President Bola Tinubu and state governors, on Wednesday, assured Nigerians that the economic pains and hardships they were facing would soon turn to prosperity.
They said the current pains were necessary, noting that the peoples’ sacrifices would pave the way for abundance and a better future for the country.
Tinubu and the governors spoke in separate statements on the Sallah celebrations across the country.
Speaking in Lagos shortly after observing the Eid prayers at the Obalende Muslim Prayer Ground located near Dodan Barracks, the former seat of power in Lagos, the President said, “We have to make the sacrifices and that is clear, we have to.”
His message was contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communication, and Strategy, Dele Alake.
The statement was titled: ‘Nigeria will experience peace, stability, and prosperity, President Tinubu declares at Lagos Eid Prayer Ground.’
Tinubu described the current economic hardships as a bearable burden, explaining that “Allah will not give you a burden that you cannot carry.”
Therefore, he urged Nigerians to have faith in God that the country would experience peace, stability, and prosperity.
“I thank Almighty Allah for keeping us in good health till today and pray to Him to grant us robust health and prosperity.
“May our sacrifices turn to prosperity. We have to make the sacrifices and that is clear, we have to.
“But Allah will not give you a burden that you cannot carry. He is there for us. We must have faith in the country. Have faith in ourselves, believing that as citizens of this country, we must join hands to build the nation,” the President said.
He called for unity in the country, urging Nigerians not to allow their religious and tribal identities to overshadow their national identity.
Tinubu also prayed for Nigerian troops on the frontline in the fight against insurgency, saying he desires to see them emerge victorious.
“Nigeria will see peace, stability and God will grant peace to those of us at the war front,” he added.
The Eid prayer, which started at 9 a.m., was led by the Chief Imam of Lagos State, Sheikh Sulaiman Abu-Nolah.
The Chief Imam later performed the obligatory slaughtering of the ram at the Eid prayer ground in celebration of the significance of the noble act of Prophet Ibrahim in total obedience to Allah’s command.
Speaking on behalf of the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat felicitated Muslims nationwide for the joy of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, urging them to unite behind the President in his ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda.
“We have to pray for our leaders. We must pray for our President that God should help him to succeed in the task before him,” Hamzat said.
The prayer was attended by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, a former governor of Lagos State and immediate-past Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, among other top government officials and politicians.
Meanwhile, governors and clerics have sued for peace and economic prosperity as Muslims converge on prayer grounds.
In his Sallah message, the Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello charged the people of the state to be law-abiding and security-conscious at all times.
The governor gave the charge shortly after he observed the Eid prayer at Okene, his country home.
He charged the people of the state to respect constituted authority and promised to fulfil his promises of developing the state far better than he met it when he took over the leadership of the state in 2016.
“I thank God almighty who has brought us thus far. This is my last time praying on this ground as a governor. I thank God for his protection, guidance, and the good health we have enjoyed throughout my tenure till date.
“I thank God that I was able to turn around the fortune of the state far better than I met the state in 2016 when I took over the leadership of the state” he said.
Bello called on the citizens of the state to be patient with the current government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, assuring that with perseverance, there are better days ahead under the current administration.
The governor appealed to the chief imam of Ebiraland Sheik Salihu Abere to use his position as a religious leader to unite the people irrespective of belief, urging him not to allow anybody to derail him from performing his functions as chief imam.
Ohinoyi of Ebiraland His Royal Highness Ado Ibrahim commended Bello for the developmental projects scattered across the state.
Chief Imam, Sheik Salihu Abere, in his sermon reminded Muslims to go closer to God through intensive prayer to enable them to enjoy God’s favour.
Taraba state Governor Agbu Kefas called for prayers from the people of different faiths in the state to help in the actualisation of a new Taraba.
The governor in a goodwill message to the Muslim faithful in the state on the occasion of the Eid Mubarak celebration said a new Taraba is feasible if all people of all faith intensify prayers, exhibit affection, and embrace one another as taught by both Islam and Christianity.
In a press statement signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Yusuf Sanda, Kefas urged Tarabans and all Nigerians to learn from the season’s teachings by being obedient, tolerant, exhibiting love, peace, and sacrifice in creating a new society, free from sentiment and division that all citizens would be proud of.
