By Our Correspondents
President Muhammadu Buhari has said the military and other security agencies are recording greater successes in the move to combat insecurity across the country, calling for increased cooperation and collaboration. The President, in a message issued yesterday by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, to felicitate with the Muslim Ummah, Nigerians of all faiths and the followers of Islam all over the world on the occasion of the Maulud-Un-Nabiyy, said he was delighted to send greetings of peace, unity and goodwill to the Muslim Ummah, fellow citizens and Muslims all over the world as they observe and celebrate Eid-ul- Maulud.”
This is just as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and Deputy Speaker Hon. Idris Wase urged Nigerian Muslims to remain united, steadfast and continue to live peacefully with their neighbours as they mark this year’s Eid-el-Maulud.
The duo, in seperate messages to commemorate this year’s Maulud, also called on Nigerian Muslims to continue to pray for the country and her leaders, especially as they celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
Similarly, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and his Bauchi State counterpart, Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed Bauchi State felicitated the Muslim faithful calling on all Nigerians to renew their faith in God and intensify prayers for the country to surmount its challenges.
In the same vein, former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, urged Nigerians to close ranks and also be their brother’s keeper in order to move the nation forward.
Buhari in his message gave a snapshot of the increased activities the Armed Forces, Police , and intelligence agencies have embarked upon to effectively respond to the security challenges in the nation.
According to the president, increased cooperation and collaboration from the citizenry, coupled with reinvigorated, dynamic, and energised police, security and military leadership is helping the administration score more victories against terror, criminality, and economic sabotage.
He stressed that the reality of declining insecurity should replace the inaccurate narrative of rising insecurity in the country.
According to him, the government fully expects and intends for these trends to continue, and called on the media to address the tone, content, and standards of reporting into security and safety measures.
In his felicitation with the Muslim Ummah to mark the Eid-Ul-Maulud Buhari urged Muslims to strive for “forgiveness and closeness to the noble life and teachings of the Prophet (SAW) whose birthday is being marked on this blessed day, saying: “On this auspicious occasion, I wish you all the blessings of today.”
On their part, Gbajabiamila in his message said the life and times of the Holy Prophet were worthy of emulation, hence the need for Nigerian Muslims to emulate him. While noting that Nigeria is facing some challenges at the moment, the speaker said that with prayers and unity of purpose, the country shall overcome them.
In his message, Wase said the birth of the Prophet ushered in a new dawn for humanity, urging citizens to rededicate themselves to promoting unity, tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
“I believe that we will make faster progress towards the realisation of our shared vision of a strong, united and prosperous nation if our people imbibe the prophet’s lessons of peace, tolerance, honesty, selflessness, sincerity, justice, equity and peaceful co-existence with our neighbours.”
Ugwuanyi urged Muslims and indeed all Nigerians to remain committed to the core values of the nation’s founding fathers so that the concerted efforts at sustaining the peace, unity and progress of the country will be fully actualised.
The governor pointed out that the significance of Eid-ul-Mawlid anchored on love, sacrifice, obedience, tolerance and charity, as exemplified by the deeds and teachings of Holy Prophet Muhammad, is germane to the peaceful co-existence, unity and prosperity of Nigeria.
Ugwuanyi therefore, wished all Nigerians a peaceful celebration as well as the guidance and blessings of the Almighty God.
Mohammed of Bauchi said , the birth of Prophet Muhammad( PBUH) through whom the religion of Islam came to the world, has brought about positive changes in the existence and relationship among the human race and other living things.
The governor said besides the divine revelations which he received and passed on to his followers, Prophet Muhammad( PBUH) also preached peace, honestly, patience, generosity, humility, love for one another and fear of Allah.
According to him, these are the virtues that people of the state irrespective of their religious inclinations are enjoined to imbibe and put into practice for the betterment of the society.
“As we celebrate this year’s Eid-el Maulud, I wish to appeal for sober reflection and self-evaluation by all with a view to knowing how well we related with our creator and fellow human beings during the last one year and make amendment where necessary.”
“At a time like this, I urge all Muslims to pray for peace and I would also like to call on the good people of Bauchi State to live in peace and harmony with one another in spite of their ethic, religious and political differences.”
The governor enjoined Muslim faithful to use the period to offer special prayers for peace in the state in particular and in the nation in general in the face of the current security challenges in different parts of the country.
Ekweremadu said: “I call on Nigerians to be their brother’s keeper and to join hands so that we can charge together, confronting the many challenges facing us as a nation. It is only by so doing that we can overcome and move our country forward on the path of peace, security, and prosperity, and development”, he said.
The ranking Senator wished the Muslim faithful a merry and hitch-free Eid-El-Maulud.
