Political and religious leaders have called for more prayers for Nigeria and those in authority for the country to overcome its current challenges.
They also appealed for an increase in food production to lower the high rate of inflation and improve the well-being of the citizens.
The appeals came after the Eid prayers yesterday as Muslims celebrate Eid-el-Kabir nationwide.
Among those who spoke yesterday were Vice President Kashim Shettima, immediate past president Muhammadu Buhari, former head of state, Gen. Abubakar Abdulsalami, the Sultan of Sokoto and president-general of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III and some state governors.
Shettima urged Muslims to imbibe the spirit of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, promote peace in the country, and pray for the unity of Nigerians.
The Vice President appealed on Sunday during the Eid prayers at the Ramat Square Eid ground in Maiduguri.
“We have to promote peace. We have to cultivate peace. There can never be development without peace and there can never be peace without development. We must pray for a bumper harvest to address the land’s food security challenges. We have to rally around Nigerians to unite ourselves and address the common challenges facing us,” Shettima said.
Imam Idaini of Borno, Shettima Mamman Saleh, led the Eid prayer.
Speaking shortly after the prayers, the Borno State acting Governor, vgvvUmar Kadafur, congratulated all Muslim faithful on the successful Eid prayer.v
The acting governor prayed for all faithful who travelled for the Hajj for a successful Hajj.
“I enjoin all Muslims to be peace-abiding. I urge all faithful to use this period to pray for peace in Borno and Nigeria at large,” he said.
The Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai EK, led members of the Borno Emirates Council to the Eid-el-Kabir prayers. Other dignitaries of everything in attendance include the senator representing Borno North, Mohammed Tahir Munguno, members of the House of Representatives, the SSG, Hon. Bukar Tijani, the head of service, the state party chairman of APC, Hon Bello Ayuba, and other top government officials and party executives.
Meanwhile, the Chief Imam of Borno State, Laisu Ibrahim Ahmed, led other Islamic scholars in special prayers for sustainable peace, bumper harvest and economic rejuvenation in the county.
The Imam led the gathering of scholars in Arafah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which climaxed this year’s Hajj exercise.
The prayer session, which attracted a large number of Ulamas, government officials, traditional rulers, staff of the state pilgrims welfare board, and other Muslim faithful, aimed to foster unity and invoke divine intervention in the nation’s myriad challenges.
Imam Laisu emphasised the importance of seeking Allah’s guidance and blessings during the country’s challenging times. He urged the faithful to pray fervently for an end to the security challenges, improved agricultural output, and the revitalisation of the economy.
“As religious leaders, we must mobilise our people to seek divine intervention for the betterment of our society. We must come together and pray for peace, prosperity, and progress in Nigeria, ” the Chief Imam said.
The prayers included supplications for restoring peace in Borno and other conflict-affected areas in parts of the country.
Scholars also prayed for abundant rainfall and a successful farming season to boost food production and alleviate the impact of the ongoing economic crisis.
Other scholars who participated in the prayers were Sheikh Abubakar Kachalla, Sheikh Muhammad Mustapha, and Imam Shettima Habib. End
Former President Muhammadu Buhari said he is pleased that more Nigerians have taken to the farm to grow more food, bringing prices down and feeding the nation. However, he warned that uncontrolled population growth was a matter for concern.
Speaking to journalists shortly after joining the Emir of Daura, Dr Faruk Umar Faruk, to observe the Eid prayer at the township Eid ground on Sunday, the former president, in a statement by his media aide, Garba Shehu, said, “I am Wishing everyone a Happy Sallah. May this special festival bring joy, prosperity and excellent health to everyone.
“I use this occasion to appeal to all citizens to make Nigeria self-reliant. Let us grow our food. We have shown that we can do it. This is not the time to relent when we see prices going up.
“Let us buy what is produced in the country. The foundation of a prosperous and stable country has been laid by successive governments, and I encourage our youth, in particular, to continue to play an active role in various nation-building efforts.
“I urge the youth of the country to seek to know about the nation’s founding fathers and the important personalities of their regions and derive inspiration from them.
Reflecting on the massive crowds at the Eid in Daura, the former President expressed concern at unchecked population expansion, saying that it would bring many problems to future generations.
“There is a need for greater discussion and awareness about this problem, as well as a need to invest more in education and health.”
In conclusion, he said, “Considering the situation in the country, and in the spirit of the Sallah, let us help one another and be our brothers’ keepers. I wish everyone a happy Sallah.”
Speaking to members of the National Youth Service (NYSC), who have maintained a tradition of paying homage to him every Sallah, the former president said “the scheme continues to be a strong fabric holding the country together and urged successive administrations to continue to strengthen it.”
He described the NYSC as one of the greatest achievements of General Yakubu Gowon as Head of state.
As he has every year, the former president gave a cow, 10 bags of rice, and some cash to the NYSC members to celebrate the occasion.
Former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago and the Etsu Nupe Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar gave called on Muslims to imbibe the Virtues of Sacrifice as demonstrated in the Eid-el-Kabir celebration and work for the peace of the nation.
