Citadel Global Community Church (previously known as Latter Rain Assembly) founder indicated he will run for office under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He declared his intention during the ‘Unveiling Project 16 to Nigerians in Diaspora’ event on Saturday, titled “The Portrait is a New Nigeria.”

He referred to previous administrations as “cake eaters,” adding that the 16th administration should be “cake bakers.”

In 2011, when President Muhammadu Buhari ran unsuccessfully in the presidential election, the Ogun State indigene was his running counterpart.

Mr. Bakare’s declaration came on the same day the former governor of Rivers State and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, formally declared his intention to join the race to Aso Rock.

The cleric’s declaration also pits him against APC bigwigs, including the former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu; former Abia State governor, Orji Kalu; former Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, and Governors Yahaya Bello and Dave Umahi of Kogi and Ebonyi states respectively.

He warned that ahead of the 2023 general elections, “the Christians [are] against Muslims, the north against the south, the south-west against the south-east and the southeast against the north.”

“This situation calls for a certain kind of leader,” he said

He said ethnic conflicts and religion have continued to hinder the unity of Nigerians.

“A mission of a new Nigeria and honest aspiration to serve as a 16th president of my beloved nation, Nigeria,” Mr. Bakare said.

“I understand that part of God’s purpose for Nigeria is the actualization of the idea that Muslims and Christians, the north and the south can come together as one great nation.

“As a young boy, I had a vision of Nigeria. I grew up in my father’s house in Abeokuta, a storey building with 16 steps which today is the first family heritage museum in Abeokuta.”

The cleric, who once hawked to help support his mother, said his humble upbringing forced him to “develop the needed capacity to govern Nigeria.”

He claimed he believes the new Nigeria is a mission of the 16th administration, citing a biblical verse.

He promised that Nigerians would have access to good quality healthcare, “where no youth is unemployed and our young men and women, are job creators, where businesses thrive and that any Nigerian can compete in the global marketplace.”

Project 16 is based on four key directives, according to him: peace, progress, prosperity, and possibilities.