ormer Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and a
presidential aspirant of the All Progressives
Congress (APC) on Sunday called off a
celebration organized to commemorate his
birthday.
Atiku clocked 68 last Tuesday and his friends
and associates organized a birthday
celebration in his honour at the THISDAY
dome in Abuja on Saturday.
However, Atiku told his associates that he was
in no mood for any celebration with the triple
blast at the Central Mosque in Kano, which
killed over a hundred persons and injured
over two hundred others.
“Because invitations have already been sent
and guests have travelled from far and near, it
was not possible to issue an outright
cancellation,” said Paul Ibe, an official in the
former vice president’s media office.
Mr. Ibe also said Atiku was actually a guest at
the event, because it was organized by his
friends and associate who invited him like
any other guest.
“ His Excellency Atiku Abubakar arrived at
about 8pm. He came into Abuja from Akure
and he told the guests that he hardly ever
celebrate his birthdays because they are
always days of reflection for him.
“He however said he agreed to the celebration
this year because his wife was called to the
bar,
“However, as soon as he arrived and after the
national anthem, he called for a minute of
silence and also called on a Muslim cleric to
offer prayers, followed by the Christian prayer
by former Ekiti state governor, Segun Oni, for
the repose of the victims of yesterday’s attack
in Kano as well as similar attacks in
Kontagora, Potiskum Mubi and Maiduguri in
recent times,” Mr. Ibe said.
Mr. Ibe also quoted Atiku as telling the guests
that “these are not the times for celebrations”.
He said Atiku called on all the guests to be
steadfast in prayers for the return of total
peace to Nigeria.
He added that the APC presidential aspirant
then left the venue immediately after the
prayers and his short remarks.
Mr. Ibe said the celebration was planned to be
“full blown” before Atiku called it off.
Some of the guests at the venue of the
celebration included the National Chairman of
the APC, John Oyegun, Speaker Aminu
Tambuwal, Senate Minority Leader, George
Akume, and business mogul, Kekere Ekun.
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