By George Ozalla
President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, has celebrated Vice President Kashim Shettima on his birthday, describing him as an accomplished public servant and steadfast patriot whose years in public service have been marked by courage, resilience, intellectual depth and commitment to Nigeria.
Akpabio, in a statement he personally signed to mark the Vice President’s birthday, reflected on Shettima’s journey from commissioner to governor, senator and now Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, saying he had distinguished himself through “courage in adversity, intellectual depth, loyalty to country and an abiding conviction in the promise of Nigeria.”
The Senate President recalled Shettima’s tenure as governor of Borno State, particularly the difficult period when terrorism had subjected the state and its people to severe security challenges.
He said Shettima remained at his duty post and continued to provide leadership despite the dangers surrounding the state, demonstrating that difficult circumstances should not be allowed to extinguish hope.
“You governed Borno State at one of the most difficult periods in its history, when terror tested the resilience of its people and challenged the authority of the Nigerian state,” Akpabio said.
“Yet you remained at your duty post, providing leadership in the face of danger and demonstrating that adversity must never be permitted to extinguish hope.”
Akpabio said Shettima had brought the same resilience, experience and patriotic commitment from his years in Borno State to his present responsibility as Vice President, adding that his contribution to the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reflected his continued dedication to the country.
He said the partnership between Tinubu and Shettima in advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda demonstrated the importance of unity of purpose at the highest level of government as the administration confronts the challenges facing the country and works towards laying the foundation for a more prosperous future.
“Today, as Vice President, you bring that same resilience, experience and patriotic commitment to the service of our nation,” he said.
Akpabio added that the occasion was not simply about marking another year in Shettima’s life but also about recognising the years he had devoted to the service of the country and the responsibilities he had undertaken at different levels of public office.
“On this special day, I celebrate not merely the addition of another year to your life, but the years you have invested in the service of our fatherland,” he said.
On behalf of his family, constituents and the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Akpabio wished the Vice President many more years of good health, wisdom, strength and fulfilment.
He prayed that Almighty God would continue to guide and strengthen Shettima and grant him the grace to serve Nigeria with distinction.
Akpabio expressed the hope that the years ahead would bring Nigeria closer to the kind of country for which successive generations had hoped and worked, describing his vision of such a Nigeria as one at peace with itself, confident in its diversity, prosperous in its economy and respected among the nations of the world.
In the statement he personally signed, Akpabio further prayed for God’s continued guidance and strength for the Vice President, wishing him many more years of good health, wisdom, strength and fulfilment.
“Happy Birthday, Mr Vice President. May God bless you, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Akpabio said.
