EXTRA: ’58 and 60′ — confusion as Abbas gets different ages in birthday wishes

Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, officially turned 58 on Sunday. He was born in 1963.

Born on October 1, the speaker shares the same birthday with his nation Nigeria. But that is only half the story. 

As is the norm when it comes to anniversaries of persons in power in Nigeria, several well-wishers took to the mainstream media to celebrate and eulogise the speaker.

In a birthday message, the house of representatives described Abbas as a “worthy mentor and inspiration”.

“The House of Representatives celebrates with our leader and the presiding officer of the 10th Assembly, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, PhD., on the occasion of his 58th birthday, today, October 1, 2023,” the statement reads in part.

In a separate statement, Yusuf Gagdi, chairman of the house committee on navy, congratulated Abbas “on the occasion of his 58th birthday”, saying his leadership within the last three months has “projected the legislative arm of government as truly the house of Nigerians”.

ONE WISH STANDS OUT

In a statement felicitating the speaker, Kenneth Ifekudu, a businessman, said he is proud of Abbas’ “landmark achievements” as he turns 60.

Ifekudu is an Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR).

He was one of the 340 Nigerians who received national honours in the twilight of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

The differences in the speaker’s date of birth as seen in two different birthday wishes, have elicited mixed reactions on X, formerly known as Twitter.

See the comments below:

Everything in Nigeria will confuse you: pic.twitter.com/QgH3jWISy1

— Great Oracle Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary (@AbdulMahmud01) October 1, 2023

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I am thoroughly entertained ooo…🤣😅😂😅

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— Tee_man (@kaizen_052) October 1, 2023

Is he the 15th or the 10th speaker of the House Of Representative?

Biography states 15th, postal states 10th.

I’m more 🌽fuse. pic.twitter.com/8XHklo9URC

— burjsly 🇳🇬🇹🇿🇦🇪🇲🇦 (@phantomXsly) October 1, 2023

It’s not confusing sir, he is in his late fifties and early sixties and you know that’s between 58 -60 yrs 😉

— Edidiong Asuquo 🕳💤 (@EddyMacflow) October 2, 2023

58 or 60…..you get it? Shame in high places. Please how did we get here sir? This comedy series is enough. E no go end?

— Gbangbalàsánta Olúwaségunfúnmi QS (@moorejoe442) October 1, 2023

But I don’t get
What if the first one was two years ago and the second one this year 🙄
Coz if you check they were signed by different people
M not an agbado but I need clarification please 🙏

— VA DO (@De_VADO_) October 2, 2023

As no hospital keeps records in Nigeria, many fall victim of having more than one date of birth, like my father say I am X Yr old, later found out that I’m Y Yr old, also many adjust their age so as to go for NYSC, orisirisi. Sad

— AMAZING 🇳🇬 (@alltundephunsaw) October 2, 2023

Approximate 58 to the nearest zero pic.twitter.com/Cw0XR45ubi

— 🫶MAYOR OF REMOLAND🫶 (@Phoenix_Remo) October 1, 2023