Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has advised his family, friends and associates to deploy resources earlier earmarked for signed congratulatory adverts to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and other charitable causes.

The chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gave the advice on Thursday, following media enquiries about his coming 70th birthday celebrations on November 25, 2016.

Atiku, in a statement issued by his media office in Abuja, said he wanted his friends and associates to celebrate him in the service of humanity instead of devoting money to adulatory and self-glorifying advert messages.

The Turakin Adamawa said touching lives of others is the best expression of gratitude to God for His boundless favours and blessings.

He explained that God has been "wonderfully kind to him for sustaining his life and keeping him in good health to witness yet another birthday event."

He said giving back to humanity has been his passion and that his friends and associates can honour him better if they spend their resources on charitable causes to celebrate his special day.

He said, "My special day, and indeed the season is one of reflection, of thanksgiving and prayers; of inestimable gratitude to God for attaining this milestone.

"I will forever cherish your prayers for more years in good health to enable me undertake whatever assignment God and humanity have set for me."

Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/politics/70th-birthday-donate-money-to-idps-not-adverts-atiku-tells-associates/171131.html#PmtPIQgjRpuDI53P.99