El-Rufai Urges Nigerians to Resist Those Bent at Dividing the Country  

Our Correspondents

The Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, has urged Nigerians to resist those who are bent at dividing the country.

The governor who spoke shortly after the Eid Prayers in Kauru, headquarters of Kauru Local Government Area where he went to celebrate the Sallah, said Nigerians should not allow agents of doom to realise their sinister agenda.

“We should use this celebration to reflect and pray hard for peace and unity of Nigeria. As citizens, we should stand together against those preaching division and violence. “Our diversity is a source of strength and our common humanity is a threat to those who earn “Let us be uncompromising about maintaining peace and promoting harmony,” the governor said.

The governor also declared a state of emergency in the development of Kauru Local Government Area.

He noted the locality has become the most backward area in the state due to long period of neglect, saying that his administration was determined to remedy the poor development indices there.

The governor lamented that 92 per cent of local government area has no access to electricity, roads, water and basic health facilities.

“We came here as a government to declare a state of development emergency in Kauru local government area. Kauru is behind in electrification, hospitals, roads, water and other basic social amenities.

“Within the next two years, we will do all that we can to ensure that we achieve significant progress in these areas within Kauru local government,” the governor promised.

Ugwuanyi Visits Enugu Mosque

As Muslim faithful celebrated Eid-el-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan yesterday, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has called on them to use the period to offer special prayers for peaceful co-existence and national unity for the continued progress and sustainability of the dreams of the country’s founding fathers.

Ugwuanyi who earlier paid a surprise visit to the Muslims at their Central Mosque located in Owerri Road, Enugu to felicitate with them, in his message, noted that Eid-el-Fitr offers an opportunity for both Muslim and Christian faithful to continue to live in harmony for the progress of the country.

He added that the country’s strength lies in its diversity and ability to overcome challenges despite socio-political differences.

Wike Congratulates Nigerian Muslims

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has felicitated with Nigerian Muslims on the successful completion of the 2017 Ramadan fast, urging them to use the Sallah celebration to pray for the unity of the country.   In a Sallah message, the governor advised the Muslims to emulate the Holy Prophet Mohammed by imbibing the ideals of sacrifice exemplified by the Prophet. He said this is a season to promote love, peace and friendship. He urged Nigerians to embrace religious tolerance, which would promote peace across the country and enhance national development.

Dickson Felicitates with Muslims

Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, has joined in felicitating with Muslims across the country, especially in the state on the celebration of Eid-el-Fitr.

In a statement released in Yenagoa at the weekend, the governor called for more tolerance, unity and peaceful coexistence as they celebrate, emphasising that no meaningful development can take place without those things. The statement which was signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, urged all Muslim faithful to love their brothers and sisters in other religions and see themselves as one at all times.

He said there is so much to achieve in the country by working together as one and urged all promoters of hate speeches and divisive tendencies to desist for the interest of the future of upcoming generations.

Okowa Sues for Tolerance

Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has congratulated Muslims in Delta State, Nigeria and all over the world on the occasion of the 2017 Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

Okowa in a statement yesterday in Asaba by his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Aniagwu, enjoined all Muslim faithful in Delta State and Nigerians in general to extend the spiritual benefits of Ramadan, which are love, peace and justice to their daily living and through this contribute to the development of the nation.

“I felicitate with all Nigerians, especially our Muslim brothers and sisters on the auspicious occasion of this year’s Eid-el-Fitri celebrations. I congratulate all of our countrymen and women who have successfully undertaken the purifying Ramadan fast.”

Kwara Gov, Speaker Urge Muslims to Sustain the Lessons of Ramadan

Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has urged Muslims in the state to imbibe the lessons of Ramadan so as to move the nation forward.   Ahmed, in a press release by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, yesterday in Ilorin said: “Such lessons as endurance, tolerance, abstinance from vices and harmonious relationship with one another learnt during the month of Ramadan are important ingredients for growth and development which should endure after fasting.”

Ahmed advised Nigerians not to depart from the path of steadfastness to God but continue to do the right things that will launch the nation to the path of greatness, sustainable growth and development and national cohession.

Also, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Dr. Ali Ahmad, has

congratulated Muslim Ummah on the successful completion of the month and tasked them to sustain the virtues of Ramadan by maintaining the love, togetherness and peaceful co-existence that characterised it.

Umahi Preaches Unity

Ebonyi State Governor and Chairman of South East Governors’ Forum, Mr. David Umahi, has called on Muslim faithful to maintain peace and learn to live in unity with other segments of the Nigerian society. The governor in his goodwill message to all Muslims urged them to embrace peace and live in unity with their Christian brethren as they mark this year’s Eid-el-Fitri.

He also assured all Muslims living in any part of the South-east of adequate security of lives and property to do their businesses, while calling on his brother governors in the northern parts of the country to do same by ensuring security of Ndigbo living in any part of their states are protected. Describing it as a month of peace and sacrifices, Umahi noted that this year’s celebration as very critical to the unity and peace of the country, adding that the country’s political space had been troubled by various hate speeches from various parts of the country and maintained that the celebration was a good moment to let go of all hate speeches and embrace peace as the only panacea for development.

