President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila and a host of other influential Nigerians have sent congratulatory messages to Nigerians on this year’s occasion of Eid-el-Kabir.
In a statement by his media aide, Mallam Garba Shehu, the President emphasised the significance of the celebration, and appealed to Muslims “to demonstrate the good virtues of Islam.
The President said: “Taking advantage of the celebration to exploit fellow citizens through outrageous prices of food and rams is inconsistent with the fine virtues of Islam.
“As practising believers, we shouldn’t seek obscene profits by making life difficult and miserable for others. We should not seek happiness at the expense of others. Remember that Islam is a religion of charity that urges us to love our neighbour as we love ourselves.
President Buhari added: “I urge all Muslims to continue to live in peace and harmony with their fellow Nigerians of other faiths in the spirit of peaceful coexistence. Let us pray for the progress of Nigeria at all times. Let us expose undesirable elements among us who are creating security problems for the country”, he said.
The Senate President on his part called on Nigerians and Muslims to work for peace, unity and progress of the country.
In a message, he said: I felicitate with all Nigerians and the Muslim Ummah on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir.
“Every true Muslim is always grateful to Allah the Most Beneficent and the Most Merciful for the privilege to celebrate Sallah, regardless of our circumstances.
“The best way to demonstrate our gratitude to Allah is to share His blessings with our neighbours and show love and kindness to all, as taught us by Holy Prophet Mohammed (SAW).
“I also want to use the occasion to urge the faithful and all Nigerians to be steadfast in working and praying for the peace, unity and progress of our beloved country.
“The current challenges are painful but this is a passing phase in our historical process of nation-building.
“The government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari is determined that we get the challenges behind us and steady our nation’s march to its manifest destiny of greatness.
“The Ninth Senate and entire National Assembly will continue to facilitate the legislative environment needed for the success of all the efforts at the public and private sectors targeted at the security, peace and prosperity of Nigeria.”
In a similar message, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila called for prayers and unity of purpose among Nigerians urging them to use the Eid-el-Kabir to pray for their leaders as they find solutions to the country’s problems.
Gbajabiamila said Nigerians must remain united and steadfast to be able to face the challenges confronting the country.
He called on Muslims to imbibe the habit of sacrifice and love for one another as characterised by the Holy Prophet, Muhammad (SAW).
Speaker Gbajabiamila said there is more that unites us as a people, hence the need for togetherness and peaceful coexistence.
His Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, in a statement, said the Speaker urged Nigerians to conduct themselves in a patriotic manner as “we have no other country we can call our own than Nigeria.
He said: “I congratulate my Muslim compatriots for marking this year’s Eid-el-Kabir. This is a time for us to be more united as a people.
“As Muslims, we must make frantic efforts to emulate the virtues of the Holy Prophet, whose life is a perfect example of what we all should be.
“The act of sacrifice, one of the major lessons of the Eid-el-Kabir, should be part of our lives. We must make sacrifices for ourselves, our families, our friends, our neighbours, and of course, our country.
“I enjoin all of us to continue to be good citizens and make meaningful contributions for our continuous peaceful coexistence.”
In his own goodwill message, the immediate Past Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki congratulated Muslims across the world on this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration while also calling on the ummah in Nigeria to continue to demonstrate fear of God which he described as a key ingredient in building a better Nigeria.
Saraki in his Sallah message released in Ilorin and signed by his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, also noted that, like last year, this year’s Eid-el-Kabir festival is holding with the Covid-19 pandemic still prevalent while the challenge has prevented many Muslims from embarking on the holy pilgrimage.
“The essence of Eid-El-Kabir is the demonstration of the fear of Allah by Prophet Ibrahim (ASW) and his son, Prophet Ismail (ASW). If all of us can imbibe the fear of Allah, then our society will be better. Our country will develop if leaders display fear of Allah in taking key decisions that will affect the interests of the country and lives of the ordinary people.
“Only the fear of God will compel leaders to always take decisions that will engender unity, peace, justice, equity and development in the country. Also, if ordinary people display the fear of God, we will all obey the laws and justifiably insist on the government initiating the right policies at all times.
“Therefore, my muslim brothers and sisters should focus their prayers during this festival period on how Allah can help us to entrench fear of God in our society and in us as individuals, families, governments, corporate bodies and institutions. This is all we need to restore peace, prosperity, development and build a more efficient country that can serve the interest of all and sundry”, Saraki stated.
He further prayed for God’s protection and success for all members of the security agencies on the frontline fighting against insurgents and other criminals. “May Allah heal our land and give us victory over all threats to the territorial integrity of our country. Eid mubarak !”, he added.
