The Arewa Think Tank group on Sunday held a special prayer session to mark the 74th birthday of President Bola Tinubu and to seek divine backing for his re-election in the 2027 general elections.
The event, held at Arewa House in Kaduna, drew religious leaders, political stakeholders, and members of the group, who offered prayers for the president and the nation.
The group’s convener, Muhammad Yakubu, said the gathering was aimed at seeking divine guidance for the country and its leadership, noting that prayers were imperative given Nigeria’s prevailing challenges.
Yakubu described Tinubu as a courageous leader who had taken bold decisions to tackle long-standing economic problems.
“At 74, the president is confronting realities others avoided, and implementing reforms that are critical to Nigeria’s future,” he said.
He said critics of the administration were individuals who had opportunities to lead in the past but failed to deliver, adding that Nigerians had become more discerning.
According to him, key policy moves by the administration, including the removal of the fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange system, were necessary steps toward economic recovery.
“Reforms are not always comfortable, but they are essential for sustainable growth. Anyone promising easy solutions without sacrifice is not being sincere,” he added.
Yakubu urged Nigerians, particularly those in the northern region, to support the administration’s policies and remain united regardless of ethnic or religious divides.
He also called on opposition figures to focus on presenting their records rather than engaging in empty rhetoric.
The Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, represented by his Special Adviser on Stakeholders’ Relations, Abdul Ishaq, commended the organisers, saying prayers for leaders and the country were vital to achieving peace and development.
Sani said the Kaduna State Government had invested heavily in infrastructure, youth development, and rural transformation.
Former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari, represented by Senator Tijjani Yahya, congratulated Tinubu on his birthday and appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience, saying the administration was on course to reform the country.
“Yes, people may suffer for a while, but at the end, we will all smile when he finishes rebuilding the country; let’s give him the chance to finish his work,” Yari said.
