As the Federal Government continues to deal with the challenges facing the country, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has restated the nation’s trust in God, while also praying that the Almighty will fulfill the heart desires of all Muslims and every Nigerian.

“I pray that the almighty God will continually help you and to help our government to tackle every one of the various challenges as we confront them.” 

Prof. Osinbajo spoke at the Ramadan reception hosted today by President Muhammadu Buhari to celebrate Eid-el Fitr at the Banquet Hall of the State House.  

He thanked God for giving President Buhari “all that you have required to tackle these challenges and for giving you the life and strength to tackle the challenges and to surmount the challenges.” 

Prof Osinbajo also noted that despite the challenges, Nigeria has remained united, whilst acknowledging that “every generation of leaders is confronted with its own problems. There is no leader that is not confronted with his own or her own problems.”

Below are the Vice President’s full remarks:

REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, VICE PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AT A RAMADAN RECEPTION HOSTED BY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI, AT THE STATE HOUSE BANQUET HALL, ABUJA ON MONDAY, 2ND MAY, 2022

PROTOCOLS

Mr President, let me begin by thanking you, on behalf of all your guests this afternoon, for hosting us, very kindly, this afternoon for this Sallah homage. 

The FCT Minister already pointed out that we really must thank God for this particular homage because when we were here last in 2019, no one knew that we will not meet again for Sallah homage for 2020 or 2021 for that matter, and here we are in 2022. So, we thank God Almighty for giving us that opportunity, and I think it also tells us that indeed everything, all dispensations belong to the Almighty God and we thank Him for giving us that special opportunity.

Of course, as they say, every cloud has a silver lining; in the past, this would have held at your residence and it would not have taken this large number of people but I think that even COVID has a silver lining. Here we are with so many people who are able to come.

Mr President, this particular Ramadan has been a very good one, especially during the period of the fast. Of course, because of the prayers and the blessings that many of the faithfuls would have received, but it also coincided with the lent season, it meant that at the same time, Christians and Muslims were fasting. 

The one big advantage of that, Mr President, as you know, is that our FEC meetings were much shorter, and the reason why our FEC meetings were shorter, Mr President, as you know, is that all the trouble-makers who argue too much were all too hungry to make any arguments! (General laughter)

So, Mr President, we must continue to pray that future Ramadan will coincide with lent so that, at least, we will have some peace at FEC meetings! (General laughter)

Mr President, we really want to thank God for our nation, and I think that this is a perfect opportunity to thank God for our nation, that our nation is together and united. Every generation of leaders is confronted with its own problems. There is no leader that is not confronted with his own or her own problems. 

Our government has been confronted with problems. COVID-19, for example, was a problem that nobody ever expected, it took two years of the life of the government and the life of the economy as well.

We also have insecurity here and there, but it is in the very nature of God to provide everything that is required by the leadership to surmount the challenges that it faces. God will not give us any challenge that is beyond us. 

I want to just thank the Almighty God, for giving you, Mr President, all that you have required to tackle these challenges and for giving you the life and strength to tackle the challenges and surmount the challenges. I pray that the Almighty God will continually help you and help our government to tackle every one of the various challenges as we confront them. 

And I also want to pray for all our brothers and sisters, not just our Muslim brothers and sisters, at this special period of Ramadan, but all men and women of all faiths in our country, that God Almighty will answer our prayers and every good desire of your hearts concerning this nation, concerning your families, businesses and your work, God Almighty will bring to pass, in Jesus Name. Amen.

Thank you.

Released by:
Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity 
Office of the Vice President
2nd May 2022