A former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu, has urged friends and family to convert gifts for her 80th birthday into feeding the less privileged.

Ojikutu, Nigeria’s first democratically elected female deputy governor, made the appeal in a statement on Sunday ahead of her 80th birthday celebration scheduled for Thursday.

She declared the day a moment of sobriety, urging prayers for survival and sustenance across the world.

According to her, the occasion should reflect love and compassion towards the deprived and the less privileged in society.

“The message from God is strong. There’s a need to humble ourselves through fasting and prayers to ease the suffering in the land. It’s not only in Nigeria; it’s happening across the world. Look at what’s happening in America now,” she added.

Ojikutu said her birthday wish was for all intended gifts to be converted into food for the needy, with pictures of such gestures shared with her.

She said the revelation she received indicated worsening global hardship unless people fasted and prayed to avert the looming crisis.

According to her, the call for fasting and prayer on her birthday was to seek divine intervention against the growing economic hardship.

Ojikutu described the current hardship as severe, urging collective prayers for relief and for divine wisdom for world leaders.

She appealed to God-fearing people everywhere to fast and pray for the world to overcome the impending disaster.

(NAN)