Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has narrated how an experience with colleagues in Mogadishu, Somalia, led him to stop drinking alcohol.
In a video circulating on social media on Tuesday, Osinbajo said he occasionally took red wine and beer despite his role as a pastor.
“I like my red wine once in a while, and then I like my beer,” he said.
He explained that the turning point occurred during his time with the United Nations Justice Sector in Somalia.
Osinbajo recalled that on a Sunday, after preaching at a fellowship, he went to a restaurant within the UN compound to buy two cans of Heineken before returning to his room to read his Bible.
“On this particular Sunday, I was coming back from the fellowship where I had preached, and I was just hoping to buy two canned Heineken and go to my room and read my Bible,” he said.
According to him, he met colleagues from different countries drinking at the restaurant, but they quickly concealed their drinks upon noticing his presence.
“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 and as soon as I came in, they all started hiding their drinks,” he said.
He added that when he questioned a Danish colleague about hiding his whiskey, the colleague explained that they could not drink in the presence of a priest.
“You are the priest, and we can not be drinking around the priest.”
Osinbajo described the moment as a message from God. He said it made him understand the biblical phrase, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient.” He said he has not consumed alcohol since that day.
