Atiku, Saraki, Abiru, PDP, Secondus, Obasa greet Muslims

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; immediate past Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki; former Senate Deputy President Ike Ekweremadu; the senator representing Lagos East in the National Assembly, Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus and Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa have felicitated Nigerian Muslims and their counterparts across the world on today’s celebration of Eid-el-Kabir.

In his goodwill message, Atiku said: “As Muslims, Eid-el-Kabir and the stories of Prophet Ibrahim and Ishmael (peace and blessings of Allah be upon them) that accompany it require that we take the whole of humanity as one nation.

“The significance of the celebration today is rooted in peaceful co-existence, mutual respect and tolerance. These are the virtues that we, as Nigerians, need to imbibe as we seek to heal our country of all shades of mistrust.”

Saraki urged Nigerian Muslims to continue to demonstrate the fear of God, saying this is a key ingredient in building a better Nigeria.

In his Sallah message in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, by his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, the ex-Senate President also noted that, like last year, this year’s Eid-el-Kabir festival is holding amidst COVID-19 prevalence, which prevented many Muslims from going on the holy pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

“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,” he said.

Abiru advised Nigerians to shun divisive and incendiary rhetoric that could overheat the polity and causing ethnic strife.

He said: “The support and prayers of all well-meaning citizens of this great country are required as leaders battle security, economic and other challenges confronting the nation.”

The lawmaker urged Muslims and non-Muslims to adhere to COVID-19 safety protocols as they merry during the festivity.

Main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in a statement yesterday in Abuja by its spokesman Kola Ologbbondiyan, urged leaders at all levels of governance to show more sacrifices towards the people and pursue only things that improve the living conditions of Nigerians.

Former Senate Deputy President Ike Ekweremadu urged Muslims to pray for restoration of peace across Nigeria.

In his message, Secondus said: “The blood of thousands of innocent souls being wasted daily in our 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.”

Lagos Speaker Obasa said: “We complain of 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.”