Following the hardships faced by Nigerians due to government policy reforms, President Bola Tinubu has decided to cancel any celebrations for his 72nd birthday.
According to a statement from President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu will be turning 72 years old on March 29th but has advised his associates and well-wishers that intend to celebrate with him on that day to channel their donation to charity organisations.
President Tinubu, as mentioned in the statement by Onanuga, made it clear that he doesn’t want any advertisements in newspapers, radio, or television stations for his birthday. Instead, he wants to take the day to reflect and re-dedicate himself to the important task of building a stronger, safer, more prosperous, and united Nigeria.
The statement read: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will turn 72 on Friday March 29, 2024. The day will be another important milestone in his life as a leader and a statesman.
“During an auspicious occasion as this, it is customary for family members, friends and associates to celebrate him in different ways.
“As the leader of our country, President Tinubu in deference to this challenging times will not host any birthday event and does not want any of his associates and numerous well-wishers across the country to organise any celebratory event on his behalf or in his name.
“President Tinubu appreciates the honour of being the leader of Africa’s leading nation at this time and he is working very hard to make life better for the generality of our people.
“According to him, because of the present mood of the nation and recent killing of the officers and men of our Army and Police in Delta State and recent spate of security breaches by criminal elements in different parts of Nigeria, there should be no form of birthday event and placing of birthday goodwill advertorial messages in newspapers. Goodwill messages should not be placed on radio and television stations too.
“President Tinubu enjoins friends and associates who may wish to place goodwill advertorials to kindly donate the money to charity organisations of their choice in his name
“Although the President appreciates the gallantry of our armed forces in freeing our children kidnapped in Kuriga, Kaduna State and in Sokoto State, he will use the opportunity of his birthday to reflect and re-dedicate himself to the task of building a more stable, more secure, virile, prosperous and united Nigeria.”
In related news, the Presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi had in 2023 canceled all forms of birthday celebration in his name due to the country’s current deplorable state.
Obi who turned 62, July 19th 2023, via his Twitter handle said that a birthday celebration for him would be counter-productive in today’s Nigeria, where many are grappling with myriads of challenges.
He wrote, “Wednesday 19th July 2023, marks my 62nd Birthday. While I remain immensely grateful to God for His infinite mercies, I still maintain my decision of over 20 years, that I will not celebrate my birthdays in today’s Nigeria, with the current deplorable state of the nation. However, some friends, members of the Labour Party, and OBIdient Family and supporters have asked how they can join me in celebrating that day, and even present some gifts.”
