As Muslims across the country celebrated Eid-el-Kabir yesterday, the focus of the messages from the Sultanate, governors and other eminent Nigerians centered on sacrifices, love, unity, and the need to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and security.
Sultan urges Muslim to imbibe spirit of forgiveness, sacrifices
Speaking, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, urged Muslims to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and sacrifices among one another.
Abubakar in his Sallah message to Nigerians on Saturday in Sokoto said Muslims should hold on to the lessons of Eid-el-Kabir.
“We should continue to thank the Almighty Allah for His blessings and gift of life to celebrate this great moment.
“The security challenges we are facing in our country have continued to remain a source of concern and worrisome.
“As such, we should use this period of worship to pray for our leaders, security agencies, and the nation to prosper.
“Moreover, as leaders, we will not get tired of calling on the citizens to continue to pray for our country, therefore we should sustain more prayers for peace, unity, and prosperity of Nigeria.
“Our security agencies should always be appreciated and encouraged for the sustained effort and commitment to address our current situation,” he said.
FEC felicitates with Muslims
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) also felicitated with the Muslim faithful on the joyous occasion of this year’s Eid-el-kabir celebration.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, advised the Muslim faithful to use the opportunity to continue to reflect on love, obedience, sacrifice, and compassion among others.
“FEC urges the adherents to use this opportunity to continue to reflect on its lessons which include love, obedience, sacrifice, and compassion among others.
“FEC, therefore, implores believers to continue to promote national unity, peaceful co-existence for stability in order to enhance growth and development in all sectors of the nation’s economy.”
Buni tasks Muslims on forgiveness, tolerance
Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni, while congratulating the Muslim faithful over the Eid-el-Kabir festival, charged them to imbibe forgiveness and tolerance in all their endeavours.
In his Sallah message signed by his Director-General, Press and Media Affairs Alhaji Mamman Mohammed in Damaturu, he urged the faithful to observe the virtues of peace, love, and accommodation as exemplified by Prophet Mohammad (SAW).
He said the Eid-el-Kabir, was a period of sacrifice, forgiveness, submission, and benevolence.
“We should imbibe these teachings to accommodate one another and promote peace for growth and development of the state and country,” the governor said.
Buni also called on the people to continue to pray for the peace and prosperity of the state and country as we approached the 2023 general elections.
Emulate virtues of Prophet Mohammed, Uzodinma urges Muslims
Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma has urged the Muslim community in Imo and in the country at large, to emulate the virtues and noble teachings of Prophet Mohammed (SAW) at all times.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Oguwike Nwachuku on Saturday, Uzodinma harped on love for one another, sacrifice, peaceful co-existence with neighbours, and kindness, among others.
In demonstrating his love for all Muslim brothers and sisters, the governor on Friday presented 600 bags of 50 kilograms of rice and two live cows to the Muslim faithful in the state.
Uzodinma, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Nnamdi Anyaehie, at the presentation, said the gift was a way of extending the government’s and Imo people’s warmest felicitations and goodwill to Muslim brothers and sisters in the state.
Makinde, Chief Imam preach religious tolerance, peaceful coexistence
In Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the governor of the state, Seyi Makinde and the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh AbdulGaniy Agbotomokekere, urged Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Makinde and the Chief Imam made the plea in their separate Sallah messages on Saturday in Ibadan to commemorate the 2022 Eid-El-Kabir celebration.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Agbotomokekere led hundreds of Muslim faithful to observe the Eid-el-Kabir prayers at the City Eid Prayer Ground, Agodi, Ibadan.
In his sermon, the Chief Imam charged the congregation to live peacefully with one another and exhibit the fear of God in their daily activities.
Also, Makinde, while receiving a delegation that represented him at the prayer ground, urged the people of the state to imbibe the spirit of religious tolerance.
The governor declared that the people of the state, irrespective of religious and ethnic colouration, have been living together peacefully for ages.
He enjoined all residents of the state to sustain the harmonious coexistence.
Fintiri felicitates with Muslim faithful
Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa extended his warmest felicitations to the Muslim Ummah in the state as they joined their counterparts across the globe to celebrate the 2022 Eid-el-Kabir.
In a statement signed by the Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Humwashi Wonosikou, on Saturday in Yola, Fintiri called on them to rededicate themselves to making the state a model of peace and harmonious living.
” Fintiri said peace and harmony were necessary in order for residents to continue to enjoy the blessings of Allah which, according to him, continues to abound in our communities.
“The period offered the people another opportunity to submit completely to the will of the Almighty Allah.
“The occasion is also an opportunity to renew interaction with fellow human beings and most essentially, our duties to Allah.”
He urged the people to reflect more on the reason for man’s creation and make moves to be closer to Allah.
Nasarawa gov stresses need for sacrifice, love
Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has called on the Muslim faithful to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice as exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim, who accepted to sacrifice his only son.
Sule stated this in a Sallah message made available to newsmen on Saturday in Lafia.
