Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on Saturday celebrated the 88th birthday of Archbishop Alaba Job, describing the cleric’s life as a shining example of faith, sacrifice and selfless service to humanity.
Obi, who attended the celebration in Ibadan alongside Professor Pat Utomi, joined family members, clergy and other well-wishers to honour the retired Catholic archbishop on the occasion of his 88th birthday, 60 years of priestly ordination and 55 years of episcopal ordination.
Reflecting on the event in a post shared on his X handle, Obi praised Archbishop Job’s decades of dedication to the Church and the promotion of peace, justice and human development.
“The celebration reflects a lifetime devoted to God, selfless service, peace, justice, and the upliftment of humanity,” Obi said.
He added, “His inspiring example reminds us that true leadership is measured by sacrifice, integrity, compassion, and a commitment to serving others. At a time when our nation yearns for principled and selfless leadership, His Grace’s life remains a beacon of hope and an enduring testament to what it truly means to serve God and humanity.”
Obi congratulated the cleric and prayed for God’s continued blessings upon him.
“I congratulate His Grace, and pray that God Almighty continues to bless him with good health, wisdom and strength as he remains a source of inspiration to the church and our nation,” he said.
After the celebration, Obi and Utomi visited Loyola College, Ibadan, the secondary school attended by the economist and public policy expert.
During the visit, they came across an ongoing Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) voter registration exercise and interacted with prospective voters.
According to Obi, they thanked those who had already registered and appealed to eligible Nigerians who were yet to register to do so before the exercise closes.
“We encouraged them to remain committed to the democratic process, and reminded them that voter registration is the first step towards building the New Nigeria we all desire,” Obi stated.
He further stressed the importance of citizens participating in the electoral process, saying, “Every registered voter represents hope for a nation where leadership is driven by competence, character, compassion, and a commitment to the common good.”
Obi ended the message with his familiar campaign slogan: “A New Nigeria is POssible.”
