EID EL KABIR: PRESIDENT BUHARI EXTOLS THE SACRIFICES OF NIGERIANS, URGES PATIENCE AS GOVERNMENT ADDRESSES HARDSHIPS
President Muhammadu Buhari sends Eid greetings on the occasion of Eid El-Adha that is being celebrated across the world.
In his message marking the auspicious Muslim occasion, the President restates the determination of his administration to create a just, harmonious and prosperous country in which the safety of life and property is assured.
Reflecting on current challenges facing the country, the President states that “COVID-19 pandemic has taken a heavy toll on the economies of all countries, including Nigeria, in addition to the fact that floods have caused large scale destruction to agricultural farmlands, thereby impacting negatively on our efforts to boost local production in line with our policy to drastically reduce food importation.”
This, he explains, has led to food inflation which the government is working hard to address.
According to President Buhari, “no government in our recent history has invested as heavily as we are doing to promote local production of about 20 other commodities, through the provision of loans and several other forms of support to our farmers.”
He says, “apart from the destruction caused to rice farms by floods, middlemen have also taken advantage of the local rice production to exploit fellow Nigerians, thereby undermining our goal of supporting local food production at affordable prices.”
“As an elected president who enjoys the goodwill of the ordinary people that gave us their mandate, let me assure you that we are continuing with measures to bring relief to Nigerians, including making fertilizer available at affordable prices to our farmers,” he tells Nigerians.
The President also notes that the current insecurity in the country “has produced severe and adverse effects on agriculture because farmers are prevented from accessing their farms by bandits and terrorists.”
“Let me also use this opportunity to reassure Nigerians that we are taking measures to address our security challenges. We have started taking delivery of fighter aircraft and other necessary military equipment and hardware to improve the capacity of our security forces to confront terrorism and banditry,” he adds.
Speaking on the significance of the Eid El-Kabir celebration, the President appeals to Muslims “to demonstrate the good virtues of Islam through personal examples and practices:
“Taking advantage of the celebration to exploit fellow citizens through outrageous prices of food and rams is inconsistent with fine virtues of Islam.
“As practising believers, we shouldn’t seek obscene profits by making life difficult and miserable for others. We should not seek happiness at the expense of others. Remember that Islam is a religion of charity that urges us to love our neighbour as we love ourselves.
“I urge all Muslims to continue to live in peace and harmony with their fellow Nigerians of other faiths in the spirit of peaceful coexistence. Let us pray for the progress of Nigeria at all times. Let us expose undesirable elements among us who are creating security problems for the country.”
▪︎ Report by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity)
Senate President’s 2021 Sallah message
I felicitate with all Nigerians and the Muslim Ummah on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir.
Every true Muslim is always grateful to Allah the Most Beneficent and the Most Merciful for the privilege to celebrate Sallah, regardless of our circumstances.
The best way to demonstrate our gratitude to Allah is to share His blessings with our neighbours and show love and kindness to all, as taught us by Holy Prophet Mohammed (SAW).
I also want to use the occasion to urge the faithful and all Nigerians to be steadfast in working and praying for the peace, unity and progress of our beloved country.
The current challenges are painful but this is a passing phase in our historical process of nation-building.
The Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari is determined that we get the challenges behind us and steady our nation’s march to its manifest destiny of greatness.
The Ninth Senate and entire National Assembly will continue to facilitate the legislative environment needed for the success of all the efforts at the Public and Private Sectors targeted at the security, peace and prosperity of Nigeria.
In this respect, I will like to restate our resolute commitment to our Legislative Agenda as set out shortly after the inauguration of the Assembly in 2019.
I am proud that we have kept faith with our promises, as contained in that Agenda, to the Nigerian People as their Parliament.
The promises kept include passing the Petroleum Industry Bill(PIB) that had lingered for close to two decades. We finally broke that jinx.
We have also passed the Electoral Act 2010 Amendment Bill to further strengthen and enhance the integrity of our electoral processes.
We believe the two critical legislations will positively impact our economy and democracy.
Even before we passed the Electoral Act 2020 Amendment Bill, we had passed the Electoral Offences Commission Bill to check these offences.
Also worth mentioning is the hard work our Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution is doing to get its report ready for consideration as soon as we resume from our current summer vacation. We hope to consider the report this year before considering the 2022 Appropriation Bill and transmit the outcome to the state Houses of Assembly for their consideration.
We are confident that the new Constitution that will emerge from this exercise will substantially address all the areas of genuine concerns to patriotic Nigerians.
We are also committed to nurturing the tradition that we started of timely consideration of the budget by ensuring that the 2022 Appropriation Bill is passed by December so that the budget will continue to be implemented within the January to December cycle.
This however requires the cooperation of the Executive in presenting the estimates to the National Assembly on time.
Already, we have received the proposals on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Plan (MTEF/FSP 2022-2024) which provides the basis for the 2022 Budget estimates. We will definitely accord it expeditious consideration on our return from the recess.
