All Progressives Congress National Leader and former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has cancelled the 13th edition of the annual colloquium as mark of respect for those that died in an attack on a Kaduna-bound train.
Tinubu, a presidential aspirant in the All Progressives Congress (APC), who announced the cancellation just after the National Anthem at the colloquium, described the attack as a national tragedy, said the event could not continue in the wake of the attack on a train heading to Kaduna state from Abuja.
“I have just been informed of a very sad incident in our country – very sad – that people were killed and bombed on a train to Kaduna from Abuja,” Tinubu told guests at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
He added: “I have just been informed of a very sad incident in our country; very sad indeed, that over 60 people were killed and injured on the Abuja-Kaduna train last night. That is a very serious incident and it calls for sober reflection.
“It is a sad incident and calls for serious sober reflection.
“Dancing and enjoying myself at this time does not show enough concern of a statesman and senior citizen of this country. This event should not be holding and so it is cancelled.
“I urge the clergies here to continue to pray for God to help us win the war over evil, set Nigeria on the right path, bless us and provide guidance on all of us in our various ways.
“Everyone should also go home and pray. This event should not be holding. We pray for the souls who have departed prematurely that they find rest. We also pray God to bring peace and stability to our country, accept the souls of the departed and give succor and healing to the injured.”
Prayers were led by Lagos chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Stephen Adegbite and Chief Imam of Lagos Sheikh Sulaiman Abuo Nola.
The Kaduna-bound train derailed after explosives believed to be planted on the rail track went off close to Rigasa area of the state.
The train, which took off from Idu Train Station at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, hit the explosive device about 30 minutes to Rigasa train station in Kaduna at a point between Katari and Rijana.
There are no official confirmations on the number of people that died, injured or kidnapped at the time of filing this report.
President Muhammadu Buhari was listed as the chairman of the occasion.
Professor Olufemi Bamiro, the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, was scheduled as the keynote speaker – to engage the central theme, ‘Pivoting Nigeria into the new world order: Imperatives of Good Governance’
Dignitaries at the event were Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); Gboyega Oyetola (Osun) and Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano).
There were former Ogun State governors Ibikunle Amosun and veteran journalist, Chief Olusegun Osoba.
Also in attendance were former Borno Governor Kashim Shettima and former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission chairman (EFCC) Nuhu Ribadu.
Royal Fathers include Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi; Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi; Elegushi of Ikateland, Oba Saheed Elegushi and Oniru of Iruland, Oba Gbolahan Lawal, among others.
The business world was led by Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Mr Femi Otedola. Nollywood artistes at the event include Jide Kosoko, Adebayo Salami, Iya Rainbow, Lanre Hassan (Iya Awero), Yinka Quadri, Taiwo Hassan (Ogogo), Elesho, among other associates of the APC national leader.
