By Ken Afor
In light of the current challenges facing the nation, Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has asked his friends and associates not to organize birthday events or publish birthday goodwill advertisements in newspapers to mark his 72nd birthday on Friday, March 29, 2024.
This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
According to the statement, President Tinubu deemed it inappropriate to hold any birthday celebrations given the recent tragic events, including the loss of officers and men of the Nigerian Army and the Police in Delta State, as well as security breaches by criminal elements across Nigeria.
Instead, President Tinubu encouraged individuals intending to extend birthday wishes to redirect their contributions towards charitable organizations.
Despite acknowledging the valour of the armed forces in recent rescue operations in Kuriga, Kaduna State, and Sokoto State, President Tinubu emphasized the need for reflection and rededication to the task of nation-building.
The statement reads in part, “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.
“President Tinubu enjoins friends and associates who may wish to place goodwill advertorials to kindly donate the money to charity organisations of their choice in his name.
“Although the President appreciates the gallantry of our armed forces in freeing our children kidnapped in Kuriga, Kaduna State and in Sokoto State, he will use the opportunity of his birthday to reflect and re-dedicate himself to the task of building a more stable, more secure, virile, prosperous and united Nigeria.”
It would be recalled that on Thursday, March 14, 2024, 17 soldiers on a peace mission were reportedly murdered in Ukuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Elsewhere, on March 7, some armed bandits stormed Government Secondary School and LEA Primary School, Kuriga in Chikun LGA of Kaduna state, and abducted a reported number of 287 persons including school children and staff.
However, the Nigerian military on Sunday said it has rescued 137 of the kidnapped victims, including 76 females and 61 males.
Also, on January 24, 2024, six police officers were ambushed by armed assailants while undertaking a mission to investigate the disappearance and rescue of three of their colleagues in the Ohoro Forest, Ughelli North LGA of Delta State, while six others are currently missing-in-action, according to the Nigerian Police Force (NPF).
