National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on Sunday said that only the Almighty that can take his life since He is the only One Who also gives life.
He spoke at a welcome party organised by the Lagos State government for him where he identified and thanked all the political leaders and groups represented at the welcome back ceremony, and said he was very happy to be back home.
The event which held at the Lagos House, Marina was tagged: “Welcome Back Home Asiwaju” and was attended by political leaders, Christian and Muslim religious groups among othr well-wishers.
Representative of the Lagos State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Revd Stephen Adegbite, who quoted Plsam 91 from the Holy Bible, prayed copiously for Tinubu’s good health and his family and his presidential ambition in 2023, saying, “We are praying for you. You will get there. You will not die.”
Tinubu who was full of emotion while speaking at the Welcome Back Prayer, praised the Lord for His mercy and kindness on him.
The former Lagos governor has been out of the country in the last three months due to ill health.
He also thanked the Lord for sparing his life till the moment and seeing him through the medical trip, saying that despite his medical trip he cannot praise the Lord better than any of those present at the ceremony and all those who prayed that he should return home safe and sound.
He disclosed that it was a day of joy for him, as he prayed for the organizers the welcome back ceremony and that the Lord will grant them their heart desires.
He thanked the Lord for bringing him back to Nigeria safely.
In his brief speech after a prayer for him, he said:”I am a little emotional but I am happy. God is the giver of life and He is the only One Who can take it.
“And He says: ‘If I have granted you life and the privilege and you live this life, I am the Only One Who can take it from you, if you don’t use it in the way and manner that promote humanity in the goodness faith and I can give it to anybody that I want’
“He has spared us till today and has given us the privilege of the day. I thank Him. I cannot praise Him better than all of your voices, but I am standing before you hale, hearty and I owe Him a big Thanks. Thank you very much.”
Earlier, the state Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat and Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, said they are ready to work more and already working to ensure his mandate in 2023.
Hamzat who delivered a welcome address at the occasion, commended Tinubu’s leadership style which made everybody to be happy with.
He said prayed that the Lord will continue to grant him good health and wisdom to continue to lead them, declaring that he and others mentees of the former governor were ready for the 2023 struggle.
In his address, Gbajabiamila also eulogised Tinubu, saying that the numbers and caliber of people that visited him in London testified to the kind person who he is. He also declared his readiness for the 2023 political struggle.
Also, Senator Olamilekan Solomon prayed for the Lord to continue to spare his life with good health and wisdom, saying that he is ready to follow him in 2023.
Dignitaries present at the event included wife of the state governor Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat; his wife Oluremi; former Lagos Deputy Governors, Mrs. Idiat Adebule and Chief Abiodun Ogunleye; Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila; Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly Mudashiru Obasa; Senator Olamilekan Solomon; members of the Governor’s Advisory Council, GAC; local government chairmen; Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Folasade Jaji; Chief of Staff, Tayo Ayinde; other members of the state Executive Council; members of the House of Representatives; members of the Lagos State House of Assembly; party chieftains; clergymen and market leaders among others.
Tinubu had on Friday night, returned to the country, after a successful surgery operation on his right knee as well as a rigorous post-surgery physiotherapy, spending about three months.
He had returned barely 24 hours after Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, championing Tinubu’s presidential ambition ahead of the 2023 general poll, flagged off a campaign group, South-West Agenda (SWAGA 2023)
Meanwhile the Tinubu Support Organisation, TSO, has insisted that they will not relent in persuading Tinubu to contest the 2023 Presidential Election.
The group, during the prayer session in Lagos to appreciate the Lord for his quick recovery and return to the country hale and hearty, said that prophets of doom who allegedly wished Tinubu dead, had been shamed.
Lagos State Coordinator of TSO, Akinduro Ibesanmi, said: “We thank the Lord for His protection over our leader Asiwaju Tinubu who went abroad for medical check-up and returned back to the country safely. We thank Him that the plan of the enemies did not come to pass.
“Our prayer is that, as he returns, everything he will be eating and places he will go, He should protect him. We also pray that he will agree to run for President. We masses believe he is the one that can do it. We thank the Lord that He protects our leader who went abroad for a medical check-up and returned back to the country safely. The plan of the enemies did not come to pass.
Corroborating his views, the Chief of Staff to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Tayo Ayinde, said that while rumour of his death was spreading, those that were Tinubu loyalists were busy praying that the Lord should not take him now and that he should live beyond 100 years.
He prayed:“Thanks to the Lord that answered our prayer. Our leader is back in the country healthy. Asiwaju is someone that has touched so many lives. Our prayer is that he will live long to touch many more lives. We also pray that our aspiration for him to be our next president will come to pass.
“We also pray that Nigeria will not be tough, and that the Lord will grant President Muhammadu Buhari and Babajide Sanwo-Olu the wisdom to rule the country and this state respectfully”.
Also, the Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke, described Tinubu as progressive-minded leader who is passionate about Nigeria’s development.
According to her, he has not for once relented in contributing his quota to the development of the country and that is why she will always follow him.
She noted that the development currently being witnessed across Lagos were part of his blueprint he produced while serving as the governor of the state.
“I remember that many states created additional local governments but some backed out from the struggle after they were threatened by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, but the only person that stood his ground and argued the issue logically was Tinubu. And today, many have been employed through these councils. Is that not another means of reducing the rate of unemployment in the country particularly Lagos State?
“I want to assure you Asiwaju that we are behind you. We know that some people will kick against the plan for you to become President, but we want to assure you that we are solidly behind you”, Arobieke added.’’
