ASIWAJU TINUBU AT 71: PRESIDENT-ELECT CALLS NIGERIANS TO PRAY FOR NATION ON HIS BIRTHDAY
By Trek Africa Newspaper
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, President-elect, Federal Republic of Nigeria
The President-elect Asíwájú Bola Ahmed Tinubu today called for prayers and thanksgiving rather than the annual colloquium to mark his 71st birthday holding Wednesday 29th March 2023. The President-elect Asíwájú Bola Ahmed Tinubu gave the directive through a press statement released by Mr. Tunde Rahman.
The President-elect said that the date which falls within the holy month of Ramadan should be dedicated to prayers and seeking God’s guidance for him and the country as he prepares to take the reins of leadership. The press release granted Trek Africa Newspaper noted ‘that special prayers and thanksgiving service be held on Wednesday March 29, 2023, instead of the yearly birthday colloquium. The special prayers will be held in Lagos and in other parts of the country.’
The special prayers in Lagos will be offered at the Central Mosques in each of the five divisions in the state including the Central Mosque, Alausa, Ikeja. According to an announcement by the organisers of the prayer sessions issued by Imam Akeem Kosoko, the session at Alausa Central Mosque will begin at 10am on Wednesday and will include delivery of sermons and reading from the Holy Quran. During the prayer sessions, special prayers will be offered for the peace, unity and progress of Nigeria, Trek Africa Newspaper gathered.
‘Also to receive prayers among others are President Muhammadu Buhari and First Lady Aisha Buhari, President-elect Tinubu and his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Vice President-elect Senator Kashim Shettima and Hajia Nana Shettima, Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu, other state governors as well as members of National and State Houses of Assembly.’
It is noteworthy that this year 2023 will be the third in recent times the birthday colloquium will not hold in deference to developments in the country. In 2020, the 12th edition of the colloquium marking Asíwájú’s 68th birthday was put off to empathize with those who lost their lives or affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. And last year, the birthday symposium was also called off by Asíwájú Tinubu right at the venue of the event when news emerged of the terror attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train in which several persons died and many others abducted.
The Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos venue was already filled to capacity with dignitaries to celebrate the birthday when Asíwájú took to the podium to announce the cancellation of the event.
The former Governor of Lagos had said it would not be proper for him as a statesman to be celebrating when such a tragedy had befallen the nation. ‘For me to be here celebrating, dancing and enjoying myself, does not speak of me as a senior citizen of this country. I asked that the cleric should rather engage in prayers. This event should not be holding,’ Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu had said on the occasion.
