BREAKING: ‘Go home and pray’ — Tinubu cancels colloquium in honour of Abuja-Kaduna train attack victims

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former governor of Lagos state, has cancelled the colloquium organised in commemoration of his 70th birthday.

 

The chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said the event could not continue in the wake of the attack on a train heading to Kaduna state from Abuja.

 

The train was attacked by gunmen in the Kateri-Rijana area of Kaduna on Monday night. The train was said to have almost reached Rigasa, its final stop, before the attack.

 

Speaking shortly after his arrival at the colloquium in Eko Hotels, Lagos, on Tuesday, Tinubu said he cannot be celebrating amidst a national tragedy.

 

He asked the attendees to “go home and pray” for the victims of the attack.

He said, “Today is supposed to be a very joyful 70th birthday of mine living on earth. I give thanks to God Almighty for being able to survive to this age.

“I have just been informed of a very sad incident of over 60 people and many more were killed and bombed on a train between Kaduna and Abuja just last night,” he said.

 

“That is a very serious incident about the security of lives in this country and it calls for a very serious sober reflection.

 

“To me, to be here celebrating, dancing and enjoying myself doesn’t so show enough concern as a senior citizen.

 

“I will urge the two clergies present to continue to pray and every one of you to go home and pray. This event should not be holding.

 

“I have conferred with the people around me and they have agreed with me, and as a very highly committed democrat, I have [agreed with] their suggestions that this event be cancelled.

 

“We pray for those souls that have departed prematurely, we pray that Almighty God helps us win the war [against] evil and set Nigeria on the right path.”

 

Although the number of fatalities from the attack is yet to be known, victims are receiving treatment at St. Gerald Catholic Hospital and 44 NA Reference Hospital.