BEVERLY HILLS, March 29, (THEWILL) – Notable dignitaries, including Vice-President Yemi Osibanjo, were absent at the 69th birthday and 12th colloquium of former Governor of Lagos State and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
President Muhammadu Buhari might have sent the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, to represent him, but neither of them turned up eventually for an event Tinubu is said to be hosting outside Lagos for the first time in 12 editions.
READ ALSO: BOLA TINUBU @ 69 AND 2023 PRESIDENTIAL AMBITION
THEWILL learnt that the physical presence of the dignitaries, was on Monday disrupted by bad weather as many who were billed to travel to Kano by air were forced to make a U-turn.
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Some of those affected included: Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed; and the Minister of the Interior, Rauf Aregbesola.
Spokesman to the Vice-President, Laolu Akande, said in a tweet that Osinbajo would monitor the event virtually alongside President Muhammadu Buhari .
He tweeted, “VP Osinbajo spending the day celebrating Asiwaju on his 69th birthday was on course to Kano this morning until weather conditions aborted travel plans. He’ll alongside Mr. President join the 12th BAT Colloquium virtually from the Presidential Villa. Happy birthday Asiwaju.”
The event, which was expected to have begun at 12pm was shifted to 12.30pm due to the absence of several VIPs, a moderator informed attendees on the Zoom platform.
