President Bola Tinubu has expressed deep appreciation to Nigerians for their outpouring of goodwill and prayers as he marked his 73rd birthday. At a special Iftar held in his honour at the Presidential Villa on Saturday night, President Tinubu thanked guests for their presence, prayers, and contributions to the nation's development.

Acknowledging the challenges he faced on his path to the presidency, President Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to advancing Nigeria's progress. The gathering included the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and his wife, Nana Shettima, members of the Federal Executive Council, principal officers of the National Assembly, current and former governors, diplomats, business leaders, religious figures, and some of the President's childhood friends.

Dr. Abdulkadir Salman Sholagberu, Imam of the National Mosque, Abuja, led special prayers seeking divine guidance and continued progress for the President and the nation.Reflecting on his political journey, President Tinubu recounted a moment of doubt during the 2023 election campaign when he contemplated withdrawing from the race after an encounter with a close relative.

President Tinubu noted that he assumed office during a time of economic uncertainty and had to make immediate, difficult decisions, including removing the fuel subsidy. Nothing that Nigeria had reached a point of no return on the issue, the President said: "The hallmark of a great leader is the ability to make the right decision at the right time. That was the day he declared that the subsidy was gone. Vice President Kashim Shettima lauded the President's sacrifices, stating that history will remember him as the leader who took on the nation's most complex challenges.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio praised the President's ability to forgive and his relentless passion for national development. Akpabio described the President as a leader who thinks outside the box and as the 'most audacious president' in the country's history. He said that, under Tinubu's watch, governors are getting more allocation. Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, described President Tinubu as a leader who has broken barriers and uplifted future Nigerian politicians.He noted that the President had taken a backseat to raising leaders for decades. Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State commended the President's decisive leadership at a time when Nigeria needed stability.