President Bola Tinubu is felicitating Vice President Kashim Shettima on the occasion of his 57 birthday today.  This came as Vice President Shettima last Thursday urged his numerous friends and political allies to refrain from “placing birthday wishes on newspaper pages or utilising paid channels to convey your greetings” in their endeavours to commemorate his birthday.

In a press statement personally signed by him, the Vice President stated that the decision was made “in the spirit of our nation’s commitment to responsible resource management and responsive governance.”

Celebrating with him, President Tinubu joined family, friends and associates of the former governor of Borno State in thanksgiving to God for the sustained grace of wisdom, character, compassion and bold leadership demonstrated by the Vice President over his years of service to Nigeria with notable distinction in both the private and public sectors.

Tinubu, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, yesterday, further extolled Shettima for his undying loyalty to the nation, and his steadfast resolve to improve society throughout an illustrious career, which included service in education as a lecturer at the University of Maiduguri, prior to moving into, and rising meteorically through the banking industry, before accepting to serve Borno State as a Commissioner in five different ministries.

The president also extolled the vice president for his unusual courage in presiding over Borno State for eight years, during which a deadly insurgency riddled large areas of the North East. 

“This remarkable public servant defied all odds in the region with a ferociously intellectual mind and an innovative doggedness to solve dynamic problems with dynamic solutions, building high quality leaders and institutions for the sustainably developing future of Borno State,” Tinubu said.  He prayed for the continued well-being of the quintessential political leader and his family.