FIRST LADY Senator Oluremi Tinubu has asked Nigerians to be patient with President Bola Tinubu, saying he is not a magician.
The wife of the President spoke on Sunday in Abuja during her remarks as the Special Guest of Honour at Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Anniversary Inter-denominational church service held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja with the theme: “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Mrs Tinubu said: “I bring you warm greetings from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Today, as we gather to praise and worship God, let us remember God’s faithfulness and love for us. While reading from Galatians: 5 verses 22- 23 she said that good governance can only be impactful. The faithful, according to her follow the example of Jesus Christ who taught about forgiveness when they are offended and to forgive one another and be patient with one another’
She said: “We just came back from UNGA ‘78, it was really successful for us as a nation. The world awaits Nigeria and investors in our team. We came back with good news and all we inherited are things that have happened many years ago. We are not here to put blame on any administration but to fix what is damaged.”
Speaking further she said: “My husband is not a magician; he is going to work brick by brick and I believe and hope that you will have faith in this administration. The best is yet to come for us.
“In times like this, all we have to do is to keep our hope alive. The lively hope which Jesus Christ has birthed in us.”
Addressing the congregation, she expressed gratitude to God for enabling her to celebrate the country’s Independence Day anniversary at the National Christian Centre as the First Lady as something no one would have ever imagined, saying the occasion was a testimony on its own.
She said: “I bring you warm greetings from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Today, as we gather to praise and worship God, let us remember God’s faithfulness and love for us.
“These words remind us that hope is not just a phrase but a spirit that resides in each and every one of us. It is hoped that transcends many challenges and uncertainties of the present. A hope that is deeply rooted in love and sacrifice, this is all that the love of Christ signifies. As a nation, we need to recognize that Christ being in us would only be exemplified by his nature or embodied in the food of the spirit which is love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, faith and neatness, against such there is no love.”
“A Nigeria of abundance has begun, and to be part of the greatness that God has started in the nation, Nigerians must look beyond their current realities and embrace hope anew,” she said.
Mrs Tinubu also pleaded with Nigerians to celebrate the unity that defined the nation’s diversity.
“There is no challenge, obstacle or difficulty that we cannot overcome or surmount if we imbibe the nature of Christ who said in Matthew 11:28 ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest’.
“In times like these, all we do is to keep our hope alive, the lively hope which Jesus Christ has birthed in us,” she said.
Earlier, the President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Israel Akanji, who was the guest preacher, assured Nigerians of overcoming the numerous challenges facing the country.
While appreciating Mr Tinubu for his independence anniversary address to the nation, the cleric, however, appealed to him and other arms of government to ensure the fulfilment of the promises made to Nigerians.
He prayed that God would turn around the situation in Nigeria.
In his remarks, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) George Akume appealed to Nigerians to remain patient.
Mr Akume said that measures were being put in place to cushion the plights of Nigerians, adding that some of the issues affecting the country cannot be resolved urgently as they had expected.
“Solutions to Nigeria’s complex problems can never be as instant as expected; it will take some time, but measures are already being put in place to address them.”
Eighteen-Eleven Media