation. ?When you discuss with the person in charge, you leave it with him to do whatsoever he wills with what you have suggested,? he noted. ?I?m glad that he received me well, and I trust that God will help our nation.?

When pressed to share which areas he wanted the Tinubu administration to improve upon, the cleric again refrained from details, saying, ?What transpired in my discussion with him stays with me and with him. God guiding him and giving him wisdom will help this nation not to slide? but to bounce back.?

Looking ahead, Bakare outlined his vision for Nigeria over the next two years of Tinubu?s administration. He called for peace, national cohesion, and urgent policy reforms aimed at lifting Nigerians out of poverty.

?I?d like to see a peaceful nation. I?d like to see Nigerians being their brother?s keeper,? he said. ?I?d like to see good collaboration between the best of the north and the best of the south to steer Nigeria in the right direction.?

He added: ?We have danced around some subjects for too long a time. It?s time to take concrete action to ensure that the masses of our country do not live in abject poverty.? (BusinessDay)

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