Oyebanji, Alake hail Tinubu at 74

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, and Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, have congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his 74th birthday, praising his leadership and contributions to Nigeria’s democratic journey.

In a statement he personally signed, Alake said he had closely watched Tinubu’s political career for nearly 40 years, noting that his role in shaping the nation’s destiny had been evident since the struggle that followed the annulment of the June 12, 1993, elections.

The minister added that the President’s contributions to Nigeria’s democracy extended from that period of pro-democracy activism to his tenure as governor of Lagos State, where Tinubu carried out reforms that transformed governance and laid the foundation for future political developments. He also credited the President with helping to galvanise the first successful merger of opposition political parties in Nigeria’s history, describing the move as a turning point that reshaped the country’s political landscape and strengthened democratic competition.

Alake further described Tinubu’s current administration as pursuing reforms he called ‘unprecedented’, saying the President was leading what he called a ‘national renaissance’ through policy changes and institutional reforms. “When the story of Nigeria’s democratic evolution is told, your name will stand etched as an indelible part of it, with your footprints firmly engraved on the sands of time,” the minister said. He prayed for divine guidance and wisdom for the President as he continues to lead the country, wishing him good health and strength on the occasion of his 74th birthday.

Governor Oyebanji, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, described President Tinubu as a genuine lover of the people, a pathfinder, and a selfless leader committed to the sustainable development of the country. He hailed the President for dedicating his life to the defence of democracy and service of his fatherland and fellow countrymen in various capacities, which had exacted great sacrifice from him.

Oyebanji noted that President Tinubu is a man of history with many golden chapters as a professional in the corporate world, a boardroom guru, astute politician, a pro-democracy activist, and the arrowhead of a movement that fought for the restoration of democratic rule in the country. He described the President as an uncommon gift and a treasure to the nation, adding that President Tinubu’s footprints remain bold at the subnational and national levels as a Senator in the Third Republic, two-term governor of Lagos State, and currently the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic, who continues to lead and inspire citizens with courage and impactful policies and reforms.

The Ekiti State governor said his state and its citizens remain thankful to President Tinubu for his support and for the positive impact of his policies on the state, wishing him many more years in good health and service to Nigeria and humanity. “On behalf of the Government and good people of Ekiti State, I wish the President a happy 74th birthday and a lifetime of bliss. Ekiti people remain appreciative of the President’s development strides and are supportive of his various reforms, which have brought a better life to the people. Our prayer is that God Almighty continues to guide his decisions as he continues to lead the country on the path of greatness and shared prosperity,” the statement added.