President Muhammadu Buhari has extended greetings to entire Nigerian citizens and Muslims on the occasion of the Eid-el-Maulud; the birthday of the Holy Prophet Muhammad.
In his message to mark this year’s Eid-el-Maulud by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Monday, Buhari wished all citizens peace, happiness, and good health.
He said that the nation was making great progress under the APC-led Federal Government in dealing with issues of security, the war against corruption, the reform and restructuring of the economy.
While noting the provision of infrastructure by the government, the president said: “But to be fully successful, the country needs the support and prayers of all citizens.’’
He also asked for prayers for the nation for peaceful electioneering as the nation embarks on the journey to democratic elections in 2019.
Buhari expressed the hope that the important Islamic ceremony of Eid-el-Maulud would help to promote mutual harmony and tolerance among all Nigerians.
Also in his Eid-el-Maulud message, President of the Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, urged Nigerians to use the opportunity of Prophet Muhammad’s birthday celebration to show love to one another and imbibe the virtues of perseverance and restraint.
In a message to commemorate this year’s Maulud’s anniversary, signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, the President of the Senate congratulated the Muslim Ummah on the birthday of the Holy Prophet and said that the occasion should inspire Nigerians to renew their belief in the Almighty Allah and the country.
Saraki charged Nigerians, particularly Muslims to always emulate and promote the virtues of Prophet Muhammad which include honesty, love for others and peaceful co-existence, saying “He, Prophet Muhammad preached and lived for peace and was revered and widely followed for his honesty and perseverance”.
The Maulud, he said, would not have come at a better time than now when the country is about to conduct elections, “this year’s Maulud has come at the most appropriate time for Nigerians to use it in praying for peaceful, free, fair and credible elections.”
“In all our campaigns, let us strive to live by the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad among which is to show respect for one another, irrespective of our political affiliation,” he said.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, also congratulated Muslims in the country on the commemoration of this year’s Eid-el-Maulud.
Dogara, in a statement on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan, called on the Muslim faithful to replicate in their lives, the virtues of righteousness, honestly, charity and peaceful coexistence as exemplified by Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
He said the celebration of the birth of the Prophet was an opportunity for the adherents to renew faiths, rejuvenate their spirit and engender love in the society.
“”The life of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and his teachings on piety, unity, charity, peaceful coexistence and good neighbourliness should serve as a lesson and guidance as we march towards building a nation of our dream.
”As we mark this year’s Eid Maulud, I wish to rejoice with our Muslim brothers and sisters and to urge that we take advantage of the occasion to renew our bond of unity and love as a people of common destiny and to continue to pray for peace, progress and stability of the nation, especially as we inch closer to 2019 general elections,” he said.