As Muslims in Nigeria join their fellow faithful all over the world to mark the Ed-id-el-Fitri, prominent Nigerians have tasked them and other Nigerians on peace, tolerance, nation building and respect for other people. Some of those who sent in messages yesterday included former Governors of Abia and Lagos states, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Senate President, Bukola Saraki; former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; Governors of Lagos, Enugu, Kwara, and Nasarawa among other states. Kalu charged Nigerians to live in peace and harmony, adding that the future of the country was bright under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Kalu pointed out that the heterogeneous nature of Nigeria should be seen as an advantage, noting that peaceful co-existence among Nigerians regardless of religion, tribe, economic and social status was a panacea for sustainable development In a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Alhaji Kunle Oyewumi, Kalu said: “It is indeed another opportunity to join our Muslim brothers and sisters to celebrate this year’s Eid-el-Fitr in commemoration of the successful completion of the month-long spiritual exercise.
“The tenets of the holy month of Ramadan must be sustained by the Muslim Ummah as a way of keeping to the teachings of the holy Qu’ran and exemplary qualities of Prophet Mohammed.”Atiku urged Muslims in the country to portray Islam positively through the spirit of tolerance and commitment to peaceful coexistence in their everyday conducts.
He said: ” It is an important reminder to the Muslim faithful that there are millions of others who go without food daily on account of their poverty.” Tinubu said that the Ramadan period, apart from providing a period of self examination and deep reflection, has become a necessary tonic for both religious commitment and nationalistic revitalization.
He urged Nigerians that after the Ramadan comes the big task of working for the betterment of our neighbours and of Nigeria. “Nigeria must feel the impact of the fasting and prayers in the new spirit of tolerance, good neighbourliness, patriotism, compassion and forgiveness.”
Saraki appealed to Nigerians to tolerate one another and live in harmony. He also urged Muslim faithful in the country to sustain the values and virtues which the holy month of Ramadan taught them in their day-to-day relationship with God and fellow human beings.
In a statement in Abuja by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, he urged all Nigerians to remain steadfast and prayerful in the face of daunting socioeconomic challenges. Saraki said: “I urge all Nigerians, across religious divide, to remain steadfast, prayerful and patriotic.”
Also, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, called on the Nigerian Muslims to use the occasion of this year’s Eid el Fitri to pray for divine intervention in the face of various forms of difficulties confronting the nation.
He said: “On this blessed occasion, I rejoice with the Nigerian Muslims and wish them a hitch-free Sallah celebration.” Ambode cautioned against acts that would divide rather than unite the country, urging Nigerians to rededicate themselves to the cause of a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria where citizens regardless of ethnic, religious, political or social status can flourish.
In a message issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, the Governor said that the nation needed brotherly love and harmonious co-existence among her citizens above all other things to overcome its numerous challenges.
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State called on Muslim faithful and Nigerians in general to take advantage of the spiritual rebirth that Ramadan represents to promote love, peace and justice as well as reflect on the importance of unity in the country.
Ugwuanyi, in a state ment signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Louis Amoke, noted that the significance of the Muslim festival was enormous and compelling for all Nigerians to embrace one another and affirm the trust of the founding fathers towards a peaceful, united and prosperous nation.
Cross River State Governor, Senator Ben Ayade, urged Muslims to strive towards strengthening peaceful coexistence and good neighbourliness in the country for the betterment of the people. Ayade, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Chief Press Secretary, Mr Christian Ita, said: “Nigerians must imbibe the lessons of the Ed-el Fitri, which include love, kindness, piety, sacrifice, peaceful coexistence and commitment to duty.”
Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko appealed to Muslims in the country to maintain the tempo of their supplications to God during the Ramadan period, stressing that the country still remained in dire need of prayers more than ever before to surmount her numerous challenges.
In his message issued by the State’s Commissioner for Information, Mr Kayode Akinmade in Akure, Mimiko called on Muslims in the nation to also sustain the lessons of Rammadan by allowing the God-like characters they lived all through the period to become a way of life for them.
Governor Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa State called on Muslims to use the lessons of the Ramadan period as a formidable tool to build the fabric of national unity. In a Sallah message issued through his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Ahmed Tukur, Al-makura, expressed optimism that the nation experiences ultimate benefit from the spiritual lesions from the Ramadan.
Also, Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, charged leaders and the well-to-do individuals in the country to show concerns for the poor in whatever they do either in their public or private life. The governor noted that everybody would one day give account of his/her stewardship to the Creator.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, in Ado- Ekiti, the governor said, “with the hardship that Nigerians are currently going through, this is not the period to turn a deaf ear to their crying for the amelioration of their situation.”
No comments:
Post a Comment