President Bola Tinubu has received commendation for creating a Ministry of Livestock Development and appointing a northerner to lead it.
Hon. Wafarniyi Theman, a prominent Adamawa State politician and National Vice-Chairman (North East) of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), praised the initiative during an interaction with newsmen in Yola.
He described the ministry as particularly beneficial to the North, which produces the bulk of Nigeria’s livestock.
“The Ministry of Livestock is a worthwhile initiative that northern presidents and previous heads of government should have implemented but did not,” Theman said.
He added, “Look at it today, Tinubu, a Yoruba man from Lagos, is the one who became president and has established the Ministry of Livestock Development and made an Adamawa citizen the Minister of Livestock.”
Theman, a former legislator representing Hong constituency in the Adamawa State House of Assembly, and a trained pharmacist-turned-politician, noted that his focus remains on human capital development and economic prosperity for Adamawa State.
“My concern is how to make people better versions of themselves and how to make Adamawa work,” he stated.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, on their bronze medal victory at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Saturday, the President praised the team for their resilience and professionalism, noting that the players rose above the disappointment of their semi-final defeat to hosts Morocco earlier in the week to finish the tournament strongly.
The Super Eagles secured third place after overpowering Egypt, a seven-time AFCON champion, in the bronze medal match.
Nigeria dominated proceedings during regulation time before edging their opponents in a tense penalty shootout.
President Tinubu said the victory was a clear reflection of the determination and can-do spirit that define Nigeria, describing the team’s response to adversity as exemplary.
“Despite their good run during the tournament, the Eagles lost the semi-final match to Morocco during the penalty shootout last Wednesday, and our people’s hopes of winning the championship were dashed.
“However, our players remained undaunted, and exhibiting the resilience of the Nigerian spirit, their efforts have now paid off”, the President said.
The President noted that Nigerians would take pride in seeing the team receive their medals at the official ceremony on Sunday in Rabat, where the tournament is being concluded.
“We will all be proud of them as they receive their hard-earned bronze medal. Thank you, our gallant Super Eagles. Thank you, our national team players. This bronze medal surely feels good like gold”, he added.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq yesterday revealed that a total of 193,000 Kwarans would benefit from President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme (RHWDP) in the state.
The governor said this in Ilorin at the launch of the non-partisan socio economic initiative of President Tinubu to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty.
The governor said the beneficiaries cut across the 193 wards in the state.
He said the programme attests to the President’s love for the less privileged and his government’s dedication to achieve the $1 trillion dollar economy by 2030.
“This is the most innovative grassroots social programme rolled out to address poverty irrespective of religious difference, political persuasion, tribal or gender difference or place of birth,” the Governor said in Ilorin through his Senior Adviser and Counselor, Alhaji Sa’adu Salau, who represented him.
AbdulRazaq commended Tinubu’s administration for its economic recovery programmes that support the poor, saying the initiative aligns with the state’s social investment.
He called on the people to support the innovative programme of the president.
The event was attended by top government officials, local government chairmen, party executives led by the Chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, leaders of artisans’ congress and market women association, representatives of community-based organisations in the state.
Fagbemi said APC will get more than 75 percent votes in Nigeria’s General elections come 2027, saying the party has delivered its mandate to citizens, while also working harder to strengthen public safety.
State Coordinator for RHWDP, Mubarak Salau Bello, said the scheme is designed to take development and economic growth directly to the grassroots and make national growth a reality for every Nigerian, right from the ward level.
Last week unfolded like a carefully choreographed score in the long and often arduous symphony of reform that has defined the presidency of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It was another eventful week, yes, but more importantly, it was another week in which Nigeria began to take delivery of the fruits of reforms that were painful at the start, disruptive in the middle, and are now steadily yielding measurable rewards.
The week’s defining moment did not even begin in Abu Dhabi, where the President spent much of the period on official duty. It began at home, with the quiet but consequential announcement that Nigeria had been officially removed from the European Union’s list of high-risk third countries for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT). The decision, reached in December 2025 and made public on January 9, only fully sank into national consciousness on Thursday when the Federal Government formally welcomed the development. And rightly so.
For years, Nigeria laboured under the stigma of that designation, an invisible but costly tag that subjected Nigerian businesses, banks, and individuals to enhanced scrutiny, raised compliance costs, slowed transactions, and dampened investor appetite. Its removal is not cosmetic. It is structural. It is the difference between suspicion and confidence, between hesitation and engagement. It is, in real terms, a restoration of trust.
