Eid-el-Kabir is a Reminder of What We Must Do to Heal Nigeria, Say Atiku, Secondus

Our Correspondents

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, have said that Eid-el-Kabir teaches and reminds Nigerians of the meaning of sacrifice, love and forbearance with God and in the relationships with one another.

In a statement he personally signed, Atiku said: “As Muslims more especially, Eid-el-Kabir and the stories of Prophets Ibrahim and Ishmael (Peace and Blessings of Allah be with them) that accompany it requires that we take the whole of humanity as one nation.”

He explained that the significance of the celebration is rooted in peaceful co-existence, mutual respect and tolerance, adding that these are the virtues that Nigerians, need to imbibe as well as seek to heal the country of all shades of mistrust.

The former vice president said that according to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), the slaughtering of animals in celebration of this festival is to evoke and reinforce the consciousness of God in all the deeds and wishes.

Accordingly, he said, “We would not be able to fully appreciate the love from God if we allow killing of the innocent souls and propagation of hateful rhetoric become a norm amongst us.

“As I congratulate Muslims in Nigeria and across the globe on this year’s Eid el-Kabir, may I remind you of our beloved Prophet’s saying that, “no nation is superior to the other. But the best amongst you is the one with the best piety to Allah,” Atiku stated.

On his part, Secondus expressed concern on the state of the nation and said that the worrisome situation calls for the intensification of prayers.

He, therefore, asked Nigerian Muslims to use the solemn period of Sallah to present Nigeria’s discomforting situation to Allah for his prompt intervention and mercy.

The PDP boss said poor leadership was threatening the country and there was need to seek God’s intervention.

He said that the blood of thousands of innocent souls being wasted daily in ther land at various troubled spots particularly the stress of school children in the North, should be enough mitigation to plead to God to save this country from destruction.

According to him, Nigerians should also use the period to offer fervent prayers for the unity and stability of the nation which is seriously under threat due to insecurity and biting economic hardship arising from poor leadership.

Ortom Calls on Nigerians to Pray for Peace, Unity

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has on Nigerians to continue to pray and support the peace and unity of the country.

The governor, who made the call on the occasion of this year’s Eid el-Kabir celebration, said the safety of lives and property in all parts of the state would remain the priority of his administration.

He said the current spate of insecurity where hundreds of school children are kidnapped daily in parts of the country, armed herders frequently attack farming communities and kill many people, as well as other acts of terrorism can only be surmounted if security agencies are given adequate support.

Governor Ortom, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akas, stated that Eid-el-Kabir offers all Muslims the opportunity to exemplify the virtues of piety, honesty, charity and generosity, according to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad.

Ortom appreciated the understanding and support Benue people have given him since 2015 despite the challenges the state government has faced within the period.

‘He wishes the people of the state a joyful Eid-el-Kabir celebration,’ the statement concluded.

Don’t Stifle Social Dialogue, NLC Tells FG, States

Nigerian workers under the umbrella of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have urged government at all levels not to do anything that will block avenues for peacefull dialogue with agreived parties.

In a goodwill message to mark the Muslim festival of Eid-el-Kabir, NLC said that government being the custodian of the ideals of the nation’s collective civilisation must embrace social dialogue and with utmost good faith.

“We call on government to take utmost caution not to criminalise social dialogue. Social dialogue can only be meaningful when every party comes to the table in good faith.

“Government being the custodian of the ideals of our collective civilisation must embrace social dialogue and with utmost good faith,” it said

In the signed by its President, Ayuba Wabba, the NLC said that peaceful protest is a form of social dialogue, adding that peaceful protesters must not be harassed, humiliated, brutalised, maimed, imprisoned or killed.

He added that violent crushing of peaceful protest tends to send a very dangerous signal that civilisation and indeed the country’s shared humanity has failed.

Wabba said the government as the embodiment of the country’s sovereignty must ensure we never get to that point.

“On this Eid-el-Kabir, we must commend and extend the worthy sacrifice of the Nigerian workforce to all segments of society. The Social Partners – Government – Employers – Workers must all renew our commitment to making worthy sacrifices towards building a peaceful, prosperous, inclusive, secured, and sustainable society.

“Wabba urged Muslim clerics to use the opportunity to pray for the safe return of of those still being held hostage by bandits.

“There is no sacrifice too big to make for peace. We urge the Muslim Ummah to use the occasion of this Sallah to pray for the forgiveness of sin, peace in our country, for the safe return of all victims of hostage-for-ransom all over the country and for prosperity,” he said

Sanwo-Olu Congratulates Muslims, Urges Residents to Celebrate with Caution

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has congratulated Nigerians, especially Muslims across the country on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir festival.

