The statement credited to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the effect that he will continue to work hard and pray for the peace and stability of the nation is, indeed, a rare demonstration of statesmanship, astute leadership and utmost patriotism.
The president’s avowal also underscores his unalloyed determination and unwavering commitment to the welfare of the populace, as well as the political and socio-economic development of Nigeria.
Making the pledge in an interview with journalists after the special Juma’at prayer session for the nation and commemoration of his birthday at the National Mosque Friday in Abuja, the president thanked God for the grace of seeing his 73rd birthday, which was marked on March 29, 2025.
President Tinubu said the safety and welfare of citizens remain uppermost on his mind and prayer list. “I feel good. I feel happy. I thank the Almighty Allah, who has protected us and continues to answer our prayers.
“We also thank Allah for accepting our worship; that is key and very important to us. We have prayed for our country. We prayed for the stability and peace of the nation. We prayed that Almighty Allah will safeguard our people and all citizens.”
President Tinubu said his watchword remains hard work and hard prayers. “The word for all of us is hard work. You work harder, and you pray harder. That’s the inspiration I got from today’s sermon.”
Welcoming the president into the congregation, Imam of the National Mosque, Professor Muhammad Kabir Adam, thanked the president and his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for catering to the poor and needy during the Ramadan.
Adam urged Muslims to continue their prayers for the president, the nation, and goodwill towards the poor after the Ramadan. “Mr. President, Allah is with you, and you will succeed,” he intoned.
On his part, the Malami Ubandoma of Ilorin Emirate, Dr. Abdulkadir Salman Solagberu, thanked President Tinubu for the several donations and assistance given to Nigerians during the Ramadan.
He said Muslims across the country have been praying for the president to succeed in tackling the challenges confronting the country, while they also uphold him in prayers of long life and good health.
The imam quoted from the hadith of Prophet Mohammed, saying the prophet encourages Muslims to share with the less privileged most importantly during the Ramadan thereby accruing rewards that transcend the present world to the hereafter.
Observing the two Jumaat rakat prayer alongside other Muslim faithful, the president used the occasion to commemorate his 73rd birthday, dedicating himself to spiritual reflection and supplication for Nigeria’s continued peace, progress and prosperity.
It is instructive that President Tinubu later on Sunday showered encomiums on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for his sterling performance. He expressed the hope that such good works will translate to a victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and not the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which the minister still officially belongs to, in the FCT election of 2027.
Tinubu spoke at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, when Wike led a delegation of prominent FCT residents, including the clergy, judicial officers, mandate secretaries, area council chairmen, political office holders, royal fathers, and heads of security agencies, among others, on a traditional Sallah homage to mark the end of Ramadan fasting and the Eid el-Fitr holiday.
In his remarks, President Tinubu described the FCT minister as “Mr. Infrastructure” and listed some of the various initiatives and projects executed by the administration under Wike’s leadership. He noted that they have translated into better lives for Abuja residents, for which he (Tinubu) remains grateful.
The president recounted a conversation with Wike about addressing the challenges posed by the Treasury Single Account (TSA), which allowed for more flexibility in funding key projects.
He said that the opening of rural areas, rehabilitation of health centers, and completion of abandoned projects were among the notable achievements in the capital under Wike’s leadership.
The president said Wike’s leadership was a testament to the power of unity and diversity. “Nyesom Wike is not from the North. He’s from the southern part of Nigeria, and his ability to work in the center of the northern part of Nigeria is yielding fruits. That is a very good reflection of our diversity that we must use for our prosperity,” Tinubu remarked.
President Tinubu emphasised the importance of leadership that serves the people with integrity and righteousness, urging all political leaders to act in accordance with Allah’s teachings.
In response, Wike expressed gratitude for the president’s praise, particularly for being recognised as ‘Mr. Infrastructure.’ “I feel very happy that my boss has confidence in me. If your boss, in the public, says that you are doing well, that, of course, is an encouragement for you to continue doing the job that you’ve been assigned.”
Blueprint felicitates President Tinubu on his 73rd birthday. We are particularly impressed that rather than revel in his birthday bash, the president seized the auspicious occasion to rededicate himself to God and service to fatherland.
It is, however, expedient to urge every member of the president’s cabinet, especially the managers of the economy, to up their ante in order to make life more meaningful for the citizenry.
Wike’s giant strides in the FCT should be replicated in all the other sectors and sub-sectors of the nation’s economy so as to impact positively on the standard of living of Nigerians. There is no justification for Nigerians to be “multi-dimensionally poor”.