Tinubu Cancels 71st Birthday Colloquium, Calls For Special Prayers For Nigeria

The President-elect, Bola Tinubu has called off the annual colloquium to mark his 71st birthday on Wednesday.

A statement by Tinubu’s spokesperson, Tunde Rahman, on Monday, said he directed that special prayers and thanksgiving service be held tomorrow instead of the yearly birthday colloquium.

According to him, the special prayers, which will be held in Lagos and other parts of the country, will include prayers for the peace, unity, and progress of Nigeria.

Rahman said the special prayers would be offered at the central mosque in each of the five divisions in the state including, the central mosque, Alausa, Ikeja.

“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,” he said.

“This year, the president-elect said 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.”

This year 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 Tinubu’s 68th birthday was put off to empathize with those who lost their lives or affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

KanyiDaily recalls that last year, Bola Tinubu also called off his birthday symposium 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.