This milestone did not happen by chance. It followed Nigeria’s exit from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in October 2025, after painstaking reforms to address long-standing deficiencies in financial oversight, regulation, and enforcement. The European Union’s own Delegated Regulation, adopted on December 4, 2025, merely followed the evidence. From January 29, 2026, transactions between Nigeria and EU member states will no longer attract automatic heightened scrutiny. That alone is a quiet revolution for Nigerian commerce.
Finance Minister Wale Edun captured the moment succinctly when he described the delisting as a validation of President Tinubu’s “extraordinary leadership, unwavering political will and clear reform vision”. It is also, unmistakably, a reward for the sacrifices Nigerians have endured since May 29, 2023, sacrifices often questioned in the moment, but now increasingly justified by outcomes. The reforms were tough because the rot was deep. The resistance was fierce because the vested interests were entrenched. But Tinubu’s boldness, his refusal to govern by half-measures, has ensured that progress, when it comes, comes with weight.
If Brussels provided the validation, Abu Dhabi supplied the momentum. President Tinubu arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday to participate in the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week at the invitation of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and once again demonstrated that foreign trips under his watch are not ceremonial excursions but transactional missions.
On the sidelines of the summit, Tinubu and his UAE counterpart witnessed the signing of a landmark Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates. For Nigeria’s business community, this was not just another trade document, it was a doorway.
Under the agreement, the UAE will eliminate tariffs on over 7,000 Nigerian products, granting immediate duty-free access to agricultural and industrial goods ranging from fish and seafood to oil seeds, cereals, pharmaceuticals and chemicals. Over the next three to five years, tariffs will also fall on machinery, vehicles, electrical equipment, apparel and furniture. For Nigerian manufacturers long hemmed in by narrow export markets, the CEPA offers a clear, competitive pathway into one of the world’s most dynamic trading hubs.
The agreement goes further. Nigerian businesses can now establish operations in the UAE through subsidiaries and branches. Business visitors gain extended access, while executives and specialists can relocate with their companies for renewable three-year periods. For investors, the clarity provided by the agreement removes long-standing ambiguities that have discouraged capital inflows. This is economic diplomacy with intent.
Tinubu understands something fundamental: that credibility abroad is inseparable from coherence at home. That is why his participation at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week was not limited to applause lines. He spoke of electricity as the foundation of modern economies. He spoke of balancing industrialisation with decarbonisation. He spoke of reforming global finance to unlock private capital for developing economies. And he backed words with policy.
On Thursday, he approved the full roll-out of Nigeria’s carbon market framework, a far-reaching climate policy projected to yield at least $3 billion annually by 2030. It is an audacious move, positioning Nigeria not as a passive recipient of climate prescriptions but as an active player in the global carbon economy. With a national carbon registry, mandatory emissions reporting, phased compliance, and generous incentives for investors, the framework aligns environmental responsibility with economic opportunity. It is diversification by design.
Yet even as the President was winning friends and sealing deals abroad, he did not lose sight of duty at home. Thursday also marked the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day. Though physically in Abu Dhabi, Tinubu was fully present in spirit and message. Represented at the ceremony by Vice President Kashim Shettima, he used the occasion to reaffirm his commitment to the welfare and dignity of Nigeria’s Armed Forces.
His message was sober, respectful, and deeply human. He honoured the fallen, acknowledged the pain of their families, and spoke directly to serving personnel across land, sea and air. “A nation that forgets its fallen heroes loses its direction; Nigeria, however, remembers,” he said. It was not rhetoric. Under his administration, defense and security have remained a priority, not just in words but in budgets, reforms and institutional attention.
Beyond the big-ticket assurances that defined the week; Nigeria’s removal from the European Union’s AML/CFT watchlist, the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the United Arab Emirates, and the solemn national salute to the Armed Forces, the week also revealed something quieter but equally instructive about Tinubu: a President attentive to the full texture of national life.
From Sunday, the tone was set with a message to former Senate President Ahmad Lawan, where Tinubu acknowledged legislative service anchored on dialogue, stability and cooperation. It was not mere courtesy, but a reminder that institutions endure because individuals once carried them with discipline and restraint.
