3 weeks ago
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Founder of the Citadel School of Government and Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church (CGCC), Pastor Tunde Bakare, has clarified that his caller remarks linking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to an hose clang were not intended to mock victims of the October 29, 2006 ADC Airlines tragedy.
The clergyman precocious said he’s nether unit to articulation the coalition-backed absorption party, but helium is not consenting to articulation the party.
“I americium not going to instrumentality portion successful ADC. The past clip I knew astir ADC was astir a level that crashed. I privation them well, due to the fact that we request a robust opposition,” helium said.
Addressing a quality league connected Sunday, Bakare said his connection astatine the inaugural variation of the Citadel School of Government Dialogue Series connected October 4 was taken retired of context.
He explained that his notation to the ADC was “purely metaphorical,” aimed astatine describing the instability wrong immoderate governmental parties successful Nigeria, not a notation to the level clang oregon its victims.
“My comments did not successful immoderate mode bring into the spotlight the victims of the October 29, 2006 ADC Airline crash. I commune that each those with lingering symptom from that lawsuit volition find implicit healing and comfort,” helium said.
The cleric was reacting to criticisms that trailed his remark, which immoderate interpreted arsenic insensitive. The 2006 ADC Airlines Flight 53 crash, 1 of Nigeria’s deadliest aviation disasters, claimed 98 lives, including that of the past Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido.
Bakare said the backlash was based connected a misunderstanding of his words, stressing that his usage of metaphors was nary antithetic from erstwhile others notation to events similar the Titanic calamity to exemplify systemic failure.
“When 1 takes the ‘text’ retired of ‘context,’ 1 becomes a con, noting that helium lone decided to respond to guarantee accuracy and fairness, helium said.
He besides referenced a remark made by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who reportedly joked that “the ADC crashed adjacent earlier it took off,” pointing retired that his ain connection predated the Senate remark and had nary governmental undertone.
Bakare utilized the juncture to impulse Nigerians to absorption connected the lessons of leadership, accountability, and work to the people.
“Let this undue contention surrounding the ADC clang metaphor service arsenic a warning. Those successful the cockpit of our nation’s governance, and those trying to alteration people midair, indispensable larn from past and usage powerfulness arsenic a level for work alternatively than self,” Bakare stated.
Reiterating his apolitical stance, Bakare emphasized that the Citadel School of Government, which helium founded successful concern with the University of Lagos Business School, is simply a “completely non-partisan institution” focused connected enactment development.
“Citadel School of Government has nary affiliation whatsoever with immoderate governmental party. It exists to rise transformational leaders who volition spearhead the emergence of a knowledge-driven, service-oriented, and globally competitory Nigeria,” helium said.
He besides reflected connected his long-standing relation successful nationalist authorities and governance, noting that contempt his governmental involvement — including serving arsenic the moving mate to erstwhile President Muhammadu Buhari successful 2011 and participating successful the enactment of the All Progressives Congress (APC) — he remains committed to nation-building supra partisan interests.
“I person remained a non-partisan federation builder astatine heart. I person engaged leaders crossed enactment lines, from President Goodluck Jonathan to President Muhammadu Buhari, successful the anticipation that unneurotic we tin physique a Nigeria that works for all,” Bakare said.
The station I didn’t spotlight 2006 level clang victims — Pastor Bakare clarifies remark connected ADC appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.
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