-Cancels Colloquium
By Nifemi Adefemi
President-Elect Bola Tinubu, who clocks 71 tomorrow, has called off the annual colloquium usually held to mark his birthday.
His spokesman, Mr. Tunde Rahman, in a statement yesterday, said prayers and thanksgiving services would be held in Lagos and other parts of the country to mark the occasion.
He said special prayers would be offered at the central mosque in each of the five divisions in Lagos state including, the central mosque, Alausa, Ikeja.
“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”
“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,” he said.
This is the third time in recent years that Tinubu has cancelled the birthday colloquium due to national developments.
It was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while last year’s symposium was cancelled after a terror attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train.