The President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has requested special prayers and thanksgiving instead of the annual colloquium to mark his 71st birthday on Wednesday.
The special prayers will be held in Lagos and other parts of the country.
A statement by Tinubu’s media aide, Tunde Rahman in Abuja on Monday indicated that the main event will be in Lagos with special prayers at the Central Mosque in each of the five divisions in the state including the Central Mosque, Alausa, and Ikeja.
During the prayer sessions, 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 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.
The programme of events released by Imam Akeem Kosoko on behalf of the organisers of the prayer sessions showed that the session at Alausa Central Mosque will begin at 10 am on Wednesday and will include the delivery of sermons and reading from the Holy Quran.
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 AsÃwájú’s 68th birthday was put off to empathise with those who lost their lives or were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2021 birthday symposium was also called off by Tinubu right at the venue 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 with dignitaries to celebrate the birthday when AsÃwájú took to the podium to announce the cancellation of the event.
The former Lagos Governor said it would not be proper for him as a statesman to be celebrating when such a tragedy had befallen the nation.
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.
Packaged by Alaba Igbaroola
