Former governor of Lagos State and the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu greatly surprised the already assembled well-wishers at the Eko Hotel for the 13th edition of its annual birthday colloquium, when he announced the cancellation of the edition to signpost his 70th birthday anniversary as mark of respect for those that died in the Abuja-Kaduna train terrorists attack.
Asiwaju Tinubu, a presidential hopeful of the APC, 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.”
Member House of Representatives for the Ikeja Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon James Abiodun Faleke in a chat with Lagos Panorama after the event was called off by the Presidential hopeful opined that the prompt and spontaneous decision by Asiwaju Tinubu is an indication of how compassionate and responsive leadership quality of the former governor of Lagos State.
Faleke said “we were all seated ready for the commencement of the 13th annual Colloquium to celebrate the 70th birthday of our iconic leader, after he received details about the Kaduna train attack, he decided to call off the Colloquium meant to signpost his 70th birthday, you don’t celebrate 70th twice, but a compassionate and responsive leader in reaction to the unfortunate Kaduna train attack, opted to cancel the celebration. To me, this act have accentuated how compassionate and responsive leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is”.
“We have always known him for this, that is why he has been able to groom and mentor several other leaders”
“The attack on the Abuja-Kaduna bound train was very unfortunate and I pray that God reposed the souls of those who lost their lives and grant their family the grace to bear the unfortunate loss” the federal lawmaker prayed.
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 and former governor of Ogun State 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’.