On Monday, the President turned to history and heritage, mourning the passing of Oba of Badagry, Babatunde Akran. His tribute reflected a respect for traditional authority and community leadership, recognising how decades of steady guidance can hold together harmony, tolerance and identity in an ancient kingdom.
Tuesday and Wednesday extended that sensitivity to personal loss and national memory. Tinubu mourned former First Lady of Ogun State, Chief Lucia Onabanjo, whose long life symbolised compassion and quiet service, and Yakubu Mohammed, a veteran journalist and co-founder of Newswatch Magazine, who helped define fearless reporting in difficult times. In both, the President spoke not just to families, but to values, service, courage and conscience.
The same attention followed in his felicitation of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, and the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr Mariya Mahmoud, tying personal milestones to ongoing reform efforts. He celebrated Nigeria’s creative power at AFRIMA, hailed party stalwarts, honoured elder statesman Bisi Akande, and mourned the humane courage of Imam Abdullahi Abubakar.
These gestures underline a presidency that watches the details, recognising that governance is not only about agreements and policies, but about people, memory and meaning.
Taken together, last week told a coherent story. From Brussels to Abu Dhabi, from climate markets to military remembrance, the threads were connected by a single theme: deliberate leadership. Tinubu’s presidency has never promised instant gratification. It promised restructuring. It promised pain before progress. And increasingly, it is delivering proof that the path, though steep, was not misguided.
Nigeria’s removal from the EU’s AML/CFT list is not the end of reform; it is a checkpoint. The CEPA with the UAE is not a silver bullet; it is an instrument. The carbon market framework is not a slogan; it is a system. Each gain is incremental, yes, but together they signal a country steadily reclaiming credibility, competitiveness and confidence.
For Nigerians who placed their trust in Tinubu’s administrative and political acumen, last week offered something rare in public life: reassurance. Reassurance that sacrifice was not in vain. Reassurance that boldness, when anchored in vision, pays off. And reassurance that Nigeria, once again, is learning how to convert resolve into results.
President Tinubu who arrived Abu Dhabi on Sunday, January 11, after a few days of rest in France, landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 11:20pm Saturday night.
While in Abu Dhabi, Tinubu led the Nigerian team to the signing of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the United Arab Emirates, a deal aimed at deepening economic cooperation between both countries.
The CEPA is expected to boost bilateral trade and investment, enhance technology transfer and expand collaboration across strategic sectors, including energy, infrastructure, agriculture, mining and renewable energy.
Addressing participants at the summit, President Tinubu announced that Nigeria would host a joint Nigeria–UAE INVESTOPIA in Lagos in February, describing the initiative as a platform designed to attract global investors and strengthen international confidence in Nigeria’s reform agenda.
He also disclosed Nigeria’s ambition to mobilise up to $30 billion annually in climate and green industrial finance as the country accelerates energy transition reforms and expands electricity access nationwide.
According to the President, the financing drive aligns with his administration’s broader push to position Nigeria as a leading destination for sustainable investment while addressing development gaps in power generation, transmission and distribution.
The Abu Dhabi trip formed part of President Tinubu’s ongoing economic diplomacy, leveraging global platforms to secure partnerships and capital flows in support of Nigeria’s growth, climate commitments and long-term industrial transformation.
The President was accompanied to the summit by senior government officials and ministers relevant to the discussions held during the week-long global sustainability forum.
He was received on arrival by senior members of the administration.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated the Super Eagles, on their bronze medal victory at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Saturday, the President praised the team for their resilience and professionalism, noting that the players rose above the disappointment of their semi-final defeat to hosts Morocco earlier in the week to finish the tournament strongly.
The Super Eagles secured third place after overpowering Egypt, a seven-time AFCON champion, in the bronze medal match.
Nigeria dominated proceedings during regulation time before edging their opponents in a tense penalty shootout.
Tinubu said the victory was a clear reflection of the determination and can-do spirit that define Nigeria, describing the team’s response to adversity as exemplary.
“Despite their good run during the tournament, the Eagles lost the semi-final match to Morocco during the penalty shootout last Wednesday, and our people’s hopes of winning the championship were dashed.
“However, our players remained undaunted, and exhibiting the resilience of the Nigerian spirit, their efforts have now paid off,” the President said.
The President noted that Nigerians would take pride in seeing the team receive their medals at the official ceremony on Sunday in Rabat, where the tournament is being concluded.
