President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed satisfaction at the conduct of peaceful elections in Nigeria, despite what he called “doomsday predictions of social disharmony.”
In his Sallah message to Nigerians to celebrate the end of the Ramadan fasting season, President Buhari, in a statement from his office, commended INEC for a good job despite the initial difficulties and praised the voters for their tenacity and strong faith in the democratic process.
“Before the 2019 general elections, prophets of doom didn’t give the country a chance to conduct peaceful elections. Despite these fears, the country overcame its political challenges.
“For abandoning their businesses in order to vote, the voters had demonstrated great patriotism in coming out to exercise their civic duty.
“Let me use this opportunity once again to reassure all Nigerians that your sacrifices in voting for me won’t be in vain. I will ensure the ordinary voters feel the positive impact of government,” the President said.
Turning to the lessons of the Ramadan, President Buhari urged Muslims to always put humanity before personal interests.
“The Ramadan period is meant to reinforce us spiritually, therefore, we should use religion as an inspiration to do good at all times.
“The virtues of the Ramadan should be sustained beyond the celebration. Going back to bad ways after the Ramadan might defeat the essence of the message and lessons the fasting period was supposed to inculcate in the hearts and minds of the Muslim faithful,” he said.
President Buhari also used the occasion to commiserate with victims of terrorism, kidnapping and banditry in the country.
He reassured Nigerians that under no circumstances would criminals and mass murderers be allowed to hold the country to ransom, saying ‘‘their days are numbered because this administration will pursue them relentlessly and bring them to justice.’’
President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, congratulated Muslim faithful on the celebration of the Eid-el-Fitri which followed the successful observance of the month long Ramadan fast.
Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, said the prayers and sacrifices of the Muslim ummah during the period contributed greatly to the relative peace witnessed across the country in the last one month.
He urged all Nigerians to seize the momentum of the completion of this year’s Ramadan to work for sustainable peace, security and economic well-being of the country.
“Our greatest challenges as a nation are insecurity and economic crises. And there is need for both government officials and those who voted them into office to co-operate in solving these problems.
“On the security front, even though we acknowledge that new threats have continued to emerge, we believe that our security forces have all it takes to nip them in the bud in due course.
“This is the more reason why all hands must be on deck to ensure the full restoration of lasting peace and security across the country. This, I believe, will provide a conducive business environment that would encourage investments – through which jobs and better opportunities for our people will be created.
“Winning the war on insecurity can only come from the collective efforts of all Nigerians through cooperation with security forces in supplying timely intelligence that would aid them in their job of protecting lives and property across the country,” Saraki stated.
While felicitating with Muslims on the completion of the spiritual exercise during the Ramadan, he urged them not to relent in displaying the discipline, restraint, discretion, piety and good neighbourliness which which were very obvious during the fasting period.
Saraki further urged Nigerians not to relent in their prayers for the peaceful coexistence of all Nigerians and to be their brother’s keeper at all times.