‘I Am Not Ashamed’ – Tunde Bakare Speaks on Failed Prophecy to Become Buhari’s Successor
🗓️ 16 July 2025
🖋️ Byline: IDNN Faith & Political Spirituality Desk
Abuja, Nigeria – Influential pastor and former presidential aspirant Tunde Bakare has addressed for the first time in years the controversial prophecy he once made — that he would succeed Muhammadu Buhari as Nigeria’s president.
In a bold and introspective sermon delivered on Sunday at the Citadel Global Community Church, Lagos, Bakare declared he remains “unashamed” of the prophecy and that he still believes in its spiritual integrity.
“I am not ashamed of what I said. I said it because I believed it. I spoke what I received — not what I desired,” he said.
Bakare made the initial declaration in 2018, claiming that “God had shown him” he would take over from Buhari when his tenure ended in 2023.
The Political Fallout
The prophecy, which went viral, became a frequent subject of public ridicule — especially after Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu won the APC ticket and eventually became President in 2023.
“Where is the prophecy now?” critics taunted for years, even nicknaming Bakare “The Pastor-President That Never Was.”
Bakare would go on to contest the APC presidential primaries in 2022, finishing with zero votes. The result only intensified skepticism around his spiritual authority.
Bakare’s Clarification: ‘God Does Not Owe You Fulfilment in Your Timeline’
In his Sunday message, Bakare said people misunderstood the nature of prophecy.
“Prophecy is not prediction. It is not magic. It’s not a tool for self-promotion. It is a divine assignment — even when its full meaning isn’t clear in the moment,” he said.
He cited biblical figures like Joseph and David whose prophecies took years — even decades — before fulfilment, suggesting that “timing is God’s business.”
“If you think I was wrong, wait longer. God’s purposes never expire,” he said.
Clerical Redemption and the Media Spectacle
Bakare also accused sections of the Nigerian media of weaponising his spiritual declaration for political content and clickbait.
“You turned a sacred moment into a circus,” he said.
“But I forgive you. The same media will testify when the time comes.”
Analysts say Bakare’s statement is part of a long-awaited redemption effort to reposition himself as a spiritual elder statesman, not just a failed aspirant.
“This is him retaking the narrative,” said religion and politics analyst Ayo Shonibare.
“He’s reclaiming the microphone from mockery.”
The Bigger Picture: Faith and Ambition in Nigerian Politics
Bakare’s case remains one of Nigeria’s most high-profile intersections of prophecy and political ambition, raising ongoing debates about the role of spiritual leaders in electoral affairs.
“He confused divine vision with personal ambition,” said Bishop Michael Eze of the Lagos Christian Assembly.
“But his honesty now is admirable.”