The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday, marked his 61st birthday in a low key at the presidential villa, Abuja. The event, which took place at the foyer of his presidential office, was attended by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha and some cabinet ministers. Our correspondent gathered that the ceremony was put together by aides of the Vice President as a surprise to honour him. Speaking to State House Correspondents after receiving a birthday card at the brief ceremony, the Vice President said he was gradually joining the league of people referred to as senior citizens.
The Vice President said he was grateful to God for preserving his life. “I’m grateful to God for preserving my life. It’s just exciting to be one year older. I think we are gradually getting to that class, who are called senior citizens and in some way, it places greater responsibility. “But I’m immensely grateful to God and thank everyone for the surprise,” he noted.
He added: “I pray that our country will be greater and greater, that it will prosper and that we will experience true joy and true peace,”. Among those who graced the event were the ministers, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly matters (Senate) Ita Enang, as well as other staff and aides Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has commended Osinbajo for being a loyal and dependable partner in the journey to transform Nigeria to an enviable position. Buhari gave the commendation on his twitter handle, @MBuhari, while congratulating the Vice- President at 61.
Buhari said: “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, Nigeria and humanity.’’ Also speaking, the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, said that the vice president’s life has been one of commitment to the principles of justice, honesty and equality of all people.
In a personal letter to Osinbajo, Tinubu said: “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.
