The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye has paid a courtesy visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The globally acclaimed cleric, who held a programme for Christian faithful at the National Stadium on Tuesday, was led to the President’s office by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
He was said to have spent about 15 minutes with the President before leaving the Villa.
Attempts by journalists to ascertain the details of the meeting were futile.
…Osinbajo calls for new thinking of leadership
New leaders who build bridges, keep in touch with the people while offering a new way of thinking has been recommended to leaders in different areas of the nation.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo expressed this view Tuesday while receiving the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, saying the new Ooni represents a new generation of Nigeria through his outreach efforts aimed at setting a new standard and leadership style.
“Some of what we have seen `Kabiyesi’ do, some of those steps he has taken, handshakes across prejudices, across traditional boundaries, a visit to the Alaafin of Oyo, and several other such important steps are not just symbolic. It is important to understand that they also have very deep implications for future relationships and for the way that our generation is perceived and also implications in the way that our country eventually shapes up,” Professsor Osinbajo noted.
The Vice President said leaders have to be accountable to the people they lead.
“One of the very important attributes of the Kabiyesi is the fact that he represents a new way of thinking, which is not just a generational way of thinking. it is a whole new concept in the way we relate to power and authority.”
He said this new way of thinking and style which the new Ooni represents is not just about traditional leadership, “but it is something that relates to leadership at every level.’’
He commended the new king for his “great insight and leadership attributes,” and prayed that Almighty God would enable him to fulfill the purpose of his enthronement.
According to the Vice President, by addressing the concerns of the young people who constitute a very substantial portion of the nation’s population, the Ooni has demonstrated the understanding that it is not just about demographics but about the future of the country.
…My ascent to the throne was Divine – Ooni
Meanwhile, the Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi Tuesday maintained that his ascent to the throne was by divine power and not by his own power.
He spoke with state house correspondents after meeting briefly with President Muhammadu Buhari behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“I have a clear strategy: If you don’t want to accept me, I will accept you. It is very important and I will be very persistent about it because it is a divine calling. It is not by my power nor by my might. It is a calling from the King of kings who actually appointed me to this throne,” he said.
The Ooni explained that he had several plans to empower the youth among other developmental programmes.
“There is a lot. I am currently working with the minister of agriculture. We have been able to assemble over 200,000 youths within a space of 30 days. We are encouraging them to go back to the farm.’’
…Osinbajo hosts Law colleagues
Earlier the Vice President received a delegation from the Nigerian Association of Law Teachers (NALT) led by its President, Dr. Abdulkarim Kana.
Prof. Osinbajo, himself a law teacher, expressed delight at the courtesy visit, and wondered what his life trajectory would have been if he had not become a professor of law.
Recalling how difficult legal research had been in the past, he cited an instance when it took him six weeks to get an authority and other details of a particular case in the high court in the early 80s. According to him, things have since become better now, with improved technology-aided tools that are available.
He encouraged the members of the delegation and the association to welcome practising lawyers as university teachers.
The leader of the delegation, Dr. Kana expressed delight with the strides made by the VP in office in his short spell.
He described the vice president as “one of our very best.”
He said the success of the Buhari administration is the success of Nigeria and pledged the support of the association.
Other notable university teachers that formed part of the delegation included Prof. Ademola Popoola, Prof. Chioma Kanu Agomo, Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George, SAN, Prof. Maxwell Gidado, SAN and Prof. Festus Emiri, among others.
-Leadership
