Sallah Messages: President Buhari leads APC, Saraki, Dogara, Ekweremadu, Ambode, MURIC, MSSS, in urging nation’s rise above divisions, congratulates Muslims

*We can’t surrender to corruption – FG

President Muhammadu Buhari, in his Sallah message to Muslims of Nigeria as they celebrate Eid-ul-Adha this Tuesday, has urged Nigerians to rise above personal, group, sectarian and other interests, and promote harmony and tolerance in dealing with one another at all times.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, on Monday, President Buhari urged all Muslims to use the occasion for sober reflection and self-examination, and strive to be good ambassadors of their religion by upholding high moral values.

She related the President’s message saying, “He reminded Islamic faithful that this felicitous occasion of Eid-ul-Adha is a remembrance of the submission of Prophet Ibrahim Allaihis-Salam to Allah, his Creator, by which he taught the world the value of sacrifice in relating with one another, and when it comes to nation-building.”

“We must sacrifice for others and remember always those who are less fortunate than ourselves,” the President declared.

President Buhari explained that religion is a major factor in influencing human behaviour towards good conduct and actions.

He, however, regretted that selfishness, greed and corruption have overwhelmed human souls to the extent that people abandon their religious beliefs in pursuit of their greed.

The President stressed that fighting corruption is a task that must be done in order to protect the larger interests of the ordinary Nigerians who are the worst victims of diseases, poverty, malnutrition and other afflictions.

He said surrendering to corruption is not an option because it destroys society and progress of nations.

According to President Buhari, “Even if some people hate you for fighting corruption, you should not chicken out from the task as a leader because doing so is a betrayal of public trust.”

On the current economic challenges facing Nigerians, the President reassured that such are temporary because the welfare of the people is the main thrust of the change agenda of the administration.

To buttress this point, President Buhari cited the many initiatives unfolded by the administration under the Social Investment Programme (SIP) among which was the recent decision to distribute recovered stolen funds to the poor against the past practices of re-looting such funds by some people in authority.

President Buhari arrived his country home of Daura, Katsina State after being flew to the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport Katsina aboard the Presidential jet at about 5.51p.m same day.

Governor of Katsina State Aminu Bello Masari and Minister of State for Aviation Hadi Sirika were among those at the airport to welcome the President, who was conveyed from there to Daura by a presidential chopper.

The President had been observing Eid-ul- Adha at his country home in the last three years of his presidency.

The Senate President Bukola Saraki, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu also urged Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of brotherhood and peaceful coexistence.

In separate Sallah messages, Saraki enjoined Nigerians to increase their efforts in charitable endeavours, perseverance and spiritual intercession for the nation. The Senate President urged the faithful to further devote their prayers at the Eid praying grounds to the call on Allah to restore peace in all parts of the country, strengthen the unity and rebuild the economy.

Saraki also congratulated Muslims on the celebration of the 2018 Eid el-Kabir festival and described the special occasion as “a period that honours the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son to show submission to Allah’s command”.

Dogara, in his own message, enjoined the Muslim Ummah and Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice, love and tolerance for the peace, unity and progress of the country.

“While rejoicing with our Muslim brothers on this auspicious occasion of  Eid el-Kabir Sallah celebration, which symbolises sacrifice and obedience,  I wish to enjoin all people of goodwill to be steadfast in love for one another and demonstrate renewed commitment to the Nigerian project in order to make our society ideal for all and towards the fulfillment of the country’s great potentials.

“I also urge our religious leaders to take advantage of the season and preach peace, unity and tolerance among the diverse people, especially now that the country is at  critical political crossroads, with the electioneering process gaining momentum as the 2019 general elections draw nearer.

“On our part as lawmakers, we will continue to pursue people-oriented legislations and initiate reforms and legislative interventions that will guarantee peace and stability in the polity and the nation as a whole as well as improve the living conditions of the citizens”, Dogara said.

Ekweremadu said: “The Eid-el Kabir presents yet another opportunity for the Muslim Umah and indeed all Nigerians to reflect soberly on state of the nation and pray for Nigeria’s future and peaceful elections.

“Importantly, Nigeria is certainly in need of both attitudinal change and divine intervention as the country prepares for the 2019 general elections. Whereas the extensive electoral reforms carried out by the National Assembly manifested in visible improvements in the quality of the 2011 and 2015 general elections, subsequent elections have been gravely marred by excessive violence, vote buying, and other outrageous manipulations that threaten our democracy.

“From the Bayelsa Governorship election to the recent bye-elections in Kogi and Rivers States, among others, the nation has witnessed intolerable levels of impunity, violence, excessive abuse and manipulation of vital institutions of democracy, which signal grave turbulence ahead of 2019”.

‘Embrace love, unity, sacrifice’

In Lagos, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode urged Muslims to live in love and unity.

In his Sallah message,Ambode said the period of the celebration was a clarion call for Nigerians to imbibe the lessons of the season such as selfless service to God and humanity, sacrifice and sincere commitment to righteous conducts in their private and public life.

In its own Sallah message, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) felicitated with the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Nigerian Muslims and the Nigerian people in general.

The Islamic human rights organisation, whose core of message was the need to strengthen the Nigerian Police, called on the Federal Government to empower the Nigerian Police in order to ensure an enduring security of lives and properties.

The group, in a message signed by his Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, reminded the government that the security of lives and properties is the basic function of government as enshrined in Article 14 Section 2(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which states inter alia, “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”.

In the meantime, the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit, has urged political leaders in the country to sacrifice their personal interest for the nation’s development.

President of the society in Lagos State, Dr Saheed Ashafa, made the appeal in a press statement to congratulate Muslims on the 1439 AH Eid-ul Adha, holding on Tuesday, August 21, 2018.

In the press statement tagged “Eid Message”, Ashafa urged Muslims and Nigerian leaders to emulate the virtues of Prophet Ibrahim alayhisalam, who was willing to sacrifice his precious son, Ismail.

According to him, one of the greatest gifts that Nigerian leaders can give at this special moment is to resolve to work for the country’s growth regardless of which party or group to which they belong.

He said, “We congratulate Muslims all over the world for witnessing this year’s Eid-el Adha. We pray Almighty Allah accept our sacrifices and increase our piety in this season of love, peace and togetherness. We urge our Muslim brothers and sisters to reflect and imbibe the religious benefit of this festival by extending the hands of friendship to others.

“As Muslims continue to pray for the growth of this country, we appeal to political leaders in the country to put aside religious and political differences, including personal gains aside for the stability, unity and growth of our dear country, Nigeria. It will be impossible for the country to be stabilised in a situation where almost every leader are gunning to achieve personal interests and gains.

“At this stage in the life of our country, there is an inevitable need for leaders to be passionate about the development of the country and have the understanding that they will one day stand before Allah (God) to account for their deeds (actions).”

Apart from urging Muslims to pray for the growth of the country, Ashafa urged them to “pray that God will continue to guide our leaders to steer the affairs of this nation in the right direction.”

He also urged security operatives to be at alert and ensure safety of lives during the festive period and continuously in the country.