Tinubu cancels events, advertorial messages on 72nd birthday

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday cancelled all events planned to mark his 72nd birthday on Friday, March 29.

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said the day will be another important milestone in his life as a leader and a statesman but there will be no event to celebrate Tinubu’s birthday.

“During an auspicious occasion as this, it is customary for family members, friends and associates to celebrate him in different ways,” Onanuga said on X.

“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 said 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 Nigerians.

According to Onanuga, Tinubu said because of the present mood of the nation and recent killing of the officers and men of the Nigerian Army and Police in Delta State and recent spate of security breaches by criminal elements in different parts of the country, there should be no form of birthday event and placing of birthday goodwill advertorial messages in newspapers.

Onanuga added that the President has also ordered that goodwill messages should not be placed on radio and television stations.

Tinubu has instead enjoined friends and associates who may wish to place goodwill advertorials to kindly donate the money to charity organisations of their choice in his name, Onanuga said.

“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.”