Muslims on Wednesday joined their counterparts across the world to mark the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan.
Prayers were offered at Eid grounds where imams led gaily dressed faithful to observe the two rakat prayers signifying the end of a major pillar of the Islamic religion.
Thereafter, sermons were delivered admonishing worshipers to continue with the virtues they exhibited during the Holy Month.President Bola Ahmed Tinubu prayed at the Dodan Barracks ground in Lagos.
Vice President Kashim Shettima prayed at the Eid ground in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.Sultan of Sokoto, who is the head of the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria, prayed at the Eid ground in Sokoto in the Northwest.
In many state capitals, governors who are Muslims observed the prayers.
Those who are non-Muslims identified with the Islamic religion’s adherents by receiving religious leaders.
The President was with Minister for Marine and Blue Economy Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of State Environment and Ecological Management, Ishak Salako, Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Kadiri Hamzat, Baba Adinni of Lagos State, Alhaji Sikiru Alabi-Macfoy, former Minister for Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola, Senator Gbenga Ashafa and white cap chiefs, among other dignitaries.
Chief Imam of Lagos, Alhaji Oluwatoyin Abou-Nolla, prayed for God’s guidance, wisdom, and protection for the President, and peace and stability in the country.
He urged the faithful to adhere to moral and religious teachings beyond the fasting period.
‘Have faith in us’
Speaking to reporters at the praying ground, President Tinubu urged Nigerians to have faith in his administration and assured that his Renewed Hope Agenda will bring progress and prosperity.
He said the agenda was being diligently implemented by his government.
The President urged Nigerians to be patriotic and protect the nation’s integrity.He said Muslims should exhibit sacrifice, resilience and love for their country beyond the fasting period.
President Tinubu said: ‘’The resilience and sacrifice that we have shown and made during this month should be preserved. Be a kind and cheerful giver. We must love our country because that is the only one we have.‘
’We must continue to protect the integrity of our government and leadership.”
He added: ‘’The Renewed Hope Agenda is alive, well and fine, and Nigerians should continue to be very hopeful. Without hope, there is no salvation.
“Without hope, there is no development. Without hope, there is no life.
Eid Mubarak.
In his sermon, the Chief Imam urged Nigerians to shun violence and imbibe behaviours that could foster peaceful co-existence.
He advised leaders to be faithful to their oaths of office and work towards alleviating the suffering of the less privileged.Abou-Nolla said:
‘‘Let us not forget our brothers and sisters in Gaza and other areas of conflict.’’
Seek knowledge, Sultan admonished leaders
The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the National Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, enjoined the Muslim Ummah to actively pursue knowledge to strengthen their faith.
He emphasised praying for leaders in the nation’s quest for prosperity.
Sultan Abubakar said: “We should express gratitude to 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.
“The Sultan commended Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu for his commitment and collaboration with Muslim scholars to foster unity.
He also praised the government for supporting the less privileged, civil servants, and ensuring security.
Aliyu urged the Muslim community in the state to uphold the virtues of Ramadan to attract Allah’s abundant mercy and forgiveness.
The governor implored affluent individuals in the state to demonstrate compassion and generosity toward the less privileged to earn Allah’s blessings.
Aliyu said: “I am aware of the numerous acts of assistance provided by some of our affluent citizens to the needy in our society, which is truly commendable.
“The government has allocated significant resources to aid the less privileged and vulnerable groups.”
First Lady: sustain Ramadan lessons
The First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, urged Nigerians, especially the Muslim Ummah, to extend kindness to others and service to humanity beyond Ramadan.
She also enjoined Muslims to sustain the good deeds exhibited during the holy month.
According to a statement by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, Mrs Tinubu described Ramadan as a period of reformation and teachings on selfless and godly life.
She said: “The lessons learnt during the one month of fasting should not be eroded on the altar of celebration. We should be modest in our celebration and continue to extend love to others.
“Our kindness to one another and service to humanity should extend beyond the month of Ramadan.
“Let us sustain those virtues of self-purification, sacrifice, self-discipline, and being compassionate to fellow Nigerians.
“Our priority as a people should include praying for our nation.”
The First Lady commended women for their care for the home front and for sustaining family values during the period.
She charged the youth to shun negative acts, channel their energies to productive endeavours and join hands with the government to achieve a greater nation.
Buhari: Let’s support leaders
Former President Muhammadu Buhari urged Nigerian leaders at the federal, state and local levels to deepen democracy.
Speaking with reporters in Daura, Katsina State, shortly after observing the Eid prayers, the former President congratulated Muslims on the successful completion of the fasting period.
According to a statement by his spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, Buhari urged “all citizens to support our leaders from the local government level to the highest in their effort to transform the development landscape of the nation.”
He added: “Support for our leaders is a vote for a better tomorrow. We must stand united in safeguarding the sovereignty and integrity of our nation.”
Buhari advised leaders “to always ensure a smooth succession from one administration to another without stoking communal tensions and obstructing development, irrespective of political party affiliation.”
The former President expressed his appreciation to the people of Daura, his hometown, and the state for giving him a warm welcome as indicated by the massive crowd at the Eid prayer ground.
He expressed his happiness at being in the midst of his people after he finished his term as president.
Bamidele: Nigerians should support Tinubu
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele called on Nigerians to support the Tinubu Administration to accomplish its developmental aspirations for the country.
He charged Nigerians to always embrace the lessons of Ramadan, including compassion for the less privileged, respect for human dignity, promoting peaceful co-existence and upholding propriety and piety in all facets of life.
He said: “It should reflect in the way we intercede the more for this federation to sustain the gains of economic stability and political cohesion that we have started experiencing in recent times.
“It should also reflect in our approaches to conducting businesses, running governments at all levels and discharging civic responsibilities on a daily basis.”
Bamidele said in a statement in Abuja that the sustained implementation of pro-people macro-economic policies under the Tinubu Administration has brought stability to the economic and fiscal spaces.
He said: “As against N1,900/$ in February 2024, the value of Naira is N1,117.5/$ as of Wednesday. This represents a gain of about 42 per cent within the space of two months.
“Besides, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has settled $7 billion valid foreign exchange backlogs.
“The Federal Government has paid back a whopping sum of N4.83 trillion out of N30 trillion ways and means it obtained from the CBN. And the flow of foreign direct investments is improving by the day.
“With these indices, the consumer price index, which measures inflation, will no doubt begin to drop significantly by mid-year as we sustain the drive for economic and fiscal stability.
“At the National Assembly, we are committed to providing much-needed parliamentary buffers that always support key public institutions to efficiently discharge their mandates consistent with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
He added: “Sustaining our drive for economic stability, political cohesion and social inclusion, no doubt, demands the outright adherence to the core essence of Eid-el-Fitr, which in entirety forbids the sabotage of government policies, the quest for profiteering, the exploitation of our collective resources and the sponsoring of internal disharmony, all in the name of selfish interest and political aspiration.”
