Former Managing Director of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Gbenga Ashafa, has felicitated with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the occasion of his 74th birthday, describing the milestone as a celebration of courage, vision and uncommon dedication to the Nigerian project.
In a tribute, Ashafa, who represented Lagos East under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said that Tinubu’s life story remains a compelling testament to resilience, progressive leadership and enduring commitment to democratic ideals.
He noted that the President had consistently demonstrated a rare capacity to confront national challenges with boldness and clarity of purpose.
According to him, Tinubu’s political journey, from the trenches of pro-democracy struggles to the highest office in the land, reflects decades of sacrifice, strategic thinking and unwavering belief in Nigeria’s unity and prosperity.
“President Tinubu represents a generation of leaders that refused to surrender Nigeria’s destiny to uncertainty. At every defining moment in our national history, he has stood firmly on the side of democracy, reform and inclusive governance,” he stated.
Ashafa, who also served as Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Lands during Tinubu’s tenure as governor of Lagos State, commended his ongoing economic and institutional reforms, describing them as difficult but necessary steps toward rebuilding national confidence, stabilising the economy and laying a sustainable foundation for future growth.
He further noted that leadership often demands tough decisions, stressing that Tinubu’s courage in pursuing structural reforms demonstrates statesmanship anchored on long-term national interest rather than short-term political comfort.
He, however, urged Nigerians to rally behind the President in the collective task of nation-building.
ALSO, the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, has felicitated with Tinubu, saying he has approached Nigeria’s challenges with courage.
In a separate remark, Yoruba Leaders of Thought, commended the President for the courage he has demonstrated to lead the country even at 74.
A former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr Tunde Lemo, has described Tinubu as a “visionary” whose life has been defined by courage, strategic leadership, and a strong belief in the nation’s potential.
MEANWHILE, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has described the political trajectory of Tinubu as a “phenomenon worth studying,” noting that his endurance and influence in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic remain exceptional.
The monarch, in a congratulatory message marking the President’s 74th birthday, issued through his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, said Tinubu stands out in a political era characterised by shifting alliances and fading influence.
According to the Alaafin, while many prominent figures in the Fourth Republic have risen and fallen within short periods, Tinubu has sustained relevance and built what he described as one of the most enduring political structures in Nigeria’s democratic history.
Oba Owoade, however, described the President as a defining figure in contemporary Nigerian politics, whose impact extends beyond electoral victories to mentorship and talent development across generations of leaders.
He noted that Tinubu’s ability to remain politically relevant for over two decades reflects a combination of vision, structure, and strategic leadership.
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