President-elect cancels 71st birthday colloquium, opts for prayers for Nigeria

The president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has called off the annual colloquium to mark his birthday and instead opted for special prayers and a thanksgiving service.

Tinubu will be 71 on Wednesday.

The ex-Lagos governor usually marks his birthday with a colloquium.

A media aide to the president-elect, Mr Tunde Rahman, said prayers would be held in Lagos and other parts of the country.

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.

“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,” he said.

In 2022, Tinubu cancelled his colloquium following an attack on a Kaduna-bound train from Abuja.

“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,” he had said at the time.