President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has cancelled his 72nd birthday celebration and told friends, associates, and other well-wishers not to place any advertorials in the newspapers.
President Tinubu, who will turn 72 on Friday, March 29, 2024, in a statement issued on Sunday, by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, urged his friends and associates to rather donate such funds to charity.
According to Onanuga, President Tinubu’s decision is informed by the present mood of the nation and the recent spate of security breaches by criminal elements in different parts of the country.
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.”
This is the first time Tinubu will be marking his birthday as President having been sworn-in on May 29, 2023.
As part of his birthday celebrations, the Nigerian leader usually organises a colloquium where matters of the state are discussed.
However, the event has not held since 2021.