Ortom Pledges Strong Security Measures

As Muslims celebrate Eid-el Fitri, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has reassured the people of the state that his administration will continue to give priority to security of lives and property as well as other key sectors of the economy.

Ortom said the task of ensuring peace in all parts of the state requires the cooperation of all stakeholders irrespective of religion, place of origin and ethnicity. He called for prayers, peaceful coexistence and sacrifice among the Muslim faithful and the entire people of the state.

Ajimobi Congratulates Muslims, Seeks Spiritual Rebirth

Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has congratulated the Muslim community in the country on the successful completion of the holy month of Ramadan. The governor, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka, in Ibadan yesterday, called for spiritual rebirth among the Islamic faithful.

He also enjoined Muslims not to deviate from the teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammed on the essence of Ramadan, even after the sallah celebrations.

Aregbesola: We Need Prayers to Keep Nigeria One

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has urged Muslims who just completed one month of fasting to pray for an urgent end to festering hate comments that are threatening the corporate existence of Nigeria.

Aregbesola also urged them to sustain the advancement they attained in moral standards even after Ramadan while asking them to make use of the opportunity of their state of piety to pray for the redemption of Nigeria from many of the social, economic and political complications that have beset it.

The governor, in a statement made available by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said Nigeria is in dire need of new directions, noting that a new orientation is possible only when people are ready to drop their old habits for a new culture of fear of God. The Governor expressed regrets over festering ethnic tensions while saying that prayers however can heal the wounds created by the hate comments among the different peoples that make up Nigeria.

Edo Gov, Benin Monarch Urge Muslims to Pray for Peace

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has urged Muslims to continue to practise lessons from the Ramadan even after the fasting period for the peaceful co-existence of all Nigerians and progress of the nation. Similarly, Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, in his message to the Muslims community in the state, urged them to pray against the political problems confronting Nigeria and think of ways of surmounting them. Obaseki made the call when he played host to Muslim faithfuls in the state on a visit to government House, Benin City.

Obaseki who was represented by his deputy, Philip Shaibu, said for Nigeria to remain united, religious faithful must protect the interest of the country by showing love to their neighbours as enshrined in the holy books, Bible and the Qura’an which promote love for one another.

On his part, Oba Ewuare II harped on the need for all Muslims to pray for good health, well-being, wisdom and understanding for the Nation’s leaders so that they would be able to pilot the affairs of the country on the path of unity, peace and progress.

Emir Sanusi, Masari, Ganduje Preach Peace

Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, has called on the people of the state to live in peace with one another to foster national unity.

According to him, no society or country can achieve any meaningful development or greatness in an atmosphere of chaos and mistrust among its citizens. Sunusi said yesterday after he led the Eid prayer at the Kofar Mata Central Eid ground, stating that there was need for the people of the state to ensure peaceful coexistence in the state and the country so as to ensure economic growth and development in the country.

“I want to use this occasion to call on our wealthy individuals to continue to support the poor so as to alleviate their sufferings in the society.” The emir also used the occasion to called on well-to-do Muslims in the society to continue to support the less-privileged to alleviate their sufferings.

Also in their separate statements, Katsina State Governor, Mr. Aminu Bello Masari and his Kano State counterpart, Mr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, have congratulated the Muslim Ummah over the successful completion of the fasting in the month of Ramadan, and the celebration of the Eid-el-Fitr.

The governor also urged Muslims to imbibe the virtues, lessons and discipline taught by the month of Ramadan.

He noted that the lessons and discipline taught by Ramadan could not have come at a more opportuned time than now when the world is confronted by a myriad of challenges, especially bordering on the economy and security.

On his part, Ganduje called on the Muslim Ummah to continue to exhibit the strict spiritual teachings of the holy month of Ramadan in their daily affairs.

He said the lessons of tolerance, peace, fairness, justice, love and support for the needy and less privileged learnt during the month – long fast should be practiced by all beyond the holy month to attain spiritual uplifting, peaceful coexistence, and national unity particularly at this period of our national history where various agitations are assuming disturbing trends.

While wishing all Muslims happy and peaceful Eid-el-Fitr celebration, he urged them to use the occasion to pray for peace, security, development of the state and the country in general and the quick recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari, who is receiving medical treatment abroad.

Ganduje also reiterated his administration’s commitment to the completion of all inherited projects that have reached at least 50 per cent completion stage before the end of his tenure in 2019 and initiation of new ones for the development of the state and wellbeing of the people.

 

disintegration.”

Faleke praised the efforts being made by the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo to douse tension in the country through day-to-day engagements with traditional, tribal and religious leaders towards achieving normalcy, adding that it was” better to jaw jaw than to war war”. He urged Muslims to follow the pillars of Islam, key of which is peace.