The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara and national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu have all tasked Muslims and Nigerians in general to live peacefully and continue to offer prayers for President Muhammadu Buhari’s final recovery as they mark the 2017 Eid-El-Kabir celebrations today.
In a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, the Senate President urged Nigerians, irrespective of their faith, to pray for the country’ greater glory.
He stated that the Muslim festival which falls on Jummat day (Friday) is unique as it carries a dual promise that all prayers offered during the Eid and Jummat have a double assurance of bringing Allah’s blessing to Muslim faithful and their country.
The statement reads: “It is significant that the Eid-El-Kabir and Jummat will be celebrated in one day. This tells us that all prayers offered during this solemn day will no doubt command double mercies of Allah towards us all.”
Saraki called on Islamic faithful to seek Allah’s grace for the peace, unity, security and economic development of the country.
Saraki also enjoined Nigerians to pray for the good health of the President, God’s guidance for all in positions of authority, including the private sector.
He said: “This is a time we must be our brothers’ keeper by sharing our worldly goods with them. This is a time we must pray for our leaders, especially President Muhammadu Buhari and all those saddled with the responsibilities of leadership at all levels in our country.
“With prayers, I have no doubt that God will inspire and guide our leaders to initiate and sustain policies and programmes that would guarantee peace, security, economic growth, political stability and social cohesion in our nation.”
Saraki urged Nigerians to pray for a strong rebound of the economy, saying that the positive effects would trickle down to individual homes and help citizens to realise their goals and aspirations.
He said: “Therefore, I call on all our brothers and sisters, fellow Nigerians, to be law abiding and support the present administration in its bid to tackle the problems of insecurity, unemployment, corruption and underperforming economy.”
In a similar goodwill message, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara admonished Muslim faithful to promote unity and tolerance, which are crucial for peaceful coexistence.
In a statement by his media aide, Mr. Turaki Hassan, Dogara said that Nigeria could only fulfill its great potential with the promotion of unity, peace, security and stability by the citizenry.
He stressed the need to show greater respect and love for one another.
The Speaker said: ”This is a moment for sober reflections. I enjoin you to use the period to uphold the spiritual benefit of the celebration by extending a hand of friendship and solidarity across all divides.
“Also imbibe the spirit of sacrifice and obedience to the higher authority as exemplified by prophet Ibrahim and upheld by Prophet Mohammed.”
Wishing the Muslim faithful a blessed and peaceful celebration, Dogara reiterated his call for sustained prayers for the leadership of the country at all levels.
He said: “This is an opportunity for us to reflect and pray for our nation, and to pray for our dear president for God’s guidance and good health.
“And pray for all those in leadership positions so that God in his infinite mercy will continue to guide them as they steer the affairs of the country.”
The former governor of Lagos State and National leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu also urged Nigerians to submit to the will of the almighty and pray for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in his Sallah message to Nigerians.
The administration, he noted, has a mission to move Nigeria out of the woods and that the purpose for which the government set out must be accomplished for the benefit of all.
“As we pray during this period, let us remember President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration in our supplications so that the government may fulfill its appointed mission by uplifting us as a nation unified in vision, direction and purpose”, the former Lagos State governor said in his Sallah message.
The message reads: “Today is Eid-el-Kabir. I congratulate Muslims in Nigeria and across the world for this festival.
“Prophet Ibrahim demonstrated his submission to Almighty Allah as exemplified by his readiness to sacrifice his only son. This is reason we celebrate the Eid.
“To mark the Eid faithfully, we must celebrate it in the same spirit of submission to the will of Allah that prophet Ibrahim showed.
“This is what the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) told us to do. This is what we as Muslims must do and do without fail.
“Our devotion to Allah must manifest itself in how we treat our fellow man. If we are truly devoted to the will of Allah, then we must also be devoted to the wellIbeing of our neighbour.
“This occasion calls for peace, compassion, justice and tolerance. It calls for us to adhere to principles and causes greater and nobler than our own self interests. It asks us to work and strive for the betterment of community and country.
“It is these traits that must order our daily lives and our relationship with one another.”
“May Almighty Allah accept all our devotion and take it as an act of Ibadah.”