Governor Alia of Benue State observed a low-key birthday celebration for his mother, Martina Mbateren Alia, on Saturday, joining family members for a private visit and a thanksgiving service.
The Governor in a post on his Facebook page said he paid a surprise call to his mother at home, where children gathered and sang “Happy Birthday, Mama.”
According to Governor Alia, his mother was taken aback as she had forgotten the date.
The gathering, he said, was modest in scale but marked by warmth and laughter.
On Sunday the family attended a Thanksgiving Mass to give thanks for Mama Alia’s life and longevity.
In remarks shared after the service, the Governor expressed gratitude for his mother’s continued health and solicited prayers for “peace, grace and many more fruitful years.”
“Happy Birthday and Happy Thanksgiving, dear Mother,” Governor Alia said.
“We love you, we honour you, and we celebrate you today and always. May God continue to bless, strengthen and keep you,” the Benue Governor noted.
