The Vice President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima has urged his numerous friends and political allies to refrain from placing birthday wishes on newspaper pages or utilizing paid channels to convey their birthday greetings in their endeavours to commemorate his birthday.
The Vice President turns 67 on Saturday September 2.
In a press statement he personally signed, the Vice President stated that the decision was made “in the spirit of our nation’s commitment to responsible resource management and responsive governance.”
He appealed such amounts earmarked for his birthday felicitations be channelled towards assisting the needy or less privileged members of the society.
Below is the full text of the Vice President’s press statement:
“Dear friends and well-wishers,
“Greetings to you all.
“As we approach the anniversary of my birth on September 2nd, I am utterly grateful for the warm wishes and kind sentiments that many of you have expressed over the years. Your thoughtfulness has touched my heart and has been a source of immense joy.
“At the same time, I would like to take this opportunity to humbly request that you consider celebrating this occasion in a different way. In the spirit of our nation’s commitment to responsible resource management and responsive governance, I kindly ask you to refrain from placing birthday wishes on newspaper pages or utilizing paid channels to convey your greetings.
“I invite you to join me in channeling our collective efforts towards a nobler cause. Instead of spending resources on such messages, I encourage you to contribute to the betterment of our society by donating to charity organizations in need, or your preference, in our collective pursuit of a humane and functional world.
“Thank you for your understanding and for being my all-weather friends and allies.
Warm regards.
