Governors, Others Call for Nigeria’s Unity

Our Correspondents

Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, on Tuesday urged all Nigerians to close ranks and work for the unity, stability and progress of the nation.
This was contained in a message to commemorate this year’s eid-el-fitr celebration issued in Sokoto by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam.

The governor enjoined Muslims to use the opportunity of the end of Ramadan to offer prayers to God for peaceful co-existence among different ethno-religious groups in the country.

“Even though the Ramadan period is over, we must continue to live up to the tenets of our faith through acts of charity, peaceful coexistence, obedience to the injunctions of the Holy Qu’ran and sacrifice,” the statement read.
He urged all Nigerians to demonstrate the spirit of tolerance, unity, forgiveness and compassion to compatriots.

Tambuwal also charged Muslims in the country and beyond to be worthy ambassadors of the faith by exemplifying all of the virtues that distinguished Prophet Mohammad.

We Must Remain Prayerful, Niger Governor, PDP Tell Nigerians
As Muslims across the globe celebrate this year’s Eid el-Fitri festival, the Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have asked Muslims in the state to remain prayerful for the revival of the national economy.
The duo made the plea in separate statements made available to journalists in Minna yesterday to commemorate the religious festival.

While the governor admonished the people to continue to live the life of sacrifice in line with the tenets of the just concluded Ramadan, Tanko Beji, the state PDP Chairman charged Nigerians to continue to pray for the revival of the state and national economy.

Bello in the message also observed that the situation in the state required more sacrifice from the leaders and the led because “there is reward for every sacrifice made.
Beji said in his statement that “There is no doubt that the prevailing economy situation in the country is inflicting a lot of pains on the ordinary people’ but believed that ‘with fervent prayers things would improve for the better.”

“At a time like this when our state and indeed our country are passing through dire economic challenges due to the slump in national earning it will take more prayers from religious faithful to achieve economic revival and national rebirth, therefore I challenge all Muslims not relax in offering prayers to Allah even after the holy month.”

Fayose, Bamidele, Oluyede Call for Dedication, Sacrifice
Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has charged leaders and the well-to-do in the country to empathise with the poor and remember them in their policies and actions, as everybody will one day give account of their stewardship to their creator.

This is just as he said the voice of the poor must also be heard, while those who have taken it upon themselves to be the voice of the voiceless must not be silenced.
He said this in his Sallah message to mark the celebration of this year’s Eid-el-Fitr festival.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, the governor said: “With the hardship that Nigerians are currently going through, this is not the period to turn a deaf ear to their crying for the amelioration of their situation.

“One of the lessons of Rammadan fasting is for the privileged to also experience what the poor, who are unable to feed properly or feed at all, are going through. Hunger does not know colour or position and the situation we have on hand in the country now is a grave one.

“A situation that people are stealing pots of soup from the fireplace, a situation where people are exchanging their children for foodstuff, where a lot of people don’t have access to basic needs of life, is not one to be self-centred.
Meanwhile, a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, urged Muslims to rededicate themselves to the service of the nation as they celebrate the end of Ramadan fasting.

Bamidele, a member of the seventh House of Representatives, urged Muslim adherents to always reenact the spirit of holiness, brotherliness and oneness, which they exhibited during the 30 days of Ramadan fasting, for Nigeria to become a model in line with the dream of its founding fathers.

In a statement by his Media Aide, Ahmed Salami , in Ado Ekiti yesterday, Bamidele appealed to Muslims to always replicate the sacrifices they made during the month of fasting in their daily lives as commanded by Prophet Mohammed(SAW).

Also, an APC chieftain , Dr. Wole Oluyede has congratulated Muslims faithful in the Ekiti, Nigeria and all over the world on the occasion of the Eid-el-Fitir.
Dr. Oluyede in a statement issued by his media aide, Akinlabi Lincoln expressed joy on the successful completion of Ramadan fast by Muslims in Ekiti state and beyond.
He explained that witnessing another Eid-el-Fitr is a special privilege from the Almighty Allah who rule over the affairs of man.

Ahmad, Fatigun Congratulate Muslims in Kwara
The Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Dr. Ali Ahmad, has congratulated Muslims for the successful completion of Ramadan, urging them to celebrate modestly.
In his Eid-el-Fitr message issued in Ilorin yesterday, Ahmad advised them to always reflect on the lessons learnt in the holy month for the betterment of the society.

Ahmad added that the celebration provides the best opportunity for Nigerians irrespective of religion, ethnicity, political or social status to come together as one indivisible family with a view to making the nation a great one.
According to him, “Undoubtedly, the nation can successfully surmount the present challenges of economic downturn and series of crises being experienced in the nooks and crannies of the country.”

“However, it will require our total collectiveness to enable us move out of the present situation. We’re not the first country to witness such trend but certainly we can come out good soon.”
Also in his Eid-el Fitr message, the chairman, Ekitti local government council of Kwara State, Hon. Akintoba Fatigun urged Muslims to use the just concluded Ramadan fast to pray for peace and justice in the country.
He said Muslims should continue to abide the tenets of the fast in order to move the nation forward.

