Former President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to Nigerians to support their leaders from the lowest to the highest at this crucial juncture of the country’s democracy.
Buhari, who spoke in Daura after observing the Eid prayer yesterday morning, congratulated Muslims on the successful completion of the 30-day Ramadan fast and the performance of the Eid.
In a statement by his media aide, Garba Shehu, he urged “all the citizens to support our leaders from the local government level to the highest at the center in their efforts to transform the development landscape of the nation.
“Support for our leaders,” he further stated, “is a vote for a better tomorrow.”
Also, a former head of state, General Abdulsalam Abubakar, has urged Nigerians to intensify their prayers for the nation to overcome its challenges
He told journalists after the Eid prayers in Minna yesterday that “citizens should be prayerful on the challenges confronting the state, country and the worldover for God’s intervention in order to overcome such challenges.”
The former head of state specifically urged the Muslim Ummah to imbibe the tenets of Islam and to be their brothers’ keeper at all times.
The Sultan of Sokoto and president-general of the National Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, counselled the Muslim Ummah to pursue knowledge to strengthen their faith.
Sultan Abubakar, in his Eid message in Sokoto yesterday, stressed the importance of continuous prayers for the country’s leaders and the prosperity of Nigeria.
“We should express gratitude to the Almighty Allah for granting us the gift of life and good health, allowing us to observe the 30 days of fasting and celebrate Eid-el-Fitr.
“Today marks a significant day in Islam as Muslims worldwide commemorate the conclusion of Ramadan and the Eid-el-Fitr festivities.
“Moreover, let us perpetuate the spirit of compassion and support for one another, as demonstrated during the month of Ramadan, and extend assistance to those in need,” he appealed.
In his sermon, the Chief Imam of Lagos State, Sheikh Sulaiman Oluwatoyin Abu-Nolla, urged Nigerians to shun all acts of violence, ensure peaceful co-existence, and continue to have faith in the country’s leadership.
In its message, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) called for more effective public policy responses to the rapid deterioration in living standards.
ACF said lessons must have been learnt from the Ramadan period and in particular from partaking in the month-long devotion to sacrifice, spiritual introspection, compassion, deep sober reflections on the meaning of life and death as well as God’s Benevolence and Mercies, rejection of sybaritic luxuries and frivolities, fellowship with and goodwill to fellow beings, especially the needy, in our communities.
The apex northern sociocultural body in the message issued by the national publicity secretary, Prof. T. A. Muhammad-Baba, noted the many tough challenges that ordinary citizens currently face, including runaway inflation, unemployment, rapid fall in standards of living, insurgency, terrorism and banditry among others and stressed that these problems are more dire, acute or even chronic in the Northern states of Nigeria.
ACF also averred that public policy responses in line with the covenant between citizens and the state, to such problems remain weak and ineffective at best.
Also, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum and the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Umar Garbai Elkanemi, yesterday led thousands of Muslims to observe Eid prayers in Maiduguri.
In a sermon after the two Rakat Prayers, the Imam I’daini of Borno, Shettima Mamman Saleh, urged Muslims to fast 6 days in the month of Shawwal, noting that anyone who fast in the Eid month of Ramadan and follow it with five days in the month of Shawwal, is like someone who fast the whole year.
In an interview with journalists at the Eid Ground, Shettima urged Nigerians, especially Muslim faithful to pray for President Tinubu and the federal government to succeed and also for the progress of the nation
Shettima assured Nigerians that the Tinubu led administration is working round the clock to rescue out the nation from the current economic woes.
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani tasked citizens on the peace and progress of the state, urging them to carry on with the good virtues and lessons of Ramadan.
The governor made the call at the Emir of Zazzau’s Palace during the Sallah Durbar celebration after the Eid prayer in Zaria.
Sani said, “We have prayed for the peace of our state in the month of Ramadan and I want us to carry on with the good virtues and the lessons of Ramadan and continue to work for the peace and progress of the State and the country generally.
The Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli commended the federal, Kaduna State governments and security operatives for the efforts put in place to ensure peace in the state.