In Katsina, the Emir of Katsina, Dr.Abdulmumin Kabir joined other Muslims in the state to observe the Eid -el- Kabir prayers at the Kofar Cuga praying ground a few minutes after nine in the morning.
Governor Dikko Radda was, however, absent at the praying ground although sources said he was not in the country.
Security was beefed up at the praying ground as security operatives mounted a military Armoured Personnel Carrier and police anti-bomb vehicles at the entrance of the praying ground.
Security was also tightened at the emir’s palace where a Durbar was held later in the day.
The chief Imam urged the adherents to always remember the virtues and the circumstances surrounding the festival, which according to him, bordered on a strong faith in God, perseverance, and humility.
In the governor’s Sallah message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Mohammed, he urged Muslims to be appreciative of God’s grace on them.
He stated, ‘’The Eid-il-Kabir festival should go beyond the slaughtering of rams to sharing love and material possessions not only with relatives or acquaintances but also with the displaced, the elderly, the orphans and other categories of people at the margin of the society, including those with special needs.’’
In a related development, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Mr Olusade Adesola, has urged residents to embrace the spirits of the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations by extending kindness and generosity to one another.
This was contained in his Eid-El-Kabir message addressed to residents.
Adesola urged the residents to use the opportunity to pray for the peace and prosperity of the country and leaders at all levels of government.
“As residents of the FCT, let us be reminded that we must keep alive the dreams of the founding fathers of the Territory as a symbol of Nigeria’s unity and strength. Let us play up those values that tend to unite us and shun those that encourage disunity and division”, he admonished.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party has congratulated Nigerians on the celebration of this year’s Eid and urged Muslims to use the occasion to pray for the triumph of justice and the will of God in the affairs of the nation.
The party in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba on Wednesday, commended Nigerians for their resilience and urged them to reinforce their patience, hope, and trust in God despite the prevailing economic, social, and security challenges confronting the nation.
It lamented that Nigeria was undergoing a most harrowing economic hardship under the All Progressives Congress-led government
The opposition party said, “Our party charges Nigerians not to allow the hardship and sense of uncertainty they face at the moment to make them lose sight of the essence of the Eid-el-Kabir; the demand for selflessness, absolute trust, and submission to the will, authority, and command of Allah in all issues of life.
“Our party is deeply worried by the worsening economic crisis, the astronomical increase in the cost of essential goods and services, the collapse of the purchasing power of citizens and scorching economic distress on millions of families across the country.’’
“It is saddening that on an occasion like this, millions of Nigerians are observing the period in frustration as they cannot afford the necessities to celebrate with their loved ones. Many cannot express their affection by travelling to visit or even sharing with their family members and friends all because of hardship and insensitive policies imposed by the All Progressives Congress-led government,” the statement read in part.
The party further said that it is “heartrending that Nigerians are currently undergoing the most harrowing economic hardship under the APC-led Federal Government which continues to impose life discounting policies with attendant hardship on the people without verifiable plans for relief.’’
But the Presidency on Wednesday took a swipe at the PD, saying the opposition party was envious of the APC government led by Tinubu.
It said the PDP was envious of the ruling party’s achievements within three weeks.
The Presidency through the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications, and Strategy, Mr. Dele Alake, also said that it was expected that the PDP, which allegedly lacked the mental capacity and managerial acumen while in charge of government for 16 years would say worse things in days to come.
Reacting to the alleged anti-people policies by Tinubu’s government, Alake said, “But they (PDP) will say that, they will even say worse. That is very mild coming from them.
“We expect them to say worse because all the time they were in government they lacked the gut, the mental capacity, the physical resourcefulness, and the vision to do what the government has done or accomplished within short weeks.
“What they could not do in 16 years of holding the presidency of this country Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has done it within three short weeks. So what do you expect them to say?
“They lacked that mental capacity, the physical wherewithal, the managerial acumen to achieve those bold goals, so they have to be envious. So it is normal,
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara also felicitated with the Muslim faithful in the state and across the country.
