The election of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the President-elect during the February 25th,2023, Nigeria Presidential election remains the most competitive presidential election since the end of military rule in 1999. This election will also remain where ethnic and religious sensitivities play a role between a largely Muslim north and a mainly Christian south with hundreds of different ethnic groups. Faced with the complex path to the Nigerian presidency, President-elect Asiwaju Tinubu, a master political strategist and a southern Muslim who has been praying and planning his ascendency for over thirty years, took a political risk in his bid. President-elect Asiwaju Tinubu married to a Christian pastor, Her Excellency Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in his political calculation devoid of any agenda to Islamise Nigeria, chose His Excellency Senator Kashim Shettima, a northern Muslim as his running mate from Bornu State, one of the Christian minorities in the north.

Nigerian President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a trusted husband and father figure, is pioneering a way of life and mutual religiosity much-missed figure in the past and current Nigerian politics. His journey to becoming the ‘father of the Nation’ and celebrating his 71st birthday opens a new chapter for Nigeria, Africa’s largest and most populous economy. President-elect Asiwaju Tinubu’s 71st birthday celebration focuses on the essence of the name Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, the General Overseer of Redeemed Church of God gave to Asiwaju Tinubu in 2018. Asiwaju Tinubu said, “The day my wife was ordained as a pastor, I was there. Pastor Adeboye gave me Abraham. I said, what is the meaning? He says, “… the father of the nation.” Her Excellency Senator Tinubu was ordained in 2018 at the Old Arena of the Redeemed Christian Church of God during the 66th Annual Convention at the km 46, Lagos-Ibadan express camp. The theme of the Convention was “Dominion.”

Our understanding of how Abraham is portrayed in the Bible will help us see the greatness of God’s plans for Nigeria under the President-elect Asiwaju Tinubu as Abraham, ‘father of the nation.’ Abraham ranks as one of the most significant figures in the Scripture, ‘his faith served as an important backdrop for the redemption of God’s people throughout the Old and New Testaments.’ The choice of President-elect Asiwaju Tinubu is not a personal matter but being chosen for Nigeria’s renewal of hope. In President-elect Asiwaju Tinubu as the father of the nation, we hope to see God’s purpose, plan, and predestination of Nigeria.

An American statesman and political leader, Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945) served as the 32nd president of the United States of America from 1933 until he died in 1945; credited with ending the United States of America’s Great Depression, he provided us with a figure and a model of the father of the nation. President Roosevelt made some mistakes, and beyond the scale of conservative opposition, he laid the foundations of a welfare state and led America through the second world war — achievements for which he was rewarded with not one, not two, but four election victories.’ Nigeria President-elect Asiwaju Tinubu, the ‘father of the nation’ at 71, also positions Nigeria for a new dawn of renewed hope, recovery, and all-around blessings (Gen 12:1-3).

The gravity of Asiwaju Tinubu’s decision to contest and win the 2023 Presidential election remains a divine summon and sacrifice for him and his wife as father and mother of the nation. The President-elect Asiwaju Tinubu, at 71, as ‘father of the nation’ is mandated to live and lead for history in fear of God, who will empower him to accomplish all his political manifestos for a better nation. Nigeria will be blessed through Asiwaju Tinubu’s presidency. As ‘the father of the nation,’ Asiwaju Tinubu’s presidency and foresight will benefit Nigerians worldwide. Just as the call of Abraham and the patriarchal promise inaugurated a new era in the biblical historical scheme, we pray that President-elect Asiwaju Tinubu, at 71, as a thoughtful and fiercely intelligent leader, Nigeria’s new era of peace, unity, and development will evolve.  

At 71, we ask God to make Asiwaju Tinubu’s Nigeria presidency a great nation and make his name great. At 71, President-elect Asiwaju Tinubu and his wife will trust God more and demonstrate obedience to their divine summons in serving the people. We pray Asiwaju Tinubu, at 71, will never be afraid to trust an unknown Nigeria’s future to a known God. Asiwaju Tinubu, at 71, would live out the new name – Abraham, as the father of the nation and bring blessings and renewed hope to Nigerians.

Just as the evidence of biblical and secular history proves that the patriarch Abraham was not only authentic and honest, but he also exerted tremendous influence on the entire ancient world; we ask God to use Asiwaju Tinubu to fulfil God’s promises over Nigeria as the giant of Africa. We ask God to use Asiwaju Tinubu to alter the course of Nigeria’s history to give rise to us as a great nation. President-elect Asiwaju Tinubu, at 71 as ‘father of the nation,’ reminds us as a nation that we can see the small picture, but God sees the entire picture of a new Nigeria. Our faith in a new Nigeria will overcome our economic, high unemployment, and insecurity famine of our experiences as a nation. Asiwaju Tinubu, with his heartful expression and lifestyle as ‘father of the nation’ and in solidarity with the victims of the Kaduna-Abuja train attack, cancelled the colloquium to celebrate his 70th birthday last year. 

In times like this, Nigeria’s corporate and political competitive demands not only impose relentlessly increasing stringency on performance strategies but also call for Asiwaju Tinubu’s leadership tenacity and doggedness. President-elect Asiwaju Tinubu as the father of the nation is about his action that speaks louder and more precisely than words. Nigerians respect and follow leaders who walk the talk and whose words are no different from their actions. President-elect Asiwaju Tinubu, the father of the nation at 71, calls for the change Nigerians want to see, leading by example. When leaders lead by example, they command respect and do not demand respect. President-elect Asiwaju Tinubu, the father of the nation, is known for building an impeccable and honest brand, which formed his vision behind Lagos State 24 years development plan when he was the governor (1999-2007). As the father of the nation, President-elect Asiwaju Tinubu remains a notable Nigerian team builder and leader of great teams of leaders from diverse beliefs, religions, and professions that work for joint national development and cohesion.

President-elect Asiwaju Tinubu, the father of the nation with a lifestyle as an open book for all at 71, remains one of the Nigerian topmost benevolent leaders and servants of people. In his presidential acceptance speech, Asiwaju Tinubu promised to be a chief servant to the people. He said, “Political competition must now give way to political conciliation and inclusive governance.” As the father of the nation, Asiwaju Tinubu’s call to all Nigerians, “Whether you are Batified, Atikulated, Obidient, Kwankwasiyya, or any other political affiliation,” reminds us that a renewed hope for a more hopeful nation is a corporate task for all Nigerian. Asiwaju Tinubu, a father of the nation, is equipped to collaborate with people and identify leaders in the local, national, and global context for a collective mindset of effective governance, peace, and prosperity of Nigeria.