- Yemi Osinbajo had revealed that a chance encounter with UN colleagues in Mogadishu led him to stop drinking alcohol completely
- He had recalled how his colleagues hid their drinks upon seeing him, saying they could not drink around a priest
- The former vice president had described the moment as a personal turning point, after which he never consumed alcohol again
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has shared a light-hearted account of the unexpected incident that ultimately led him to stop consuming alcohol entirely.
In a video circulating on social media on Tuesday, Osinbajo narrated how a chance encounter with colleagues while working with a United Nations mission in Mogadishu, Somalia, reshaped his personal choices.
He explained that although he served as a pastor, he occasionally drank red wine and beer. “I like my red wine once in a while, and then I like my beer,” he said, drawing attention to his relaxed approach at the time.
However, the turning point came during his tenure in the Justice Sector of the UN mission. Osinbajo recalled that on a Sunday, shortly after returning from a fellowship where he had preached, he went to a restaurant within the UN compound intending to buy a couple of cans of beer.
“There were many restaurants in the UN compound in Mogadishu. So, I went to this particular restaurant, and as I walked in, I saw many of my colleagues from different countries. They were drinking,” he said.
According to him, the atmosphere changed when his colleagues noticed his presence. They quickly hid their drinks, prompting curiosity from Osinbajo. He then approached a Danish colleague to ask why the drinks were being concealed.
“The Danish man said, ‘You are the priest, and we cannot be drinking around the priest,’” he recounted.
Osinbajo said the remark struck him deeply and felt like a personal message about his role and responsibility. He reflected on the experience as a moment of clarity, linking it to the biblical principle that while many things are permissible, not everything is beneficial.
He revealed that since that encounter, he had never consumed alcohol again.
The story has since generated widespread reactions online, with many social media users describing it as both humorous and relatable, while others discussed its reflection on his public and spiritual identity.
Osinbajo’s narration adds to a series of personal reflections he has occasionally shared since leaving office, often blending humour with moral and philosophical insights.