Fubara in a statement signed by his media aide, Boniface Onyedi, said, “In the spirit of this special day, I urge all Muslims and indeed all Nigerians to reflect on the rare virtues of obedience, sacrifice, and faith as exemplified by the Holy Prophet. “
He further urged all Nigerians to imbibe the character of sacrifice for the growth and development of the country, saying the nation is passing through a phase of recovery that would result in the well-being and prosperity of all.
Fubara expressed the hope that the prayers and sacrifices that come from this year’s Eid-el-Kabir would enhance peace, unity, and the advancement of the nation.
Similarly, his Bayelsa State counterpart, Douye Diri, congratulated the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria and particularly in the state on this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
The governor, in a statement by his spokesperson, Mr Daniel Alabrah, on Wednesday, urged Muslim adherents to use the opportunity of the festival to renew their faith in their creator and the unity of the country.
Diri noted that Eid-el-Kabir is a feast of love, selflessness, and sacrificial giving, calling on Muslims and other citizens in Bayelsa to continue to live in peace and brotherliness.
He said his administration has guaranteed peaceful co-existence in the state and ensured that the right environment was created for business and work “no matter your religion or where you are from.”
Diri said, “Love is the highest form of virtue. The Eid-el-Kabir celebration is a time to reflect on and manifest it.
“I urge our Muslim brothers to renew their faith in God Almighty and in the unity of our country as I congratulate them on the auspicious celebration of Eid-el-Kabir.”
The Kano State Deputy Governor, Aminu Gwarzo has congratulated Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, the national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, and other Muslim faithful in the state on the celebration of the Eid-el-Kabir festival.
Gwarzo in a statement by his Press Secretary, Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu, on Wednesday, noted that as Muslims all over the world celebrate the festival, it is time to be cheerful and share with their loved ones.
The deputy governor urged the people of the state to support the administration of Governor Abba Kabir, saying “This government is for all the people in the state. We must support it to attain the desired goal of restoring the lost glory of the state.”
The Jama’atu Nasril Islam under the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alh Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, also commended the Muslims for their steadfast commitment to the principles of Islam in the face of challenges while noting that the festival provided them the opportunity to strengthen their bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood and reinforced the message of love and unity that Islam embodies.
This was just like the TY Buratai Foundation founded by former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Yusuf Buratai(retd.) congratulated the Muslim community, calling for sustained prayers for the success of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
This was contained in a statement by the Foundation’s National Chairman, Ibrahim Danfulani in Kaduna.
Meanwhile, the JNI in a statement by its Secretary General, Prof. Khalid Aliyu in Kaduna on Wednesday, urged Nigeria Muslims to reflect on the importance of selflessness and generousity as the festival encouraged them to “share our blessings with those less fortunate, fostering a sense of compassion and social harmony within our communities.”
The organization also expressed concern over the continued deteriorating condition of the average Nigerian as a result of extreme poverty and high-level inflation in the country.
Against this background, the JNI called on Nigerian leaders to cut down their extravagant lifestyles, make adjustments and come up with policies that would make life comfortable for ordinary citizens.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the APC has hailed Tinubu for taking bold steps since his inauguration on May 29 to reposition Nigeria for economic growth in line with the administration’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda.
This was even as the ruling party congratulated Nigerians, especially the Muslim faithful, on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir, the Islamic festival of sacrifice, with a passionate appeal for them to have compassion on the needy and less-privileged in society.
The felicitation was contained in a statement issued by APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, in Abuja on Wednesday.
“This year’s celebration remarkably coincides with a period in our nation’s history when our dear President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is taking some courageous and decisive steps to reposition our beloved country for rapid economic growth and wholesome greatness in line with his administration’s Renewed Hope agenda,” the statement noted.
Also on Wednesday, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State and former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar joined thousands of Muslims at the Central Eid ground in Yola to observe the two raka’at prayers in commemoration of the 2023 Eid-El-Kabir celebration.
In his sermon after leading the prayers, the Chief Imam Modibbo Adamawa Central Mosque, Yola, Khadi Ahmadu Bobboi spoke extensively on the history and significance of the Eid-El-Kabir to Muslim Ummah.
Speaking after the Eid prayers in an interview with newsmen, Fintiri congratulated Muslims on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir and expressed the hope that the occasion will usher in peace and development in Nigeria.