…Donates advert money to charity instead
…’Because of challenging times’
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu will celebrate his 72nd birthday come Friday March 29, but without any major birthday event.
In press release signed by the president’s special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, and made available to the Nigerian NewsDirect on Sunday, the president will not host any birthday event because of the challenging times.
The release reads, “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.”
Onanuga also said, 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 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, the directive is 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.
The president according to the release advised 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,” he stated.