Lagos — Pastor Tunde Bakare of the Latter Rain Assembly has berated the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Patricia Olubunmi Etteh, over the N628 million contract scam, saying she is not fit for the job.

Bakare, who spoke during a sermon he delivered last Sunday in his church in Ogba area of Lagos, said beyond the N628 million scam in the lower House, the Speaker lacked the intellectual capacity to lead the House.

His words: "It's only in Nigeria that a hairdresser can be the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Etteh lacks intellectual capabilities to lead the House of Representatives."

The preacher said though he holds all professions in high esteem, some offices like that of the Speaker of the House of Representatives should not be occupied by the likes of Etteh.

Bakare, who was very critical of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has not criticised President Umar Musa Yar'Adua since he took over on 29 May.

He said he had been praying for Yar'Adua to succeed, adding that his stance has been misconstrued by some people who claimed that he has been bribed by either the president or his associates.

"I have not collected any bribe from Yar'Adua. It's just that God has not instructed me to speak on the state of the nation this year.

"I have received many invitations to speak at some fora but I will not attend any. It's good to go to Sheraton to speak but if God has not asked you to speak and you go there, you are just having a party," he said.