Boss Mustapha’s 70 Years Offer Lessons In Public Service- Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu has used the 70th birthday celebration of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, to underscore the need for integrity, sacrifice and commitment to public service in Nigeria.
Tinubu, who spoke through the incumbent SGF, Senator George Akume, at a thanksgiving service held at St. Monica Cathedral of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN), Jimeta, Yola on Sunday, said Mustapha’s life in public service offered an example of placing national interest above personal ambition.
The President said the occasion was more than a celebration of age, describing it as an opportunity to reflect on the values that had sustained Mustapha through his different stages of life and public responsibility.
“Today is first and foremost a day for thanksgiving. We gathered not only to celebrate a passage of seven decades, but to celebrate the faithfulness of God, who has preserved and sustained Boss Mustapha through the various seasons of life,” Tinubu said.
He noted that Nigeria’s progress would depend largely on the quality and disposition of those entrusted with public responsibilities, stressing that personal advancement should not overshadow service to the people.
According to him, the country requires citizens and leaders whose sense of duty extends beyond individual interests and who are prepared to make the common good a defining principle of their actions.
“Nigeria needs men and women who value what transcends personal interest, but rather a devotion to public service,” the President said.
The remarks came as political leaders, associates and well-wishers gathered in Yola to honour Mustapha, who served as SGF under former President Muhammadu Buhari and remains a prominent figure in Nigeria’s public life.
Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang described the former SGF as a benchmark of integrity, highlighting his conduct and contributions to public service.
Mutfwang also used the occasion to advocate stronger unity among political leaders in the Middle Belt, saying greater cooperation would be important in advancing the interests of the region.
Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, represented by his deputy, Prof. Kaletapwa George Farauta, equally commended Mustapha for his contributions to nation-building.
Fintiri’s administration also acknowledged the former SGF’s steadfastness and years of service to the country, adding to the tributes that marked the milestone celebration.
The thanksgiving service therefore provided a platform not only to celebrate Mustapha’s 70 years but also to reflect on the responsibilities that come with public office and the values expected of those who occupy positions of authority.
The gathering brought together political leaders and other stakeholders who joined Mustapha in marking the milestone and acknowledging his years of contribution to Nigeria’s public affairs.
