TheCable

The presidency says President Bola Tinubu will not celebrate his 72nd birthday “in deference to the challenging times” in the country.

In a statement on Sunday, Bayo Onanuga, presidential aide, said Tinubu would be 72 on March 29, but “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”.

Onanuga added that the president also “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”.

“According to him, because of the present mood of the nation and the recent killing of the officers and men of our Army and Police in Delta State and the 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,” the statement reads.

“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.”

Onanuga noted that Tinubu “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”.