President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday joined Nigerians in wishing Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo a happy 61st birthday.
In a message posted on his Twitter handle, @MBuhari, the President thanked Osinbajo for being “a loyal and dependable partner.”
Buhari wrote, “Happy 61st Birthday, @ProfOsinbajo. Thank you for being a loyal and dependable partner on this journey.
“I join millions of your friends and well-wishers around the world to wish you many more years of service to God, to Nigeria, and to humanity.”
The Presidency, via @NGRPresident, also posted a photograph of the President, who is currently on a two-day official visit to Plateau State, congratulating Osinbajo on the telephone.
The message that accompanied the photograph read, “President @MBuhari wishing Vice-President @Prof Osinbajo a Happy Birthday from Jos, Plateau State, earlier today.”
Also, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, congratulated Osinbajo, saying despite occupying a high office, the VP had not changed.
He said the Osinbajo’s life has been one of commitment to the principles of justice, honesty and equality of all people.
In a personal letter to the VP released by his Media Office, Tinubu said, “My dear Yemi, I congratulate you today on your 61st birthday. This day presents an opportunity for us to thank God for the years he has given you and to pray that He provides you with many more birthdays.
“Your birthday also gives me the chance to tell you that the respect and affection I have for you as a brother and friend are deep and abiding. Your life has been one of commitment to the principles of justice, honesty, fairness and equality of all people under God.
“As a lawyer, you plied your knowledge of the law to advance the welfare of the common man and thus protect those ideals and beliefs integral to the exercise of our collective humanity.
“During your eight years as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, you continued to stand for profound and worthy causes just as you did in private practice. You did not allow high office to change you or dilute your humanity.
“You vitally contributed to most of the landmark cases and laws passed in the state, which paved the way for the ongoing development of the state. Those same rare talents and traits you continue to live by today.
“Holding the office of the Vice-President has not changed you. You remain as humble, as brilliant and as committed to performance as you have ever been.
“Your performance and service to the nation is a source of pride to those who know you. Along with President Buhari, you have helped to show that assumption of high office does not have to lower one’s sense of morality or lessen their humanity.
“Thank you for being a champion for those who are without. Thank you for your service to the country. Thank you for your loyalty to President Buhari.
“May God grant you more years, good health, strength and wisdom. I wish you a most happy birthday dear brother.”
Meanwhile, Osinbajo noted that growing older had placed greater responsibility on him.
He spoke at a brief surprise birthday event organised in his honour at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The VP said, “I am grateful to God for preserving my life. It is just exciting to be one year older. I think we are gradually getting to that class of people who are called senior citizens and in some way, it places greater responsibility on us.
“But I am immensely grateful to God and I thank everyone for the surprise. I pray that our country will be greater, that it will prosper and that we will experience true joy and true peace.”
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, who led other top government officials and aides to the VP to the event, said it was their own way of sharing the joy of the day with Osinbajo.
He said, “We are gathered to share with you on this very auspicious day. Our prayer is that God will continue to watch over you, continue to fill you with wisdom and understanding.
“We pray that at every point in time, as you counsel Mr. President, you will give him Godly counsel, that he will depend on you for insight into the governance of this country.
“We also pray that for those of us working with you, we will receive direction to take this country forward and to greater heights.”
Also, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, described Osinbajo as a patriotic Nigerian committed to the development and growth of the country.
This was contained in the congratulatory message that the Speaker sent to the VP on his 61st birthday on behalf of members of the state House of Assembly.
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