Thanksgiving Service: Boss Mustapha returns home to a rousing welcome
….. Gombe Deputy Governor, LCCN Arch Bishop say, he served the nation meritoriously.
The members of the Lutheran Church of Christ Saint Monica Cathedral in collaboration with family and wishers of the immediate past Secretary to Government of the Federation, Dr Boss Mustapha, have organised a Thanksgiving Service appreciating God for returning home their illustrious son after a successful and meritorious service to the nation.
The programme tagged “Celebration of God’s faithfulness” was organised at the Saint Monica LCCN Cathedral, Jimeta, Yola, Adamawa State.
Dignitaries came from far and wide across the country to pay tribute to the erstwhile SGF for sacrifices made in serving the fatherland, describing him as a true Nigerian, good man of impeccable character whose tenure left lasting legacies of policy implementation, a unifying force and a bridge builder across the socio-cultural divides of the nation.
The Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Manassah Daniel Jatau, said Nigerians have benefitted greatly from the services rendered by the celebrant while serving as the SGF, pointing out that his landmark achievements in the administrative landscape of the nation shall always be fondly remembered.
Jatau who was fielding answers to questions from Journalists shortly after the programme described Boss Mustapha as a gentleman, who served the nation and humanity meritoriously.
He said, the rousing welcome and the Thanksgiving service in his honour was a welcome idea and something to do to someone who is coming back home with laurels of achievements having done his people proud.
The Former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and immediate past Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, sent representatives while the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and the Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Benjamin Kalu, were personally present at the occasion.
They congratulated him for successful service to fatherland and applauded his selfless service, which they said was worthy of emulation.
Governor Ahmadu Umar Fintiri of Adamawa State, appreciated the honour given to him to be part of the celebration and thanksgiving service in order to appreciate God for Boss Mustapha’s successful service as SGF.
He said, “as Secretary to the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha has served the nation very well by imbibing the best qualities of transparency, accountability and unwavering dedication to duty.
He further explained that, while serving as the Chairman Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, Mustapha has impacted positively by stepping up action on Covid-19 response which led to curtailing the pandemic and spread of the virus, appreciating Former President Muhammadu Buhari for finding their illustrious son worthy to serve as Secretary to the Federation and in other capacities.
The Arch Bishop of Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria, and President, Lutheran World Federation, His Grace, Most Reverend Musa Panti Filibus, said the event was to celebrate and pay tribute to an exceptional personality for remarkable service to nation and humanity.
He said the presence of dignitaries from all sections of the society symbolizes the deep significance attached to the person of Boss Gida Mustapha and the services rendered to the nation.
Delivering the sermon the clergy man took his text from Deuteronomy Chapter 8 verse 10 and spoke ok the topic ” Remember”.
He explained that human beings naturally have the tendency to forget things, but noted that, forgetting God, the creator of the heavens and the earth is a tragedy.
Narrating the story of the Israelites, how God clothed, fed and protected them in the wilderness and how they forgot God at a point in time in their lives in spite of his faithfulness.
He admonished the congregation to always remember that God is behind every success in their lives so that they will not forget to appreciate him.
He said, it was in the spirit of remembering God that they were gathered to appreciate him for the great things he has done in the life of Mustapha.
Speaking at the occasion, the celebrant, Mustapha appreciated the honour done to him and the family for coming to help them appreciate the faithfulness of God in their lives.
He went down memory lane to recall the days of his humble beginning pointing out that it was only God who made his ascension to greatness a possibility.
He appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for giving him the opportunity to serve the nation and also appreciated all those who identified with him and the family during the Thanksgiving service, praying God to grant them safe return back to their destinations.
Dignitaries at the occasion include Former Governor of Plateau State, Barr. Simon Lalong, Former Governor of Kebbi State, Alh. Atiku Bagudu, Former Deputy Governor’s of Adamawa, Nasarawa and Borno States, Traditional Rulers from Adamawa and Taraba states, Seventeen members of the House of Representatives who accompanied the Deputy Speaker, Clergymen and business men among others.
Wilson Jonah Yakubu.
Press Secretary/ Information Officer,
Deputy Governor’s Office.