He said that the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in the Holy Qur’an enjoined the Muslim faithful to totally obey Allah always.
The governor noted that the feast of Eid-el-Kabir is a test of faith in commemoration of the sublime submission by Prophet Ibrahim to the call for sacrifice.
According to him, Muslim communities are expected to live ,selflessly, in brotherhood, sacrifice and adherence to Allah’s command.
“My brothers and sisters, I wish to remind us that occasions such as this, calls for the Ummah to reflect on their relationship with Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala and fellow humans towards the enhancement of righteous living, love and peaceful co-existence in the society.
“Accordingly, I beseech us all to continue to preach peace, show love, understanding, tolerance and good neighbourliness amongst ourselves and humanity at large,” he added.
Lalong advocates unity, love, and brotherhood
Plateau State Governor and Chairman of Northern Governors Forum, Simon Bako Lalong has felicitated with the Muslim Ummah as they join their counterparts worldwide to celebrate Eid-El-Kabir.
Lalong in a Sallah message congratulated the Muslim Ummah for commemorating another significant event in the Muslim calendar which brings to fore the message of sacrifice, love, tolerance, and unity as preached by the Holy Prophet (PBH).
Lalong, in a statement by his spokesman, Dr. Makut Simon Macham, urged Muslims to celebrate this significant spiritual event by reflecting on the issues that Nigeria has been confronted with such as insecurity, intolerance, religious bigotry, ethnic bias and poverty among others that can only be tackled when there is unity, collaboration, and sacrifice among all Nigerians.
Pray for adequate rainfall-Bauchi gov
Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi has called on the people of the state to use the period of Eid-el-Kabir to pray for adequate rainfall.
Mohammed made the call in his goodwill message to the people of Bauchi on the occasion of the 2022 Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
According to him, rainfall is necessary in order to have a bumper harvest in the state during this farming season.
Remain steadfast in prayers for peace, Gombe governor urges Muslims
Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State in his message to the people of the state urged the Muslim faithful to remain steadfast in prayers for peace, prosperity, and development of the country.
This is contained in a Sallah message by Ismail Misili, Director-General, Press Affairs, Government House, Gombe on Saturday.
He said as the Muslim faithful celebrated the 2022 Eid-el-Kabir, there was a need for them to imbibe the spirit of love, obedience, and sacrifice exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim and upheld by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
El-Rufai calls for faith, goodwill
Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has called for faith and goodwill while felicitating the Muslim faithful on the occasion of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
The governor’s message is contained in a statement by Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Communication in Kaduna on Saturday.
“It is my great honour and privilege to salute the Muslim faithful on the occasion of Eid-El-Kabir.
“The festival of sacrifice is a celebration of Prophet Ibrahim’s (AS) absolute faith in the Almighty Allah, a tradition that the noble Prophet Muhammad (SAW) continued with.”
According to him, “as we confront our challenges and difficulties, we are invited to emulate sacrifice and faith in our daily lives.”
Ganduje urges Muslims to pray for end to security challenge
Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State in his message urged the Muslim faithful to use the El-el-Kabir to pray for divine intervention toward ending security challenges bedeviling the country.
He made the call while speaking with newsmen shortly after the Eid prayers at Kofar-Mata prayer ground in Kano on Saturday.
He urged the people not to despair and miss the essence and meaning of the Eid-el-Kabir festivities and the divine succor they brought.
The governor stated that the government would not condone any act that could possibly result in loss of lives and property.
Oyetola sues for continued peace
Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State in Salah’s message urged every citizen and resident of the state to eschew violence and anything capable of undermining the peaceful atmosphere reigning in the State.
He called for continued peace just as he urged the political gladiators to play according to the rules as the State is approaching the election period.
The Governor spoke while addressing the Muslim Ummah shortly after the two Rakat Prayers at the Osogbo Central Eid Praying Ground.
Oyetola who enjoined Muslims to adhere strictly to the lessons and teachings of the festive period said this Salah must be seen as a period of sober reflection to jettison bad deeds and embrace the good ones.
He urged politicians and the electorate to see the forthcoming election as another opportunity to exercise their civic responsibility and not as a season to foment trouble.
Akeredolu reminds Muslims to install CCTV in Mosques
Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has reminded Muslims in the state of the need to install, use and maintain CCTV devices and other secret cameras in their mosques.
Akeredolu urged them to support the government at all levels to defeat terrorism in the country.
He tagged terrorists as ‘cowards whose only aim is to kill and maim innocent people.’
Akeredolu, in his message to Muslim faithful to mark the Eid-El-Kabir, called for a the commitment to daily promote peace and tolerance
The Ondo Governor said Nigerians must join voice to fight the enemies of the people visiting untold terror on innocent citizens.
“We must stand against terror acts and resist these calculated attacks on the people and the country at large. Let us support the government at all levels to defeat these cowards whose only aim is to kill and maim innocent people.
“We call on all our mosques to install, use and maintain CCTV devices and other secret cameras in their premises as well as employ well trained security personnel to man the entry and exit points to their premises.” The Governor said.