“We will all be proud of them as they receive their hard-earned bronze medal. Thank you, our gallant Super Eagles. Thank you, our national team players. This bronze medal surely feels good like gold,” he added.
First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), the largest bank in the United Arab Emirates, is set to establish a branch in Nigeria.
This move signals growing financial ties between Africa’s largest economy and one of the Middle East’s leading financial hubs.
The disclosure was made yesterday by the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, through a post on her official X (formerly Twitter) handle, following high-level engagements with the Abu Dhabi-based financial institution.
According to the minister, Nigeria has held strategic discussions “with First Abu Dhabi Bank (@FABConnects) on deepening financial collaboration between Nigeria and the UAE,” adding that the planned entry of the bank into the Nigerian market reflects increased investor confidence in the country’s economic direction.
“This engagement reflects growing confidence in Nigeria’s reforms and our commitment to attracting credible global capital to support growth and development,” Uzoka-Anite said.
The proposed expansion by FAB comes against the backdrop of a broader strengthening of bilateral economic relations between Nigeria and the UAE, marked recently by the conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two countries.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the successful conclusion of the agreement earlier this week, describing it as a milestone that would unlock expanded trade, sustainable investment and deeper cooperation across key sectors of both economies.
He said the partnership would enhance collaboration in aviation, logistics, agriculture and climate-smart infrastructure, while creating long-term opportunities for citizens and businesses in both countries.
“This is a historic and strategic agreement that opens new pathways for shared prosperity,” the president said during his address on the development.
As part of the deepening engagement, Nigeria and the UAE are also set to co-host Investopia in Lagos in February, a global investment platform expected to bring together investors, innovators, policymakers and business leaders.
According to Tinubu, the event is designed to transform opportunities into concrete commitments and ideas into bankable investments.
“We warmly invite our partners to join us and help build the next chapter of sustainable and shared prosperity for Nigeria, Africa, and the world,” he said.
The President used the platform to outline Nigeria’s ambition to mobilise up to $30 billion annually in climate and green industrial finance as the country accelerates energy transition reforms and expands nationwide access to electricity.
“The foundation of every modern economy is electricity. As an emerging economy in the Global South, we understand the delicate balance between industrialisation and decarbonisation, ensuring neither is pursued at the expense of the other,” Tinubu said.
He also called for changes to the global financial system to make it easier for developing countries to access sustainable capital.
“We are calling for a fundamental shift in the global financial architecture: a move away from the restrictive requirement of sovereign guarantees, which unfairly penalise developing economies,” the president stated.
“Instead, the focus should be on blended finance and first-loss capital mechanisms that allow private sustainable capital flows directly into our green projects without further straining national balance sheets,” he added.
Tinubu further disclosed that Nigeria has strengthened its climate governance framework through the adoption of a National Carbon Market Activation Policy and the launch of a National Carbon Registry, measures aimed at improving transparency and boosting investor confidence in the country’s green economy.
The planned entry of First Abu Dhabi Bank into Nigeria’s financial landscape is expected to support these broader objectives by expanding access to international capital, facilitating cross-border trade finance and enhancing financial sector collaboration between Nigeria and the Gulf region.
• Quality education will end insecurity — Ex-Osun governor
Nigerians from all walks of life yesterday paid glowing tributes to former Osun State Governor and elder statesman, Chief Bisi Akande.
Chief Akande, who clocked 87 on Friday, received birthday greetings from prominent Nigerians, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; a former member of the House of Representatives who represented Ife Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Rotimi Makinde, among others.
President Tinubu and Akume described Akande as a pillar of Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
They spoke at the 87th birthday celebration of Chief Akande held in Ila-Orangun, Osun State, where they praised his lifelong commitment to democratic ideals, principled leadership and selfless service to the nation, noting that his contributions to Nigeria’s political development remain enduring and invaluable.
Tinubu’s goodwill message was delivered by Senator Akume at the ceremony.
In the message, the President described Akande as a mentor whose wisdom and counsel have guided generations of political leaders through difficult moments in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Secretary of the Government of the Federation (SGF) on Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, he said the nation owes the elder statesman a debt of gratitude for his sacrifices and steadfast belief in democratic governance, praying for continued good health, strength and peace for him.
President Tinubu also expressed confidence that Akande’s legacy of integrity and patriotism would continue to illuminate Nigeria’s path towards unity, stability and progress.
