Admirers pray for good health as Putin clocks 70
Russian President Vladimir Putin turned 70 on Friday amid fawning congratulations
from subordinates and a plea from Orthodox Patriarch Kirill for all to pray for his good health.
Mr Putin, who vowed to end the chaos which gripped Russia after the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union, is facing the most serious military crisis any Kremlin chief has faced for at least a generation since the Soviet-Afghan war of 1979-89.
Obsequious officials hailed Mr Putin as the saviour of modern Russia while the patriarch of Moscow and All Russia implored the country to say two days of special prayers so that God grants Putin “health and longevity”.
Mr Kirill said “we pray to you, our Lord God, for the head of the Russian State, Vladimir Vladimirovich, and ask you to give him your rich mercy and generosity.
“Grant him health and longevity, and deliver him from all the resistances of visible and invisible enemies, confirm him in wisdom and spiritual strength, for all, Lord hear and have mercy,” Mr Kirill said.
Opponents such as jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny said that Mr Putin has led Russia down a dead end towards ruin, building a brittle system of incompetent sycophants that will ultimately collapse and bequeath chaos.
Supporters said Mr Putin saved Russia from destruction by an arrogant and aggressive West.
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov added that “today, our national leader, one of the most influential and outstanding personalities of our time, the number one patriot in the world, President of the Russian Federation turns 70 years old!”
“Putin has changed the global position of Russia and forced the world to reckon with the position of our great state.’’
(Reuters/NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
World
Trump, Harris make final campaign rounds, millions vote early
More than 75 million Americans have already cast ballots, according to the Election Lab.
World
Woman trapped in car for three days rescued as Spain’s flood deaths hit 211
Rescue workers heard the woman screaming as they towed away cars stuck in a tunnel.
World
Iran threatens to retaliate against Israel, U.S. as fighting continues
The danger of a major, open war between Iran and Israel recently increased.
States
Gov. Oborevwori mourns Delta’s ex-deputy governor, Utuama
The governor said that Mr Utuama died in Warri in the early hours of Saturday.
Politics
Newly elected Ebonyi PDP chairman promises to reconcile aggrieved members
The new PDP chairman promised to run an open-door administration.
States
Stakeholders seek protection, welfare for journalists covering conflicts
Mr Badmos decried the inhuman workplaces and situations journalists work.