President Bola Tinubu has decided to have a simple 72nd birthday celebration due to the difficult situation the country is going through.
The President will be 72 on Friday.
However, he has asked his friends not to arrange any events but to take the chance to think and commit themselves again to the job of building.
In a statement on Sunday, his Special Adviser, Media and Information Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, mentioned recent killings of Army and police members in Delta State and other security breaches as causes for the nation's somber mood.
The statement said,"President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will turn 72 on Friday, March 29, 2024. The day will be another important milestone in his life as a leader and a statesman.
"During an auspicious occasion as this, it is customary for family members, friends and associates to celebrate him in different ways.
"As the leader of our country, President Tinubu, respecting 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 organize any celebratory event on his behalf or in his name.
"President Tinubu appreciates the honor 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.
"Because of the present mood of the nation and recent killings 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.
This is the first time Tinubu will be marking his birthday as President having been sworn-in on May 29, 2023.
As part of his birthday celebrations, the Nigerian leader usually organises a colloquium where matters of the state are discussed.
However, the event has not held since 2021.
Tinubu, in honor of the victims of Kaduna train attack, cancelled the colloquium in 2022 while also opting for prayers for the country instead for his 71st birthday in 2023.
