By Marvellous Nyang
The new Archbishop of Abuja Archdiocese of the Methodist Church Nigeria, the Most Rev’d Michael Olusegun Akinwale, has described Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, as a visionary leader and an epitome of excellence, whom Nigerian Christians are proud of.
The Methodist leader made known his verdict on the personality of Prof Osinbajo on Sunday, March 5, 2023, when the Vice President physically graced his Enthronement Service, at Methodist Cathedral of Unity, Wuse, Abuja, as the Archbishop officially assumes office.
The cleric lauded Vice President Osinbajo for being a man of his word, saying just as he promised him to attend his Enthronement Service during his last visit to his office at the Statehouse, Abuja, the Vice President lived up to his word.
Extolling his virtues, Most Rev’d Akinwale called the Vice President “a man of great humility and a pastor to the core,” saying he felt honoured to have him attend his programme.
As he climbed the rostrum to give his message, the Archbishop’s attempt to acknowledge the Vice President among the congregation was followed with a rousing applause, as he began, introducing him as “a pastor, a legal luminary, a man of character, decent, an epitome of excellence, a good visionary leader.”
He said “we, the Christians, in this country are very proud of you. We celebrate you, a man of great humility and a pastor to the core. Thank you for coming to honour God.
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He continued: “When I visited you, you promised that you will be here, you are a nobleman, a man of integrity and a man of your word, may the good Lord continue to bless you. May your days be long, and to all your lieutenants who have come with you, we appreciate everyone of you.
“The Methodist people send their greetings of love, and we pray that under your watch, this country will not disintegrate, the Lord will preserve this country.
Recalled VP Osinbajo, had, on Thursday, January 19, 2023, met with the Most Rev’d Akinwale, who visited him in his office at the Statehouse, Abuja.
Then, the Vice President in a meeting with the cleric and others who came along with him noted that the church had a great responsibility indeed, adding that “Christ said that we are the salt of the earth, the light of the world.”
The VP said, “the first point of call is how the faith itself responds to the problems of the country. How does Christianity, how does the gospel respond to the problems of the society?”
“Once the religious elite accept that people can do whatever they like, enrich themselves in whatever way they wish, then it becomes the culture of society and everybody accepts it as such.”
He, thereby, thanked the Methodist Church for its prayers for peaceful coexistence in Nigeria noting that, “we are always very mindful of the fact that this country is upheld by prayers. There is no question at all that without prayers, we may not be where we are today. So, none of us is under the illusion that a country can survive without the prayers and supplications of the saints.”
He prayed that the Archbishop’s tenure will be of tremendous benefit to the people of Abuja and the country at large.
