By Lanre Oloyede
It was an electrified atmosphere on Tuesday as members of Staff, a large number of admirers as well as well-wishers of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon Mohammed Abba Isa, trooped out enmass to celebrate the iconic leader on the occasion of his birthday anniversary.
The surprise birthday treat which coincided with the formal dedication of the office of the SSAP and presentation of appointment letter to the Special Assistant Technical/Chief of Staff (SA Technical/CoS), Barr. Yusuf Iyodo, saw dignitaries and important personalities in the disability community graced the occasion to celebrate the leader whom many described as a man of the people.
Declaring the event opened, the Special Assistant Technical/Chief of Staff to the SSAP, Barr. Yusuf Iyodo, who was the brain behind the surprise birthday party, thanked the Almighty God for choosing a caring and compassionate leader in the mould of Hon. Abba Isa to lead the affairs of the Persons With Disabilities from the Presidency at this auspicious time in the nation’s history.
Barr. Iyodo, who appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for finding it necessary to give the PWDs community a Presidential Senior Special Assistant, also applauded the President for choosing Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa as the best man for the job despite many powerful interests lobbying for the post.
The SA Technical/CoS noted that beyond the celebrations of birth anniversary, it was important to appreciate God who gave this office to our leader, and to dedicate the office unto Him for onward guidance and direction towards a successful tenure.
While welcoming the spiritual leaders comprising of both Islamic and Christian clerics who have come to honour and bless Hon. Abba Isa with their prayers, Barr. Iyodo assured that the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Disablity Matters will work with the religious leaders to ensure that PWDs benefit from all the blessings that this office is established to dispense.
In his opening prayer, Evangelist Eze Solomon reiterated the importance of the God factor in everything we do and the need to start everything with God for easy and smooth sail.
He noted that we needed God to be ahead of us in this office so that our steps will be guided by Him.
Evang. Eze committed every activity that will be carried out in the office into the hands of God and prayed that this office will benefit every PWDs in Nigeria.
While rendering the Islamic prayer, the Chief Imam of Karmajiji community, Mallam Ismaila Idris, prayed Allah to guide the SSAP and everyone who is part of his team on the straight path so that we do not to go astray.
Mallam Idris also prayed for protection and guidance in everywhere and everything that the SSAP is going to do in this office.
He further commended him for choosing a confidant, dependable and reliable ally in the person of Barr. Yusuf Iyodo as Chief of Staff, while stating that Barr Iyodo is a man of mercy and grace.
In the celebrant’s address, the highly elated SSAP, Hon. Abba Isa, who was overwhelmed with joy for the love showered on him by admirers and well wishers, appreciated everyone for coming, and thanked them for their prayers, goodwill messages and words of encouragement.
The Presidential aide, who seized the occasion to present appointment letter to Barr. Yusuf Iyodo as his SA Technical/CoS, specifically thanked him (Barr. Iyodo) whom he described as a trusted ally and bossom friend, for putting together the surprise party and for always being there for him.
The celebrant assured the disability community of success while promising never to disappoint or betray their expectations on him by the grace of God.
The aide to Mr President reiterated that President Tinubu has given him the mandate and marching order to create opportunities for PWDs through empowerment and employment by ensuring all MDAs and parastatals incorporate disability Inclusion in their policies and programs in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He expounded that the Renewed Hope Agenda is all about giving hope to the less priviledged and the most vulnenarable of the society, stressing that the only way to achieve this mandate is through collaboration, cooperation and partnership.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President therefore pleaded for unity, tolerance and love among the PWDs, while assuring that everybody will be carried along and benefit from the programs of his office.
The SSAP said: “We have a lot of task in this office to achieve. It has been my prayers for God to give me a formidable and committed team to achieve this.
“If there is any man that I trust and believe so much in in the disability community, it is Barr Yusuf Iyodo. He is not just my chief of Staff but a trusted ally and a bossom friend. If you have seen me you have seen him. Whatever he says, I’m the one that said it.
“Mr President has given us a marching order and there’s an affirmative action backing the order. Very soon, this office is going to ensure that there are employments to be given out to people down to the grassroots level. All we need to achieve all these is unity and patience.”
SOME PICTURES OF THE EVENT