Abdulsalami spoke yesterday in Minna after the two Rakat Prayers at the Eid Prayer ground. In contrast, the Governor spoke in a message by his Chief Press Secretary Bologi for Sallah and the Etsu Nupe, who is the chairman of the Niger state council of Traditional Rulers, spoke in Bida after the two Rakat Eid prayers.
Abdulsalami, while speaking to journalists after the prayer at the Minna Eid prayer ground, said that all Nigerians must work for peace and hope for a peaceful nation.
He urged Muslims to imbibe the lesson of the celebration and work for peaceful co-existence and be hopeful that peace will return to the nation.
The governor of Niger state also urged the Muslim faithful to use the occasion to foster harmonious co-existence, strengthen their devotion and remain resolute to the will of Allah.
He also prayed for improved security and peace in the state, particularly Nigeria, while urging the state’s residents to continue showing understanding and support for his administration.
Similarly, the Etsu Nupe urged Muslims to emulate Prophet Ibrahim’s virtues of sacrifice, obedience and submissiveness to Allah’s will to succeed in life.
“Today’s celebration is a commemoration of total submissiveness and obedience to the will of Allah, as exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim and Ismail. It is also a lesson on the virtue of keeping our promises to Allah and to our fellow man,” Alhaji Abubakar said.
The Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged Nigerians to pray for leaders in all levels of government.
Abubakar, who observed the Eid-El-Kabir prayer alongside the state deputy governor, Alhaji Mohammed Gobir, in Sokoto, in his Sallah message to Nigerians, admonished Muslims to hold on to the lessons of Eid-el-Kabir.
“We should use this period of worship to pray for our leaders. As leaders, we will not tire of calling on the citizens to continue praying for our country. Therefore, we should sustain more prayers for peace, unity and prosperity in Nigeria.
“We should continue to thank the Almighty Allah for His blessings and gift of life to celebrate this great moment. As we support and pray for our leaders, the country will progress.
“Our security agencies should always be appreciated and encouraged for the sustained effort and commitment to address our current situation,” he said.
In a related development, residents of Gwiwa Eka, a suburb within Sokoto metropolis, praised Labour Party Presidential candidate Peter Obi for donating a cow to them for the Salah celebration.
Adamu Abdulrahaman, a resident, who spoke on behalf of the Salah meat beneficiaries, expressed their gratitude to Peter Obi, for putting smiles on their faces on this auspicious occassion.
He said, “some of us could not afford the high cost of rams in the market. We are grateful to Peter Obi for this magnanimity and call on other well-to-do personalities to emulate his good gesture.”
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, yesterday prayed to God to make peace, unity, and progress permanent features of the state and Nigeria.
He also urged Nigerians to unite and work for a better country.
The governor, who spoke with newsmen after observing the Eid prayers, said, “Yesterday (Saturday), the Amirul Hajj for Kwara, Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, reached out to me from the holy land and asked for my prayer points. I said my prayers for Nigeria are unity, peace, and progress.
“Today (Sunday), my message is unity, peace, and progress. For those of us who have seen today, we say AlhamduliLlaah. For those who have departed, we say may Allah grant them Al-Jannah Firdaus,” AbdulRazaq said.
The governor had earlier arrived the Ilorin Eid praying ground alongside his brother, the Mutawali of Ilorin, Dr. Alimi AbdulRazaq, closely followed by Senator Saliu Mustapha (Kwara Central); House of Representatives members Yinka Aluko and Mukhtar Shagaya; House leader, Hon. AbdulJadir Magaji; House of Assembly members; Chief of Staff, Alh Abdulkadir Mahe, senior adviser/ counselor, Alh Saadu Salahu and many other cabinet members.
The prayer began around 10:30 a.m. after the Emir of Ilorin, Alh Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari entered the praying ground alongside the chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheikh Mohammad Bashir Soliu.
Underlining the peaceful atmosphere that the state enjoys under the governor, the Eid prayer was attended by a rainbow of senior citizens, statesmen, and title holders from across the Emirate.
The Emir prayed for continuous peace and prosperity for the state and Nigeria, urging unity among the Emirate’s sons and daughters.
Also, Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, has felicitated the Muslim ummah in the state and across the nation on the occasion of this year’s Eid el-Kabir, calling for love, tolerance, peace, unity, and a sense of sacrifice among Nigerians to move the nation forward.
Mbah spoke on Sunday in his goodwill message to the Muslim faithful at Eid el-Kabir, stressing that the present socio-economic challenges would ultimately abate through the collective sacrifice and commitment to nation-building by all Nigerians.
He said, “I extend warm greetings to our Muslim brothers and sisters in Enugu State in particular and nationwide on this occasion of Eid el-Kabir.
“As we celebrate, let us also reflect on and imbibe the essence of sacrifice, charity, love, service, peace, unity, humility, and submission to the command of God that this occasion represents.
“Let us remember to be our brother’s keeper and spare a thought for our neighbours to ensure that no one is left behind as we navigate difficult times. Only by working together in love and commitment to nationhood can we overcome the present challenges and build the Nigeria of our dreams.
“As a government, we remain committed to building an egalitarian Enugu State where everyone can thrive and achieve his or her dreams, irrespective of political, religious, and ethnic backgrounds,” he said.
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