In a moment that intertwined spiritual reflection with the weight of national governance, President Bola Tinubu observed Juma’at prayers at the Lekki Central Mosque in Lagos on Friday, December 26, 2025. The event, detailed in a statement by Presidential Spokesperson Mr. Bayo Onanuga, transcended a routine religious observance, becoming a platform for profound counsel on leadership in a diverse and challenging nation.
The visiting Imam of the Mosque, Dr. Salahudeen Arriyadhi, delivered a sermon that served as both commendation and crucial guidance. He lauded the administration’s developmental projects but swiftly moved to the core of his message: an urgent plea for steadfastness. “You cannot satisfy everyone at the same time,” the Imam stated, a pragmatic acknowledgment of the inevitable criticisms faced by any leader, especially one navigating Nigeria’s complex socio-economic landscape. This was not merely platitude but a recognition of the political reality where tough, long-term decisions often incur short-term discontent.
Dr. Arriyadhi anchored his advice in Islamic theology, quoting from the Qur’an to outline a divine framework for leadership. He emphasized that “Allah is pleased with leaders who listen to the cries of their followers,” drawing a direct line between spiritual duty and secular governance. This principle echoes the concept of a social contract, suggesting that legitimate authority is sustained not by power alone, but by attentive and responsive stewardship. The counterpoint—that divine displeasure falls upon leaders who neglect the needs of the led—served as a solemn reminder of the accountability inherent in Tinubu’s office.
The Imam’s sermon, intriguingly titled “Unity in Diversity” and “Remembering the Day of Judgement,” masterfully connected eschatology with contemporary nation-building. He presented Nigeria’s profound diversity—in tribe, religion, and language—not as a flaw or accident, but as a deliberate divine design. “Diversity is a sign of Allah’s Wisdom. If Allah had wanted everyone of his creations to be one, he would have created them one,” he explained. This theological perspective reframes national heterogeneity from a perennial problem to be managed into a source of potential strength and beauty, intended to “foster harmony and learning.” In a country where divisive rhetoric can be politically expedient, this was a call to see difference as intentional and purposeful.
The political significance of the gathering was underscored by the dignitaries present. President Tinubu was accompanied by key pillars of his administration: Chief of Staff Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila and National Security Adviser Malam Nuhu Ribadu. He was received by Lagos State Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, highlighting the event’s blend of federal and state symbolism. The President’s presence in Lagos, the nation’s commercial capital where he arrived on December 20 for the festive season, allowed this spiritual engagement to occur within a context of both holiday and homeland.
Ultimately, the Imam’s closing assurance—”We are praying for you, and you will succeed”—was more than a benediction. It represented a form of communal investment and a reminder that leadership, while lonely, is not undertaken in isolation. The sermon provided a unique lens through which to view the Tinubu administration’s challenges: a blend of spiritual mandate to listen and serve, a pragmatic acceptance of unavoidable criticism, and a theological imperative to see national diversity as a cornerstone for unity rather than an obstacle to it. This moment at the Lekki Central Mosque thus stands as a poignant intersection where faith met statecraft, offering a framework for resilience that is deeply rooted in both scripture and the stark realities of governing Africa’s most populous nation.
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