Tinubu Cancels 13th Colloquium Due To Abuja-Kaduna Train Attack …Says 60 People Died In The Unfortunate Incident

By Benjamin Omoike
President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo were conspicuously absent at the 13th Colloquium held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, in commemoration of the 70 years birthday celebration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; even as the celebrant cancelled the event due to news of the tragic incident involving an attack upon a train along the Abuja-Kaduna route.
According to Tinubu, due to his busy schedule in the last few days, he hadn’t been properly briefed about the unfortunate incident until he got to the venue of the event. As such, he felt the need, after consultation with his close associates, to call of the programme, for guests to go back home and pray for the departed souls; also to pray for those who had suffered various degrees of injuries, and above all, to pray for security of the nation.
Tinubu stated that information reaching him said about 60 people died in the dastardly act.  
“In solemn recognition of the tragic loss of precious souls yesterday evening, I took the decision to cancel this year’s Colloquium held in my honour.
“Today is a day for sober reflection and a renewal of our collective determination to end the terrorist menace. Information reaching me say about 60 people have died as a result of this unfortunate incident. I will call upon the Imams and the clergymen here to come and pray for the repose of the departed souls and for those who are injured and are currently receiving treatment. 
“I would also like to implore us all to go back home and pray for the security of this nation. I have consulted with my associates and I do not believe we should be here celebrating with all of this going on in our country now. I will also ask that we observe a minute silence for the departed souls, Tinubu said.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari and VP Yemi Osinbajo snubbed the 70th birthday celebration of the APC national leader.
 It has been an annual thing for Tinubu to hold a celebration together with a Colloquium, which the President and his Vice President always attend. It took a new turn this year as the President was in Abuja presiding over a meeting, while VP Osinbajo was in Kaduna to check up on victims of the Abuja-Kaduna train terrorist attack, which happened in Monday night. While the celebration was going on with guests already seated, Tinubu mounted the podium to cancel the 13th colloquium to celebrate his birthday. 
According to him, it was to honour the victims of the train attack, which led to the death of unconfirmed number of passengers, according to reports.
Present at the event were Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat; Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; former Ogun State Governor, Segun Osoba; Minister for Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, Minister of State for Health, Olorunbe Mamora, among others.