Says “I will be the oldest First Lady Nigeria will have”
As Osinbajo says elites must work for peace and prosperity
We are better together- Archbishop Daniel
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The wife of the President-elect, Remi Tinubu has declared that her family is blessed and does not need Nigeria’s wealth to survive but to do the right thing.
She spoke at the 2023 Presidential Inauguration Inter-Denominational Church Service at the National Christian Center, Abuja ahead of the swearing in of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, as the 17th President of Nigeria.
The incoming First Lady, while calling for prayers for Nigeria to succeed under her husband’s administration, promised that with the help of Nigerians and with the help of God, Tinubu’s tenure will set the nation on the right path.
She said: “Nigeria’s world is the Commonwealth of all. It belongs to everyone.
“God has blessed my family. We don’t need the wealth of Nigeria to survive but to do the right thing. And I promise you on this altar, that with your help, with the help of God, we will set this nation on the right path.”
Mrs Tinubu stressed that God has been merciful to Nigeria and that for two years Nigerians prayed to God to do a new thing as stated in Romans 8 but unfortunately when the new thing came, Nigerians kept arguing with God.
She said: “I will begin from the Word of God in Romans 8 that says God will have mercy on whoever he will have mercy and show compassion on who he will show compassion. It is not he that willth nor he that runneth but is God that showeth mercy.
“God has been merciful to us. I can tell you on my own that we never believed this could happen. But thank God for giving us hope, for giving us the resilience to continue in the race of life.
“Ashiwaju is 71 and I will be 63. I bet I will be one of the oldest First Ladies Nigeria would have.
We need the grace of God and we need everyone to do what Nigerians are expecting.
“Today, God has really proved himself as he did on the night of the primaries and put his seal on it. Because, when I saw votes count to be 1,271, I said God it means you are here.
“I was humbled to my rock bottom. And to believe that this is the 7th consecutive democratic transition Nigeria will be experiencing, that shows that this is a time of perfection for Nigeria.
“Perfection in the sense that, in the word of God, I remember for over two years we have been praying in our churches, according to Isaiah 43:18-19, that we should not remember the former things, that God is going to do a new thing. A new thing came and we still kept arguing with God. Who can argue with his maker? No one.
“I know in Ecclesiastes 3:14, God said whatever he doeth is for ever, we cannot add to it, we cannot take out of it.
“God does it so that men will fear before him and the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.
“Today we have heard in Psalm 133:1-3. Except there is unity, lessons cannot flow down. This is the time for Nigeria to come together, for us to be renewed in our hope again. To hope in Nigeria as our young children I’ve sang here today. They are expecting the best for Nigeria.”
The incoming First Lady who described herself as a silent achiever reiterated her call for prayers.
She said: “We need your prayers. We need your prayers.
I can tell you, I for one. I’m a silent worker. I’m not a noisemaker but I listen and I hear, is not out of pride. But is about what the journey as melted on us.
“We’ve been bruised, our bodies is not like the same again. But once the spirit is strong, the Bible said if the spirit is there, it will sustain your infirmity. But when the spirit is gone, who can stand? But the Spirit of God is in us. We will do the right thing by the grace of God.
“We need your prayers.
We need your prayers. We need the prayers of the church. We need the mosque. We need everybody to pray to that one God who we just read in Ephesians that he is one God of all, He is a God of all flesh. He is sovereign and He sits in heaven and He does as He pleases.
“In conclusion, I think I will end with that last verse of Ephesians 4:6. He is one God, Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all, and in you all. He is in every of His creation.
“We want to thank you all for coming out today. We thank our fathers of faith and our mothers of faith. God bless you. God will continually renew your strength. You have prayed for this nation and so it shall be.
“But the little oil that God placed on my head, I pray over this nation, there shall be peace in our borders. This land shall be prosperous and it will grow in leaps and bounds. Nigeria will be the cynosure of all eyes, and Nigeria will take its place among the community of nations in the name of Jesus. Thank you so much for your time. God bless you all. God bless our nation, Nigeria.“
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who attended the service with his wife, Dolapo, admonished the political, business and religious elites to work for the peace and prosperity of Nigeria, adding that God always speaks to nations through individuals.
Osinbajo, quoting copiously from the Bible to buttress his points with how God spoke to Abraham that he would make him the father of Nations.
