Spokesman of the President-elect in the south east, Dr. Josef Onoh has made encomiums on his principal, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on his birthday as the Asiwaju attends 71 years of age today.
Though Tinubu had directed that nobody should roll out the drums for the celebration, but to observe it in a low key, Onoh, nevertheless, urged all the APC party men and well-meaning Nigerians to go to the mosques and Churches to offer prayers, show support and solidarity for peace and stability in Nigeria.
Describing Tinubu as an achiever, Onoh recalled how the President-elect has shown fidelity with democracy in Nigeria, pioneered the struggle against anti-democratic forces and how as a political leader he has developed human and material resources.
In his birthday wish to Tinubu, the spokesman asked Nigerians to use the milestone to offer prayers for peace and stability in the country and for the citizens to use the day to reflect on the country’s ethical values, human development, intellectual core values and development of the country.
“Let Asiwaju at 71 be a unity moment Nigerians, to use it and build rather than destroy, to reflect on our intellectual core values as human beings; to unite and build a great nation and for us to reflect on who we truly are and to hold great values in the things that unite us rather than what divides us.
“May Asiwaju’s birthday help us reflect on areas we have failed in our service to Nigerians and help us to become better people so as to turn these failures to stories of success. May his birth help us to reflect in our service to humanity over self service for the progress of the country,” Onoh prayed.
He urged all Muslims in the south east to ensure that they go to the mosques today to offer their prayers for the President-elect and also to the Vice-President-elect, to lead the country to destinations where Nigeria citizens can once again become proud of their country.
Making the encomiums, Onoh described Tinubu as one who never lost a battle like Alexander the Great and was called “Son of Zeus.”
“Hs armies’ victories on the battlefield have been lauded through the ages and remain unequalled till date. Like Alexander, not only was he good at conquering people, he was good at avoiding conquering people when he could convince them to accept him as their ruler by sharing their religion by becoming one of them.
“At 71, Nigeria and life has thrown all it has on you, like a tennis ball drifting in the ocean you cannot sink, you are Nigeria and Nigeria is you, Nigerians have chosen you to be our leader and together we celebrate you while reaffirming our commitment towards a better Nigeria.
“Nothing can qualify your commitment to our nation and National interest which burns immensely in your heart with passion as you have mastered the wisdom in adversity in today’s Nigeria.
“In the words of William Shakespeare,
‘Sweet are the uses of adversity, which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, wears yet a precious jewel in his head; and this our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in every thing.’
“I wish you a happy birthday Mr. President – Elect, My President, Our President, the Peoples mandate keeper as your ever evolving dedicated and committed personality and human capacity building remains a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an Enigma.”