“Give our Security Agencies, in particular Amotekun corps all necessary support. Any attempt to undermine the good works of Amotekun corps will be counterproductive.
We also call on our people particularly our students not to embark on mob actions that sell them out as supporting criminality in any guise. Students have a duty to expose known criminals around.”
On his part, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for Akoko Southeast/Southwest Federal Constituency, Hon Gboyega Adefarati, urged all Muslims to pray for peaceful coexistence and economic prosperity in the country.
Hon Adefarati said the Eld-el-Kabir symbolised sacrifice and faith by the Muslims with the fear of God and continued service to humanity and love of one anoth
Wike felicitates Muslims
Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, on Saturday felicitated the Muslim faithful across the country on the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
Wike, in a statement by Mr Kelvin Ebiri, by his Special Assistant on Media, in Port Harcourt, e urged Muslims to always emulate the life style of Prophet Mohammed, adding that Mohammed symbolised peace and tolerance.
The governor called for peace to enhance stability, growth and prayed for wisdom in solving the challenges facing the nation, especially on security issues.
Kwara governor exchanges pleasantries with Saraki, others
Kwara state Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq yesterday set the ground for a peaceful atmosphere at Ilorin, the state capital eid praying ground as part of activities to mark this year’s eid-el Kabir celebration.
The governor openly exchanged of pleasantries with leading opposition figures.
The governor’s action drew applauses and commendations from creme de la creme of Ilorin and scores of the Muslim faithful at the praying ground.
Bagudu assures farmers of support against Quelea birds
Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi has assured farmers of support against Quelea Birds ravaging farmlands in the state.
Bagudu, who is also the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, gave the assurance on Saturday in a Sallah message.
He felicitated the people of the state and other Muslim faithful across the globe on Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
While wishing Muslim faithful a successful and blissful Eid celebration, Bagudu expressed gratitude to Allah for His mercies, blessings and support to witness the memorable event.
‘I wish to express gratitude to Allah for showing us this day of Eid-el-Kabir Sallah 2022.
It’s been difficult year security-wise – Sani-Bello
Etsu Nupe calls for emulation of good virtues
Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani-Bello has disclosed that it has been a difficult year for the state in terms of security.
Speaking to journalists at the Eid Praying Ground in Minna after the prayers on Saturday, Bello said that the security agencies in the state had been trying their best to curtail the situation.
He expressed belief in God’s intervention in addressing the challenges bedeviling the state while asking the people to continue to put the state in its prayers.
“I call on all Nigerians to ensure peace and unity of the country given the fact that we have been facing security challenges. While the security agencies are doing their best to curtail the situation, I think it is time for us to reflect on our various capacities, in our different situations and pray for this country.”
The Chairman, Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, and the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar urged the Muslim faithful to emulate Prophet Ibrahim’s virtues of sacrifice, obedience, and submissiveness to the will of Allah and keeping of promises to Allah and fellow men.
Abubakar stated this in his Sallah message to the Muslim Ummah at the Idi praying ground in Bida.
The Monarch advised Muslims to shun societal ills and always endeavour to do the right thing for the betterment of all, “Societal ills like bribery, corruption, drunkenness, and gambling do not do any good to man, society, or the Muslim faithful, hence all believers are enjoined to avoid them.”
He then advocated for peace and unity amongst every individual living in the country adding that Nigeria’s strength is in its diversity.
Abiru to Nigerians: Do not despair, there is hope
The Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, FCA, has congratulated Muslims in the Senatorial district and across the country on the Sallah celebrations. The Chairman of Senate Committee on Industries, in a goodwill message he personally signed yesterday, urged Nigerians not to lose hope as the future of the country is still promising. He prayed his constituents to live peacefully with one another irrespective of their religious affiliations.
Abiru appealed to Nigerians to continue to support the government in combating insecurity and other challenges facing the nation.
Accord felicitates Muslims
Lagos State chapter of Accord Party has urged the Muslim community to thank Allah for witnessing yet another Eid-el- Fitri.
The party said this in a statement jointly signed by Chairman, Engr Ola Beckley and Secretary Lanre Ogundare.
The party prayed that Allah accepts all their sacrifices and to use the occasion to pray for peace and security for the country.
CP orders DPOs, intelligence operatives to secure worship centres
Bayelsa State Police Commissioner Ben Nebolisa Okolo has ordered the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), tactical commanders, intelligence operatives, and other operational operatives to secure worship centers, public parks, and other recreational centres to ensure hitch-free Eid-el Kabir celebrations.
Okolo also warned miscreants, thugs, and other criminals to desist from any acts capable of disrupting the celebrations.
The CP felicitated with the Muslim faithful and enjoined them to celebrate with modesty as exemplified in the Holy Quran.
Story By
‘Dare Odufowokan, Assistant Editor, Kolade Adeyemi, Jos. From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin, From Osagie Otabor, Akure, Justina Asishana – Minna