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By Lukman Olabiyi, Lagos
The Prelate Emeritus of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Rev Sunday Makinde, has said President-elect Bola Tinubu was elected to rebuild Nigeria, raise Nigeria to enviable heights and re-establish peace and unity in the country.
Makinde gave the exhortation at the Chapel of Christ the Light, Alausa, Ikeja, during a special thanking service to celebrate Tinubu’s 71st birthday.
The cleric also sought ardent prayers for Tinubu for ‘divine wisdom, robust good health, victory over his enemies, and for him to finish his terms successfully’.
Makinde also congratulated Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, saying their re-election was possible because of their hard work and people-oriented programmes.
“On behalf of all Christians in Lagos State, I congratulate Asiwaju Tinubu because it is a dual celebration – his 71st birthday and electoral victory. We also thank God who has made him a winner,” he stated.
“Asiwaju’s antecedents in private and public life have prepared him for this assignment, he has been elected for this purpose to rebuild Nigeria just as he rebuilt Lagos. God has chosen him to raise Nigeria to enviable heights.”
The cleric urged Tinubu to focus on certain aspects of the polity which need urgent attention.
“I will advise Tinubu to choose his team of ministers, advisers and ambassadors under divine prayers, he should consult God before man. He should use the best brains and professionals, even from the opposition parties, to actualise his dreams of a better Nigeria.
“Another area of importance is religious unity, Tinubu must work on achieving religious tolerance, and ethnic and tribal unity. He must ensure there is an abundance of social amenities -water, electricity, educational and medical rehabilitation, agricultural revolution and development, and ensure massive job creation to reduce unemployment and brain drain,” Makinde said.
The Chief of Staff to Governor Sanwo-Olu, who represented the governor, praised God for Tinubu’s life, and prayed that ‘the visionary leader would be strengthened to bring about development and programmes that would uplift the people’.
While Ayinde read the first lesson from Psalm 111: 1-10, former Deputy Governor Femi Pedro read from Luke 17:11-18.
The special birthday thanksgiving service was held simultaneously with a special prayer at the Alausa Central Mosque, attended by Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, Speaker of the House of Assembly Mudashiru Obasa, Secretary to the State Government Mrs Folasade Jaji, among others.
The special thanksgiving was attended by officials from the private and public sector, cabinet members, party faithful as well as religious leaders across Nigeria, including Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Bishop Stephen Adegbite, Governor Sanwo-Olu’s Special Adviser (Religion) Rev. Bukola Adeleke, among others.
