From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Molly Kilete, Okwe Obi (Abuja), Desmond Mgboh (Kano), Abel Leonard (Lafia), Tony John (Port Harcourt), Lateef Dada (Osogbo), Laide Raheem (Abeokuta)
President Bola Tinubu enjoined Nigerians to reflect on the essence of Eid-el-Kabir, which bears strong meaning and significance for the nation.
This is even as he reassured Nigerians that his administration is prioritising their physical, social, and economic security and would not relent on this noble endeavour.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the President said that sacrifice and duty are essential ingredients to nation building, noting that it takes collective purpose, will, and action to bring about great change.
He urged citizens to pray for continuous peace and stability while working according to purpose in promoting unity, peace, and progress.
The President acknowledged the sacrifices Nigerians have made in the past year as his administration and affirmed that their expectations would not come to nought.
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, in his goodwill message urged Muslim faithful to have forbearance and show compassion in every situation.
“The message of Eid al-Adha is to remind ourselves that even in the face of current hard times that many Nigerians are passing through, we must never fail to put trust in God and, more importantly, extend compassion and safety to the vulnerable people around us.
The former Vice President equally sized the opportunity of the Eid celebration to call on governments at all levels to be deliberate in initiating measures that will ease the hardship that confronts Nigerians on daily basis.
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Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, urged Muslims to demonstrate the true spirit of the season by reaching out to the needy while also
seeking Allah’s grace for the country’s peace, unity, security and economic prosperity.
Senator Barau, who is also the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, assured Nigerians of the present administration’s commitment to turn around the country’s fortunes positively for the benefit of all.
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun called on Muslim Ummar in Nigeria to use the occasion of the Eid-El-Kabir celebration to reflect on the teachings of Prophet Ibrahim (May Peace Be Upon Him) and strive to emulate his unwavering faith, obedience and dedication to serving the greater good.
The Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule, in his Sallah message highlighted the importance of unity and support for national leaders, adding, “We need to sustain peace, harmony, socio-cultural, and economic prosperity which our dear State and Nigeria are known.”
In the spirit of the celebration, Speaker, Nasarawa State House of Assembly Danladi Jatau while restating his commitment to shaping the legislative arm to focus on people driven legislation to improve the lives of rural dwellers, distributed Sallah gifts, comprising N4 million, 300 bags of rice and 15 rams to the less privileged people of Kokona West constituency at Garaku, Kokona Local Government Area, as way of proving succour to the Muslim community.
On its part, the Inter Party Advisory Council, (IPAC) in a statement by the National Chairman, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, enjoined Nigerians to imbibe the virtues of obedience, sacrifice, love, tolerance, peace and patriotism in the national resolve to build a strong, virile, united, progressive, equitable and prosperous democratic society.
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Foremost telecommunications company, Globacom, in its goodwill message urged the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria to pray for the progress and well-being of the country, and urged all to work assiduously to ensure that all the components of the nation work together in oneness and unity.
Casting a panoramic glance over the country, former member of the House of Representatives, Farah Dagogo, tasked the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government to come up with workable economic policies that would ameliorate the sufferings and hardships majority of Nigerians are experiencing.
He described the current living standards and situations in the country as ‘grim’ raising concerns that all indicators point to “further pains for the citizenry.”
In a special Eid-ul-Adha (Sallah) message to Muslim faithful across the country, the former Federal lawmaker wondered why the people would continue to languish and wallow in so much misery in the midst of the country’s abundant natural resources.
His words: “Today, yesterday and especially in the past one year, the peoples’ purchasing power has reduced drastically. Never has this country witnessed this level of hyperinflation in its history, not even during our civil war. It is a grim reality.
“The value of ₦40,000 in 2015 is equivalent to over ₦500,000 in today’s Nigeria of 2024. Criss-cross the cost of goods and services during this period and vis-a-vis the reality of today and we all will come to that sad realization. That was why labour was justifiably demanding for a living wage.
“The inconsolable unavoidable truth is that the value of the money most persons are getting or earning in this 2024 is not too different from that of 2015. But, the purchasing power has practically gone out the window.”
A chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Osun State, Omooba Dotun Babayemi, called on Muslims across Nigeria to keep working and praying for the growth and development of the country
While commending Nigerians for their patriotism, which has kept the nation going, he appealed that they should not relent in working and praying for the continuous growth of the country.
The senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Solomon Adeola, enjoined all Muslim faithful in his senatorial district and other Nigerians to pray for peace and the success of the ongoing Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as solutions are sought to address inherited challenges confronting the nation.
In its goodwill message, Department of State Services (DSS), called on Nigerians to be vigilant and observe all necessary personal security procedures during the Eid-Al-Adha celebrations.
DSS Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Peter Afunanya, in statement urged the operators and patrons of malls, fun places, markets, parks and railway stations among others to be vigilant and ensure strict compliance to physical and other security measures required for public safety and report suspected movements or breaches to appropriate law enforcement authorities.