Governor Sanwo-Olu while rejoicing with Muslims on Eid-el-Kabir celebration urged them to celebrate with caution in the wake of the third wave of coronavirus infections in Nigeria. He also advised them to keep to all the COVID-19 protocols.

Sanwo-Olu in his Eid-el-Kabir message issued yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, advised Lagosians, especially Muslim faithful to imbibe the lessons of sacrifice made by Prophet Ibrahim and work for the peace, stability, unity and progress of the country.

The governor said there is strong connection between peaceful coexistence of all tribes and religions and development, noting that as Lagosians, every resident must live together peacefully.

“On behalf of my family and government of Lagos State, I join millions of people around the world, to wish our Muslim brothers and sisters in the state and in Nigeria happy Eid-el-Kabir, which comes with significant lessons for mankind.

“Eid al-Adha has become a symbolic event in the history of mankind, following the events that led to the sacrifice by Prophet Ibrahim, who held tenaciously to his faith in God despite his unpleasant circumstances at the time.”

Oyetola Rejoices with Muslims, Urges Strict Compliance with COVID-19 Protocols

Governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, has rejoiced with Muslims in the State and across the world on the occasion of the 1442 AH Eid-el-Kabir festival, urging them not to forget the symbolic significance of the celebration.

This is contained in his Eid-el-Kabir message to Muslim faithful.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, the governor encouraged the Muslim faithful to take cognisance of the symbolic significance of the festival and imbibe the lessons of obedience and sacrifice as demonstrated by Prophet Ibrahim.

Oyetola also called on the worshippers and all Nigerians to use the celebration to pray to Allah to save the country from the resurgent COVID-19 pandemic, insecurity and other challenges facing the nation, just as he emphasised the need for unity, love, tolerance and peaceful co-existence among people in the State and Nigerians in general.

“In the spirit of Eid-el-Kabir celebration, I enjoin us all to respect our differences in terms of religion, tribe or political affiliation, and embrace love, unity, tolerance and peaceful co-existence. In diversity lies our strength,” Oyetola said.

Nasarawa Speaker Calls for Sustained Prayers for Nigeria

As Muslims celebrate this year’s Eid-el-kabir today, speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, has called for sustained prayers for peace and progress of the country.

Speaker Abdullahi stated this in a statement signed by his Press Secretary, Jibrin Gwamna, which quoted the speaker as calling on Muslims to reflect on the significance of the period which is sacrifice to extend hands of love and friendship to one another especially the less privileged.

The speaker called on all Nigerians to tolerate, love and live in peace with one another irrespective of religion, political or ethnic differences to build an egalitarian society.

He said: “I call on religious, political, traditional and community leaders to always preach peace and unity among their people. I also call on the people to always be law abiding, pray and support leaders at all levels to succeed.

“I enjoin Nigerians, especially Muslims, to use the period to also pray for God’s intervention in the security and other emerging challenges facing the country.”

Glo Rejoices with Muslims on Eid-el-Kabir

As Nigerian Muslim faithful join their counterparts all over the world to mark this year’s Eid-el-Kabir, Telecoms giant, Globacom, has congratulated them on yet another celebration in the worship of the Almighty Allah.

In a goodwill message sent to Nigerian Muslims yesterday, Globacom urged Muslims to use the occasion of the festival to pray for peace, unity and development of the nation and imbibe fully the teachings of Prophet Mohammed (SAW).

Globacom said: “We rejoice with Nigerian Muslim Ummah as they celebrate the 2021 Eid-el-Kabir festival. We urge them to use the occasion to continue to promote peaceful co-existence and live up to the tenets of their faith through acts of charity and obedience to the injunctions of the Holy Quoran”.

The company also urged them to exhibit the lessons of commitment, dedication and obedience to higher authorities as exemplified by Prophet Ibraheem’s willingness to sacrifice his son in deference to the will of God, a supreme act of faith which Eid-el-Kabir glorifies.

Let Peace Reign In Nigeria, Speaker Obasa Pleads

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has urged Nigerians to see peace as one of the major ingredients for democracy to thrive.

Obasa made this known in his Eid-el-Kabir message to Nigerians including residents of Lagos and politicians in the state, which is preparing for local government elections.

The Speaker, who noted that the yearnings of many well-meaning Nigerians were justified, however, added that going about such demands and requests through violent means would not help the citizens and the country.

“We complain about a dwindling economy today, but the truth is that restiveness, banditry, terrorism, kidnappings and general insecurity are some of the major causes.

“It is not difficult to know that no nation can thrive or succeed when it is violence-ridden.

“Just as citizens must begin to live in peace and neighbourliness, we, as leaders, must also not nap, we must not sleep on ideas to make the country great.

“We must show perfect examples of love for country and sacrifice to humanity as Islam teaches.”