President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for special prayers and thanksgiving, instead of the annual colloquium, to mark his 71st birthday tomorrow.
The special prayers will be held in Lagos and other parts of the country.
A statement yesterday in Abuja by Tunde Rahman of his media office said the main event will be in Lagos, with special prayers held at the Central Mosque in each of the five divisions in the state, including the Central Mosque at Alausa, and Ikeja.
The special prayers will be offered for the peace, unity and progress of Nigeria.
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 Kashim Shettima and his wife, Hajia Nana Shettima; Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, other governors, as well as members of National Assembly and states’ Houses of Assembly.
A programme of events released by Imam Akeem Kosoko on behalf of the organisers of the prayer sessions showed that the prayers to be offered at Alausa Central Mosque will begin at 10am tomorrow and will include the delivery of sermons and reading from the Holy Qur’an.
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 empathise with those who died or were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last year, the birthday symposium was also called off by Tinubu right at the venue of the event when news got to town 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 with dignitaries to celebrate the birthday when Asiwaju took to the podium to announce the cancellation of the event.
The former Lagos State governor had said it would not be proper for him as a statesman to celebrate 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 held,” Tinubu had said on the occasion.
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 national leadership.