As President-Elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu calls for Nigerians to engage spiritually in commemorating his 71st birthday, a special prayers session was held at Ikorodu Central Mosque, Obun-Oke, Ikorodu.
The unique prayers and thanksgiving service dated Wednesday, March 29, 2023, was organised as directed by the President-Elect, instead of his annual birthday colloquium.
Presided over by the Grand Chief Imam of Ikorodu division, Sheikh (Alhaji) Seifudeen Ayinla Ademoritan Olowo-Oribi, the devotion program drew Islamic clerics from the six districts consisting of Ikorodu division.
Chief Asipa Kaoli, Alhaji Waheed Animashaun, Hon. Lanre Balogun, Alhaji Decubano and other party leaders were in attendance.
Executive Chairman of Ikorodu Local Government, Hon. Wasiu Adesina, Bldr Olusesan Daini, Executive Chairman of Igbogbo Baiyeku LCDA, Hon. Motunrayo Gbadebo-Alogba, Executive Chairman of Ijede LCDA and Bldr Adeola Adebisi Banjo, Executive Chairman of Ikorodu North LCDA also joined the sacred gathering as well.
Coinciding with the Ramadan season, Sheikh (Alhaji) Chief Imam Seifudeen Ayinla Ademoritan Olowo-Oribi, in his lecture urged the Muslim faithfuls to prioritise praying for the peace, unity and progress of Nigeria as the nation readies to embrace another duration of leadership.
Sheikh Olowo-Oribi further prayed to Almighty Allah to grant Bola Tinubu long life, good health and wisdom with which he would oversee the nation to a prestigious elevation as President.
Subsequently, the Grand Chief Imam and over a hundred rabi Imams who assembled in the mosque, read the full Quran to offer prayers for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking from his administration standpoint, Hon Wasiu Adesina, Executive Chairman of Ikorodu LG said Tinubu’s electoral victory was the providence of God and that such prayer session is timely and ideal in reverence to Almighty God to further lead him right to steer the affairs of the country.
According to Adesina, for Asiwaju to put his birthday colloquium on hold for the third time to lift the nation into the hands of Almighty God shows the kind of leader he is.
“We must continue to pray for him for God to grant him the strength and capacity to take this country to a higher level” Adesina asserted.
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 Asiwaju’s 68th birthday was put off to empathize with those who lost their lives or were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
And in 2022, the birthday symposium was also called off by Asiwaju Tinubu right at the venue of the event when news emerged of the terror attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train in which several persons died and many others were abducted.
The Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos venue was already filled with dignitaries to celebrate the birthday when Asiwaju took to the podium to announce the cancellation of the event.
The former Governor of Lagos had said it would not be proper for him as a statesman to be celebrating when such a tragedy had befallen the nation.
This year, the president-elect said the date, which falls within the holy month of Ramadan, should be dedicated to prayers and seeking God’s guidance for him and the country as he prepares to take the reins of leadership.
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