In his personal goodwill message, Akume described Chief Akande as an embodiment of courage, humility and unwavering commitment to democratic values, noting that his service to the nation has left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s political history.
Recalling their political collaboration, Akume said they jointly launched a deliberate strategy aimed at dismantling the dominance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West.
He explained that the effort was driven by a shared belief in progressive governance, discipline and grassroots mobilisation.
According to him, the strategy reshaped the region’s political landscape and laid the foundation for the emergence of a formidable opposition that later evolved into the All Progressives Congress.
Akume also commended Akande’s tenure as Governor of Osun State and his role as the interim National Chairman of the APC, noting that his leadership helped shape Nigeria’s political landscape and strengthened democratic governance.
He added that Akande’s vision, integrity and wisdom continue to inspire leaders across generations, stressing that Nigeria’s democratic journey would be incomplete without recognising his immense contributions to national development.
Sanwo-Olu celebrates Akande
The Lagos State and the Chairman of the South-West Governors Forum, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, congratulated Akande.
He described the former Osun State Governor as an advocate of good governance, an epitome of true federalism, a true democrat and a respected political icon who has impacted many lives positively in Nigeria through politics and governance.
According to a statement signed by the Lagos governor’s Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, Akande, popularly known as ‘Baba Omo kekeke’, is a role model to many people for his courage and dedication to the public interest.
The governor also commended Chief Akande for his commitment to public service, especially during his tenure as the first Governor of Osun State in the current Fourth Republic, adding that he remains a beacon of hope for younger generations in a country where many believe that politics is a means for personal acquisition.
The Governor further praised Chief Akande for the significant role he played in the formation of the ruling All Progressives Congress as the first interim National Chairman of the party. He also commended him for the elderly role he has been playing to sustain APC in Osun State, the South-West and Nigeria at large.
He said: “On behalf of my family, the government and the people of Lagos State, as well as the leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress, I congratulate our father, Chief Bisi Akande, on his 87th birthday.
“Chief Bisi Akande is a true democrat and a respected political icon who has remained in the progressive camp and contributed immensely to political development and governance in Nigeria for over five decades. He is an advocate of good governance, restructuring and true federalism in Nigeria.”
Marine and Blue Economy Minister eulogises first Osun governor
Adegboyega Oyetola, the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, also congratulated Akande.
The Minister stated this in a press statement signed by Bolaji Akinola, his Special Adviser on Media, on Thursday.
In the statement, the Minister described Akande as a towering figure in Nigeria’s democratic evolution and a principled leader whose life of service, integrity, and courage has left an indelible mark on governance and party politics in the country.
“Chief Bisi Akande remains one of the finest examples of purposeful leadership and unwavering commitment to public service,” Dr Oyetola said.
“His contributions to the development of Osun State, his role in strengthening progressive politics in Nigeria, and his mentorship of generations of political leaders stand as enduring legacies worthy of celebration.”
He added that Akande’s wisdom and steadfast guidance have continued to shape the direction of progressive politics at both state and national levels.
“Even at 87, Baba remains a voice of reason, courage, and clarity in our political space. His counsel is invaluable, and his life continues to inspire those of us privileged to follow in his footsteps,” the Minister stated.
The Minister prayed for God’s continued grace upon Akande, wishing him good health, renewed strength, and many more years of purposeful living in service to humanity and the nation.
Quality education will end insecurity
Meanwhile, Chief Akande has said that investing in quality education remains a lasting solution to insecurity in Nigeria.
This is just as he warned institutions that lowering cut-off marks in tertiary institutions would weaken academic standards and leave Nigerian students ill-prepared to compete with their counterparts globally.
Speaking on Friday in his hometown, Ila-Orangun, at an event to mark his 87th birthday, added that merit-based admission and rigorous assessment are essential for producing graduates who can thrive in an increasingly competitive world.
Akande, proffering solutions to challenges of insecurity, said the menace cannot be eradicated overnight or by cutting corners, but can be gradually eliminated through quality education.
Now, look at Boko Haram, banditry, kidnapping, let people study very deeply, and all of this insecurity will become a thing of the past.
”Although your generation cannot eradicate it, it can be eradicated gradually if you adopt deep education.”
He cautioned that lowering the cut-off marks of institutions will not improve educational standards in Nigeria, adding that the practice will make the country less competitive globally.
