•Nigerians urged to pray for unity, peace, love
Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade yesterday led other eminent citizens in felicitating with Muslims on Eid-el-Maulud celebration.
They urged Muslims to imbibe the injunctions of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), which teaches humility, gratitude and charity towards one another as well as pray for unity, peace, love, harmony and mutual co-existence.
Saraki, who spoke in a statement to mark this year’s birthday of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, urged Nigerians to, irrespective of their faith, seize the opportunity to practice Prophet Muhammad’s precepts of piety, tolerance, justice and peaceful co-existence in effort to overcome the current national challenges.
“With the economic hardship in the country, there is no better time in applying the teachings of the holy Prophet on how to live a life of simplicity, charity and lending a helping hand to the needy in our midst,” Saraki said.
Dogara urged the Muslim faithful to use the occasion to imbibe and promote the virtues of humility, love, peace, harmony and mutual co-existence, which the prophet exemplified.
A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan, said this year’s Eid-el-Maulud comes just a couple of weeks before the end of the year 2016, hence Muslims and all Nigerians should seize the opportunity to offer special prayers for the unity, progress and prosperity of Nigeria to overcome its economic challenges.
Ambode called on Muslims to offer special prayers for greater peace, unity and continuous progress of Nigeria.
The governor, in a statement yesterday signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, enjoined Muslims to follow the exemplary leadership of the Holy Prophet by promoting peaceful existence.
Ambode urged Nigerians to shun ethnic, political and religious differences and work towards building a safer and better Nigeria, adding that the celebration of the birth of the Prophet should renew the faith and bond of unity as one people and one nation, irrespective of diversity.
“On the occasion of the commemoration of the birth of the holy Prophet, it is imperative to reflect on his teachings and uphold his legacies of unity, integrity, peaceful coexistence and love for one’s neighbour, which are indispensable in our quest for meaningful development and the profitable management of our diversity,” he said.
He urged Muslim to internalise the virtues of honesty, selflessness, charity, tolerance, good neighbourliness, justice, equity and fairness which Mohammed (PBOH) preached, saying such will go a long way to engender national development.
Ayade enjoined Muslims to use the occasion to preach and show love to one another.
In his goodwill message signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Christian Ita, Ayade said: “May this wonderful occasion of the birthday of the Holy Prophet Mohammed bring about love, peace and prosperity to our beloved country, Nigeria. As we celebrate the holy Prophet’s birthday, your prayer for the peace and unity of our dear country is needed now more than ever before.
Urging Nigerians to rally round President Muhammadu Buhari to pull the country out of the recession, Ayade said: “As committed faithful, let us harness our creative energies, our love for one another towards the development of the country by aligning with our President, Muhammadu Buhari, to help Nigeria pull through recession”
Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa called for increased love and more understanding among Nigerians, irrespective of their religious affiliation for a peaceful co-existence and growth of the country.
Obasa said the country would keep growing if the citizens display love and understanding among themselves and to the government.
He said: “The Prophet was a man of peace and he shared the message of love and peace through the religion of Islam throughout his life time. He showed understanding for the various faiths and beliefs in Madinah during his lifetime and he never discriminated against any religion, groups or persons during his life, “we should emulate and imbibe these qualities from the Holy Prophet so that our country will continue to grow”.
The immediate past Abia State Governor and the senator representing Abia Central, Theodore Orji, has urged Muslims to use the Eid-El-Maulud period to pray for ideas that will make Nigeria a global brand worthy of celebration.
Orji said such supplication, when granted by Allah, would earn the country and the citizenry respect and position among the leading countries of the world.