Fatigun added that, the people of the country should continue to pray for the nation’s leadership to know the right thing to do so as to alleviate the sufferings of the populace.
He therefore said his administration would continue to embark on laudable projects that would have direct impacts on the socio well being of the populace.

Obi Calls for Reflection
Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has called on Nigerians to use the occasion of this year’s Eid-El-Fitr celebration to reflect about themselves and the country.
Obi who stated this in his Ramadan message he made available to journalists yesterday, insisted that no celebration calls for joy in Nigeria today, but “that any phenomenon in whatever guise in Nigeria today should offer us the opportunity to think about ourselves, our country and the future we plan to bequeath to posterity.”

While lamenting the spate of violence in the world, the former governor called on Nigerians to see religious celebrations as a call for love, to share and promote peace in the world in line with the teachings of those that founded the religions of the world.

“We need to ask ourselves what we can do for the country both for our own good and the future generations. Greatness will come to nations that consciously plan and work hard to achieve consensus and confidence-building. Discipline and patriotic spirit of service are therefore essential to safeguarding the future. We cannot build our country by first destroying it,” Obi added.

Amosun Urges Nigerians to Shun Violence, Corruption

As Muslims across the globe celebrate Eid-El-Fitr, Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has called on Muslims and Nigerians in general to shun all forms of corruption and violence even after the holy month of Ramadan.
According to him, “Even after Ramadan, let us not forget the values, ethos and virtues we embraced during the holy month.”

He congratulated faithful of Islam in Nigeria and all over the world for the successful completion of the holy month of Ramadan.
Amosun also seized the occasion to admonish them to imbibe the values represented by Ramadan and make them an integral part of their lives.
The governor prayed for peace in the country as he urged Nigerians, irrespective of religious, political and ethnic differences, to come together and work for the prosperity and progress of the nation.

Aregbesola Urges Peace, Devt
Governor of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola, has called on Muslims nationwide to pray for peace as the country is going through tough economic and security challenges.
Aregbesola, in a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, admonished Muslims to imbibe the salient lessons of Ramadan and emulation of the humility, good neighbourliness, understanding and love exemplified by the life of Prophet Mohammed.

According to him, Muslims must exhibit qualities such as commitment, discipline, obedience to and love for Allah, and apply same in their daily relationship with their fellow human beings irrespective of ethnic and religious affiliations.

The governor enjoined the people of the state to live in peace and extend hands of fellowship to their neighbours to allow for peaceful atmosphere in the state.
“It is a known fact that this is not a good time for the country. The economy is in doldrums. There is palpable air of insecurity all over the country.

“As we wade through this economic and security turbulence, all we need, both leaders and the led; Muslims and Christians and adherents of other faiths, is to come together as one and cooperate with President Muhammadu Buhari to jointly pursue our a common destiny.
“I congratulate the Muslim faithful in the country for the successful completion of fasting.”

We Must Remain United, Ikpeazu Charges Muslims
Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has charged Muslims living in the state to continue to exhibit qualities of good-neighbourliness and always feel at home in state.
Governor Ikpeazu, who gave this charge while observing the iftar breaking of Ramadan fast with the leadership of the Muslim community in the state at the Government House, Umuahia, assured them of the continued support of the state government.

The governor recalled that he went to Maiduguri at the age of 16 and spent about seven years at the University of Maiduguri for his bachelor and master degrees, and disclosed that he was very conversant with the tenets of Islam and has a lot of respect for the faith.

He urged the Muslim faithful to continue to practice the good deeds they imbibed during the period of Ramadan and wished them a happy Eid-El-Fitr celebrations.
Ikpeazu also used the opportunity of the meeting to call for support for President Muhammadu Buhari and the fight against corruption in the country.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Alhaji Musa Iheakaram, disclosed that the entire Muslims in the state were at government house to express solidarity with the state governor and thank him for his love for Muslims in the state.
Also in the delegation were Chief Imams of Aba, Umuahia, Lokpanta and Ohafia as well as Sarkin Hausa in Aba and Umuahia and Sarkin Fulanin in Umuahia.

Rivers PDP Chairman, Obuah Congratulates Muslims

The Chairman of Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Felix Obuah, has felicitated with Muslims resident in the state for a successful completion of the Ramadan fast and the celebration of Eid-el-Fitr.

Obuah, in a goodwill message to Muslim faithful, thanked God for His steadfastness and love for them and all Nigerians for another opportunity to renew their faiths in Him according to the teachings of Prophet Mohammed.
The state PDP chairman prayed that the heart desires and hopes of the Muslim brothers for undertaking the spiritual exercise would be granted by God whose love for His children never fails.

He also enjoined the Muslims to use the holy period of Ramadan fasting for inner reflections and make a u-turn from human imperfections to do that which is right and pleasing to God.
Reassuring the Muslims of support, Obuah also reminded them of their civic responsibility to be law-abiding and peaceful in their private and public conduct in order to create an atmosphere of peaceful co-existence with others.

The chairman reiterated the state government resolve to provide a conducive environment for all to excel in all their vocations irrespective of tribe, religion or political affiliations, and therefore urged them to support and pray for the administration of the state Governor, Nyesom Wike, who he said has demonstrated his preparedness to make the state the home for all Nigerians with all the rights and privileges including that of religious worship.