He also added that nations need leaders that will be righteous and serve with honour and integrity because according to him, “righteousness exalts a nation.
“Our political, business and religious elites must work for the peace and prosperity of Nigeria because God speaks to nations through individuals. We must work for the greatness of our country and pray that our leaders succeed. Nigeria needs leaders that will serve with honesty and integrity,” the Vice President said.
On the incoming administration, Osinbajo prayed for the success of the Tinubu administration. He urged all Nigerians to support and pray for the new administration so that Nigeria will continue to remain a great country.
“I pray for the success of the Tinubu administration. We must all support the incoming administration to succeed and it does not matter who we voted or didn’t vote for.”
Earlier in his homily at the church service, General Overseer and Founder of Dominion Chapel International Ministry, Archbishop John Praise Daniel, emphasised the responsibilities of leadership in a country, stressing the need for the incoming President and other senior government officials to lead with integrity, fear of God, justice and compassion in the interest of the people whose hopes have been dashed many times.
He knowledged the strides President Muhammadu Buhari made while on the saddle.
“We appreciate his dedication to the cause of Nigeria and we are inspired by his unwavering belief in the potentials of our great nation and thank him for his service and his leadership. We wish you well, sir in your retirement.”
He said as the nation stands at the precipice of a new dawn, Nigerians have set their eyes on the horizon yearning for a renewed hope and a refreshing mixed of dedicated leadership, nationalistic citizenry to reposition Nigeria on the path of sustainable growth and development.”
The cleric said as Tinubu prepares to takeover the mantle of leadership of Africa’s most formidable nation, he advised him to consider the counsel of Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 1:3, and Prophet Joel in Joel 2:21-27 and that of Father Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3.
“These pages speak of renewal, restoration, hope and blessings in times of adversity.
“Today, as we mark the auspicious advent of our new president-elect, I would like to pronounce words of hope and blessing to all Nigerians and to assure every Nigerian that God has not forgotten you.
“He knows our struggles and knows your potentials. He will provide for your needs, strength and courage as well as bless you with divine abundance in all ramifications.”
Your manifest commitment to the future of this great nation is largely inspiring.
Continuing the cleric said, God in his great mercy has given us a new birth to a living hope, noting that 1 Peter 1:3, is reminder that we serve a God who is still in the business of creating new beginnings, bringing light where there is death and providing hope where there’s despire and giving courage where there’s fear.
“Our dear nation is currently wrestling with serious challenges. Our economy is strained and our security is threatened. Many of our citizens are living in fear and uncertainty. But, we are reminded today that God is a God of renewal and restoration.
“He is a God who can bring forth a new Nigeria from the ashes of the old. A Nigeria where prosperity and peace are the norm not the exception.”
He said the face of adversity,
Prophet Joel message is clear, “fear not for the Lord has done great things and will continue to do so.
“It is disturbing that our nation once flowing with milk and honey has over the years become a place of scarcity, insecurity and all that we have. But the promise of the Lord is that our land will once again overflow with abundance and shame and fear that has gripped us will be no more” to which the congregation thundered amen.
Archbishop Daniel urged that, as the nation usher in a new administration, Nigerians should be filled with renewed hope. “Let is not allow the current predicament to blind us to the promises of God for our nation.
“We are a people of resilience and strength. Our diversity is our strength not a weakness. Our rich cultures and traditions, our youthful energy and resourcefulness are the tools that we will use to build the Nigeria of our dreams.
“This is a time of renewal and restoration. It is a time for us to come together as one people to put aside our differences and work for the common good. It is time for us to look to the future with home and optimism, confident in the knowledge that our God is with us and will never forsake us.
“We must be together and we are better together.”
He prayed for the new president and his team that they may have the wisdom and the courage to lead Nigerians through the challenging times so she will emerge stronger and more united than ever before.
The Interdenominational service, which commenced with prayers, hymns and worship had in attendance Christians from various denominations in the country, and was attended by former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, and his wife, Mrs. Victoria Gowon, President of Christian Association of Nigeria, His Eminence Most Reverend Daniel Okoh, Secretary to the Government of Federation, Boss Mustapha, and his wife, Mrs. Funmilayo Mustapha, Wife of Speaker of House of Representatives, Mrs. Salamatu Gbajabiamila, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, and many other outgoing Ministers, Members of the National Assembly and Traditional Rulers.
