On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu and state governors told Nigerians that the economic aches and difficulties they were experiencing will soon be replaced by wealth.
They said that the current hardships were necessary, adding that the sacrifices of the people will pave the way for abundance and a brighter future for the country.
Tinubu and the governors issued different statements on the country’s Sallah celebrations.
Speaking shortly after Eid prayers at the Obalende Muslim Prayer Ground near Dodan Barracks, the former seat of power in Lagos, the President stated, “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.
Imam seeks prayers
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.
New Taraba
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-ul-Adha 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-ul-Adha celebrations by extending kindness and generosity to one another.
This was contained in his Eid-ul-Adha 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.