Akande said, “Good education will make you competitive with the global world if you offer 25% as a pass mark in the University, you can’t compete with China, which will expect you to score 80%, where they do absolute meritocracy.
“When you cut corners, pass 25%, admit 20%, you cannot compare with people like China, who, if you have never achieved, you can’t become a member of the Communist party, and only members of the Communist party can vote and be voted for, this is absolute merit.
“Here in Nigeria, it’s cut corners, Americans threatened the other time, went to Venezuela to pick the president, and take him away, that’s the power of knowledge, which we are trying to cheat by saying things called 25% 20%. You won’t have that knowledge, you won’t be able to compete with the advanced world, and you will be enslaved, your land will be taken over by the strangers.”
President Bola Tinubu described the event as a rare privilege to celebrate a life wholly dedicated to the service of the nation, marked by integrity, courage and devotion to democratic ideals.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Imam Abdullahi Abubakar, the Chief Imam of Nghar village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, describing him as a courageous servant of God whose life embodied faith, humanity and uncommon bravery.
Imam Abubakar, who died at the age of 92, rose to national and international prominence in 2018 after sheltering more than 200 Christians during violent communal attacks that swept through parts of Plateau State.
In a condolence message issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu said the late cleric’s actions stood as a powerful testament to the sanctity of human life and the true meaning of religious devotion.
“At such a time when tribal and religious tendencies seemed to overwhelm reason, Imam Abubakar stood firmly on the side of peace, benevolence and conscience,” the President said.
According to him, the cleric’s decision to protect those under threat, despite the danger to his own life, demonstrated rare moral courage and selflessness.
“Mindless of the enormous risk to his own life, the noble cleric chose humanity over division, love as opposed to hatred and embrace rather than rejection,” Tinubu stated, adding that the Imam’s actions spoke louder than sermons and offered a timeless message to the world.
The President noted that Imam Abubakar’s heroic conduct earned him local and international recognition, celebrating his commitment to peaceful coexistence among people of different faiths and backgrounds.
Describing the late cleric as an enduring symbol of interfaith harmony, Tinubu urged religious and community leaders across the country to draw lessons from his life by promoting tolerance, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.
“I urge religious and community leaders to imbibe and preach the spirit of tolerance, mutual respect and peaceful togetherness as expounded in the life of Imam Abubakar,” he said.
President Tinubu prayed for the repose of the soul of the late cleric, asking God to grant him eternal rest and reward him for his courage and good deeds.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday paid glowing tribute to elder statesman, Chief Bisi Akande, describing him as a mentor and exemplary leader whose integrity, honesty and uprightness have continued to inspire Nigeria’s progressive movement.
In a birthday message to mark Chief Akande’s 87th anniversary, the President said the former governor of Osun State has remained a steadfast believer in values that ennoble the nation, noting that his personal example and moral clarity have shaped generations of leaders.
Tinubu expressed gratitude for Akande’s inspiration, advice and encouragement over the years, saying they played a significant role in his political journey and eventual emergence as President.
He also acknowledged Akande’s continued support for the administration and the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Having Baba Akande in my corner as a partner and ally has proved tremendously helpful,” the President said, adding that the elder statesman remains strong and unwavering even at 87.
Tinubu recalled Akande’s long record of public service and political leadership, describing him as a key pillar of Nigeria’s democratic evolution and progressive politics.
He noted that Akande’s leadership, industry, wisdom and labour of love contributed immensely to the growth of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the broader democratic project.
Akande, an accountant by training, began his professional career with British Petroleum before venturing into public service, inspired by the political vision and ideology of Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
His political journey saw him serve as Secretary to the State Government in the old Oyo State in 1979, Deputy Governor during the Second Republic and later Governor of Osun State from 1999 to 2003.
As the interim national chairman of the APC, Tinubu said, Akande laid the foundation for a political organisation that achieved a historic feat by unseating an incumbent government at the centre in 2015.
The President further praised Akande as a consistent advocate of democracy, social justice and good governance, noting that age has not diminished his commitment to national ideals or his readiness to stand for what is right.
“As he marks his 87th birthday, I pray for good health and renewed strength for Chief Akande,” Tinubu said.
Chief Akande, widely regarded as one of the leading figures of Nigeria’s progressive movement, remains an influential voice in national affairs and a reference point for principled leadership across party lines.
