More than 3,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Abuja were fed in honour of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu by an All Progressives Congress (APC) support group, “Asiwaju Project Beyond 2023.”
The gesture was part of activities to mark the 71st birthday anniversary of the President-elect by his supporters and well-wishers across the country.
The event took place at the Dagba IDP Camp in Area 1, Garki Abuja.
In the spirit of the season members of the support group and politicians broke their Ramadan fasting and a cut birthday cake with the IDPs including women, children and youths.
The Director-General of the group, Barr. Realwan Okpanachi said the gesture was in line with the generous and humble nature of the former Lagos governor.
He said that the choice of the IDP camp was another demonstration of the low-key birthday celebration as directed by Tinubu who is currently outside the country.
He said,
“The significance of this event is Tinubu’s love for the downtrodden. For the less privileged and the challenged in society. That’s why we are here to celebrate with these people.
“If you listened to his directive, he said his birthday should be celebrated with the downtrodden. That’s why we’re here.
“We’re also here to tell them that the very reason why they’re here is the same reason why Tinubu is coming as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to tackle the problem of insecurity which has led them to this place in the first place, abandoning their homes, farming and businesses to seek refuge in this place.
“By the coming of Tinubu to office, he will provide security, and education for their children and ensure that each and everyone here is rehabilitated and returned to their original homes to start life afresh as it used to be.
“So, there are no better people to celebrate Tinubu’s birthday with than this vulnerable group who he cares about passionately.”
Okpanachi added that as representatives of the President-elect, they had given the IDPs a message of hope that he will make life liveable and bearable for them in particular and all Nigerians as a whole.
He said that the initial projection of feeding the IDPs was put at 2000, but with the large turnout witnessed additional 1000 packages had to be made so that they could have a memorable breaking of Ramadan.
Amina Musa, a mother of five and one of the beneficiaries who spoke in the Hausa Language thanked the group and said the foods, drinks and fruits collected by her household would help them in breaking the fasting.
She said,
“We thank Baba Tinubu for this gesture to me and my family. The things I collected here today will help us to break our fasting. We wish him a happy birthday too.”
Idris Alilu, a leader of the group expressed appreciation for the kind gesture from Tinubu to have remembered them during this Ramadan season.
Alilu used the opportunity to pray for good health and divine wisdom for the president-elect to pilot the affairs of the nation commencing on May 29 Presidential Inauguration Day.
Prayers were also offered for the unity and peace of the country following the aftermath of the 2023 general elections.