A SPECIAL prayer at the Central Mosque, Alausa and an interdenominational service at the Chapel of Christ the Light are holding today to mark the 71st birthday of President-elect, Asíwájú Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Both services, holding at the Central Business District (CBD), Alausa, Ikeja-Lagos and other parts of the country, were directed by the celebrator, instead of the yearly birthday colloquium.
A statement from the Office of the President-Elect on Monday indicated that special prayers will be offered for the peace, unity and progress of Nigeria.
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 Mrs. Nana Shettima, Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu, other state governors as well as members of National and State Houses of Assembly.
According to an announcement by the organisers of the prayer sessions issued by Imam Akeem Kosoko, the session at Alausa Central Mosque will begin at 10am.
The interdenominational service will hold simultaneously the Chapel of Christ The Light.
This year will be the third in recent times the birthday colloquium will not hold in deference to developments in the country.
In 2020, the 12th edition of the colloquium marking Asíwájú’s 68th birthday was put off to empathize with those who lost their lives or affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last year, the birthday symposium was also called off by Asíwájú Tinubu right at the venue of the event when news filtered in that a terror attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train claimed passengers’ lives and many others abducted.
The Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos venue was already filled to capacity with dignitaries to celebrate the birthday when Asíwájú took to the podium to announce the cancellation of the event.
The former Lagos governor said it would not be proper for him as a statesman to be celebrating when such a tragedy had befallen the nation.
“For me to be here celebrating, dancing and enjoying myself, does not speak of me as a senior citizen of this country. I asked that the cleric should rather engage in prayers. This event should not be holding,” Tinubu told guests on the occasion.
This year, the president-elect said the date, which falls within the holy month of Ramadan and Christian Lent, should be dedicated to prayers and seeking God’s guidance for him and the country as he prepares to take the reins of leadership.