“I Did Not Mock ADC Plane Crash Victims” –  Pastor Bakare

By Adesina Soyooye

Pastor Tunde Bakare  of the Citadel School of Government and Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church (CGCC), denied that his recent comments which tended ti link the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the October 29, 2006, ADC airline crash were not meant to mock the victims of the tragedy.

Bakare was roasted by not a few Nigerians for saying he was under pressure to join the ADC, an opposition coalition-backed  party, but not willing to join the party.

He then added in what Nigerians saw as an insensitive, careless manner:

“I am not going to take part in ADC. The last time I knew about ADC was about a plane that crashed. I wish them well, because we need a robust opposition.”

But Pastor Bakare, speaking at a press  conference on Sunday, emphasised that his statement, made at the inaugural edition of the Citadel School of Government Dialogue Series on October 4 was simply taken out of context.

He clarified that his reference to the ADC was “purely metaphorical,” meant to  describe the unsteadiness within political parties in Nigeria,  and nothing more. It was not a reference to the plane crash or its victims, he explained.

He said: “My comments did not, in any way, bring into the spotlight the victims of the October 29, 2006 ADC Airline crash. I pray that all those with lingering pain from that event will find complete healing and comfort.

“When one takes the ‘text’ out of ‘context,’ one becomes a con, noting that he only decided to respond to ensure accuracy and fairness.

“Let this undue controversy surrounding the ADC crash metaphor serve as a warning. Those in the cockpit of our nation’s governance, and those trying to change course midair, must learn from history and use power as a platform for service rather than self.”

The crash of the ADC aircraft, Flight 053, en route Sokoto from the Abuja airport, killed 96 people, including the then Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido who came to Abuja for an Education Summit organised by the Federal Government.

Pastor Bakare was late President Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate in 2011 under the CPC. They failed.

In 2023, he was a Presidential Aspirant under the APC, having, before the Primary, said God had told him he would be Buhari’s successor. He was, however, not able to garner upto 10 votes from delegates.