It is an incontestable fact that one’s birthday is a special day that deserves to be cherished. The day affords us the opportunity to not only be with loved ones but also to reminisce on the years past, to thank God for His faithfulness, bless him for His guidance and provision and to look forward to a more productive future. This year’s event was no different.
However, I have been pleasantly surprised and continue to bask in the euphoria of the litany of heartfelt messages, best wishes, prayers and love that have been showered as well as the glitz and glamour that have greeted my diamond jubilee. It was unanticipated, overly profound and unprecedented in all of my years. For Idia and I, we have the greatest gratitude and we will carry the kind words with us throughout the year ahead. We couldn’t have asked for any better.
We spent this beautiful day in fellowship with our children and some of our siblings. While we missed the company of some close friends and associates with whom we have always celebrated, we are grateful to them for still reaching out to us even as we thank the few who travelled from far and near to join us physically.
I thank His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for his recognition and birthday greetings. I also applaud his continued support and commitment to the advancement of our beloved nation, Nigeria. My respect goes to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, for his kind words.
I appreciate the goodwill message of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Presidential Candidate of our party the All Progressives Congress (APC), and it is our prayer that his victory at the upcoming presidential polls will usher in greater progress for our country. I thank the Governor of Edo state for his birthday message which has reaffirmed our belief that politics should be played without bitterness. I thank Comrade Adams Aliu Oshiomhole, former Governor of Edo State and former National Chairman, of the APC for his warm tribute. In a similar light, I thank the erudite Vice Chancellor of Benson Idahosa University, Prof. Sam Guobadia for his felicitations.
I thank my family members for their support all these years, my political family for their loyalty and commitment and the church of God for their prayers and love. I cherish relationships and over the years I have built a network of friends across the country that is priceless to me. I thank them for everything they have done for me. You have all really made my day memorable and I am indebted to you for standing by me all these years. You are the reason for my laughter and smiles. You really mean a lot to me and I am blessed because I have you in my life.
I thank God for all the love He has bestowed on me. I cherish each day and each moment of the past year and I believe that this new year will be better than the previous. In all that I do, I will continue to submit myself to His divine will. John 5:30- *“I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”*
May the Lord bless you all abundantly, keep you in good health, cause your joy to overflow, be with you at every point of your need and bring men to celebrate you at all times. Amen.
Thank you, once again.
Pastor And Prof. Mrs Osagie Ize-Iyamu