Ambode, Ahmed, Tambuwal preach love, peace, sacrifice

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; his Kwara State counterpart, Alhaji Abdufattah Ahmed; and Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State have called on Nigerians, especially Muslims, to inculcate love and peaceful co-existence among the citizenry in the country.

The governors said this in their messages to Islamic faithful in commemoration of this year’s Eid-el Kabir.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Habib Aruna, on Wednesday, Ambode said since Islam preaches the message of peace and tolerance, every Nigerian should embrace brotherly love and harmonious co-existence.

He urged Muslim faithful to pray for continued peace and tranquility in the state and the nation, especially in the North-East, which had witnessed unceasing attacks by Boko Haram. 

While urging Muslims to shun religious extremism, which according to him, is a challenging development for the country, the governor described those who hid under the veil of religion to perpetrate terrorism, as being ignorant to the teachings of Islam, noting that nobody could fight for God. 

“You cannot fight to protect an authority that we owe our existence to or on behalf of one who is greater than the sum total of us,” he said. 

Ambode counselled that the significance of the season should be beyond the festivities, believing that it should be a moment to reflect on why God had united everyone with a common humanity of blood, food and water as these should constitute what binds the people.

The Kwara State Governor, in a statement by his CPS, Abdulwahab Oba, urged Muslims to use the Eid-el-Kabir to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice, good neighbourliness and selfless service as contained in the teachings of Islam.

Ahmed stressed that Nigerians must always work for the good of the country above personal or sectional interest.

He enjoined Muslims to appreciate the essence of Eid-el-Kabir as a symbolic representation of total submission to the will of Allah, goodness to one another and service to humanity as exhibited by Prophet Ibrahim.

The governor expressed gratitude to religious leaders, traditional rulers, community leaders, trade unions and politicians and the entire people of the state for their prayers and love and for ensuring sustainable peace in the state.

Ahmed noted that for Nigeria to realise its potential as a nation, the citizens, irrespective of religious persuasions, must work collectively, consciously and submit to common religious doctrine of being their brother’s keeper.

“We must therefore use the eld-el-kabir as another opportunity for us to reflect on the essence of sacrifice and humility as fulcrums for the promotion of harmonious relationship in our polity,” he said.

Also, the Sokoto State Governor enjoined Nigerians to continue with their support for the government as it sought to implement policies and programmes that would uplift the standard of living of the populace.

In his Sallah message by Tambuwal’s CPS, Imam Imam, the governor said meaningful development could only be achieved in an atmosphere of peace and cooperation.

His said the present All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari, would continue working tirelessly to build solid foundations for sustainable national development.

While praying for a hitch-free Sallah celebrations, Tambuwal said his administration would continue to lay emphasis on the resuscitation of key sectors, such as roads, transportation, agriculture, education, health care and youth as well as women employment.

This, according to him, becomes necessary so as to take Sokoto to a higher level.

 

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