Commendations have trailed Tuesday’s decision by All Progressives Congress’s presidential aspirant, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to cancel a colloquium scheduled to hold in celebration of his 70th birthday.
The former Lagos State governor cancelled the 13th edition of the annual colloquium as mark of respect for those that died in an attack on a Kaduna-bound train.
Tinubu, who lamented the bombing, said the event could not continue in the wake of the attack on a train heading to Kaduna State from Abuja.
“I have just been informed of a very sad incident in our country – very sad – that people were killed and bombed on a train to Kaduna from Abuja,” Tinubu told guests at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
“It is a sad incident and calls for serious sober reflection.”
The Kaduna-bound train derailed after explosives believed to be planted on the rail track went off close to Rigasa area of the state.
The train, which took off from Idu Train Station at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, hit the explosive device about 30 minutes to Rigasa train station in Kaduna at a point between Katari and Rijana.
Some of the guests at the cancelled Tinubu 13th colloquium celebration include Lagos and Kano state governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Abdullahi Ganduje, former Ogun State governor Ibikunle Amosun, veteran Nigerian journalist Olusegun Osoba and other associates of the APC national leader.
The colloquim was billed to examine emerging global development issues and the importance of good governance for Nigeria to be an influential and respected member of the international community.
Nigeria President Muhammadu was listed as the chairman of the occasion.
Professor Olufemi Bamiro, the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, was scheduled as the keynote speaker – to engage the central theme, ‘Pivoting Nigeria into the new world order: Imperatives of Good Governance’.
Applauding the decision, a former Managing Director of Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), Mr. Mobolaji Sanusi, said it showed that Tinubu is a humanist who cares for the well-being of the citizenry.
He said cancelling an occasion that had attracted dignitaries from different walks of life to honour the victims of the bombing “has reflected on the impact of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on humanity”.
Speaking with journalists in Lagos, Sanusi noted that Tinubu who turned 70 on Tuesday, is an achiever, a professional, and one imbued with wisdom.
In a congratulatory message titled, “Asiwaju’s Pan-Nigerian Empathy”, Sanusi noted that “Asiwaju Bolatito Ahmed Tinubu was a Senator of the Federal Republic.”
“He is a former governor of Lagos State. And now, a promising presidential aspirant in the upcoming 2023 Presidential election.
“As an achiever, professional and political wise, he has drawn as much applause as much as flaks from admirers and adversaries respectively. For the latter group, the flaks have been more of envy than genuine.”
Sanusi informed that his reason for bringing up critics’ allegations was only to clear the fog.
“The reason for this observation is not far fetched. As for Tinubu, the adversaries would easily read negative meanings for all his actions.
“Most of them will quickly point out his not attending to ‘regrettable’ events in the southern parts of the country generally. Whether in Ibadan, Oyo state capital or in Igbogbo.
“They castigate him for helping victims of burnt market in Katsina and in other states outside the southern parts of the country.
“Yet, they forget that humanity has no race, colors or sentiments.
“Just recently at the 25th convocation of the Lagos State University (LASU), Tinubu donated N1 Billion Leadership Centre to the institution.
“Nobody has ever criticised him for this humanitarian gesture to a citadel of learning in the south. Again today, after much preparations, costing several millions of naira, Tinubu in the midst of the colloquium marking his 70th birthday, stopped and canceled the entire process as a mark of respect to victims of banditry in Kaduna State in the northern part of the country. This is an act of selflessness and humanity personified by Tinubu,” Sanusi eulogised.
He said he was yet to hear the sound of applause from Tinubu’s adversaries in the wake of the Katsina incident.
“So far, no whimper of condemnation from adversaries that have turned Tinubu into an object to be unjustifiably condemned.
“Tinubu’s latest act is pan-Nigerian and should be applauded by Nigerians with empathy flowing in their veins.
Tinubu, as a human being, is not immune to erring but where he gets it right, Nigerians, irrespective of tribal or ethnic affiliation should be bold enough to come out to commend him.
“Whatever it is, the country needs a pan-Nigerian with humanity flowing in him as the next president of the country.
“Well done Asíwájú Tinubu for your pan-Nigerian humanity,” he further applauded.
In the same vein, a communication expert and Commissioner in the Lagos Internal Revenue Service, Alhaja Kafilat Ogbara, said “the decision shows that Tinubu is a father who cares for all”.
“If it were some other person, they would proceed with the event, in spite of the Kaduna-Abuja train explosion, which is a national disaster
“But here is Asiwaju who cares for all, and apparently deserves to lead the country come next year,” Ogbara commended.