As we mark Eid-el-Kabir, I urge us to continue adhering to the COVID-19 protocols so as to protect us and the society at large against the virus. We have been alerted by the health authourities that the Delta variant of the virus has surfaced in Nigeria. It requires strict adherence to the protocols already outlined by the health authourities to prevent the spread. Therefore, let us not lower our guards.
I wish you all happy celebrations.
▪︎ By Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan PhD, CON,, President of the Senate,
Eid-el-Kabir: Gbajabiamila sues for prayers, unity among Nigerians
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has called for prayers and unity of purpose among Nigerians at this period of Eid-el-Kabir.
He said as people that believe and worship God, Nigerians, especially Muslims, should use the opportunity of the Eid-el-Kabir to pray for their leaders to be able to find solutions to our problems.
Gbajabiamila said Nigerians must remain united and steadfast at all times to be able to face the challenges confronting the country.
He called on Muslims to imbibe the habit of sacrifice and love for one another as characterized by the Holy Prophet, Muhammad (SAW).
Speaker Gbajabiamila said there is m
ore that unites us as a people, hence the need for togetherness and peaceful coexistence.
Gbajabiamila, through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre
Lasisi, urged Nigerians to conduct themselves in a patriotic manner as “We have no other country we can call our own than Nigeria.
“I congratulate my Muslim compatriots for marking this year’s Eid-el-Kabir. This is a time for us to be more united as a people.
“As Muslims, we must make frantic efforts to emulate the virtues of the Holy Prophet, whose life is a perfect example of what we all should be.
“The act of sacrifice, one of the major lessons of the Eid-el-Kabir, should be part of our lives at all times. We must make sacrifices for ourselves, our families, our friends, our neighbours, and of course, our country.
“I enjoin all of us to continue to be good citizens and make meaningful contributions for our continuous peaceful coexistence,” Gbajabiamila said.
▪︎ Report by Lanre Lasisi, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, House of Representatives.
EID-el-KABIR: OMO-AGEGE GREETS MUSLIMS
The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has felicitated with Muslims across the country on this year’s celebration of Eid-el-Kabir.
In his Sallah message, Senator Omo-Agege called on Muslims to continue to imbibe the spirit of love, peace, kindness and sacrifice, as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad.
Stating that the country is passing through one of the most trying moments in the history of the nation, the Delta Central lawmaker urged Nigerians to renew their faith in God.
He further urged Muslims to preach peace and imbibe the virtues of Prophet Mohammed whose sacrificial and obedient life is the reason for the celebration.
“By acknowledging the supremacy of God, demonstrating genuine love and respect for one another and commitment to peaceful co-existence, we can collectively confront our challenges as a nation and build a truly peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.
“It is only through love for one another and commitment to peace, security and stability that the country can progress towards the fulfilment of its great potentials as a nation”, he said.
▪︎ Report by Yomi Odunuga, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, to the Deputy President of the Senate.
Eid-el-Kabir: Ekweremadu Felicitates with Muslims, Says Insecurity Still Nation’s Worst Nightmare
Former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has felicitated with the Muslim Ummah on the occasion of this year’s Eid-El-Kabir, urging them to pray for the security of the nation.
According to a statement by his Media Adviser, Uche Anichukwu, Ekweremadu made the call in his Eid-El-Kabir message to the Muslim faithful on Monday.
The lawmaker, who described insecurity as the nation’s worst nightmare, stressed that without security of lives and property, development, progress, and economic prosperity would continue to elude the country.
“It is sad that insecurity has persisted as the nation’s worst nightmare for so many years. We have never had it this bad. I do not know of any other nation in the world where all shades of criminals kill and abduct citizens daily in peace time as presently experienced in Nigeria.
“Therefore, as I felicitate with the Muslim faithful on this occasion of Eid-El-Kabir, I equally urge prayers for the security of our nation. It is also my hope that the leadership of the country musters the political will to decentralise policing so that the subnational governments are constitutionally empowered to create state police services to begin to retake the space from the marauding criminals.
“Importantly, I urge love, justice, as well as an equitable management of our diversities so that Nigerians can all join hands to take our nation out of the woods”, he said.
Ekweremadu wished the Muslim Ummah a merry and hitch-free Sallah celebration.
▪︎ Report by Uche Anichukwu, Media Adviser to Senator Ekweremadu, Former Deputy President of Senate.
Eid-el-Kabir is a reminder of what we must do to heal Nigeria – Atiku
The season is here with us again to celebrate Eid-el-Kabir and most importantly, give thanks to the Almighty God for sparing our lives as individuals and families to celebrate this significant festival of sacrifice.
Eid-el-Kabir teaches and reminds us of the meaning of sacrifice, love and forbearance with God and in our relationships with one another.
As Muslims more especially, Eid-el-Kabir and the stories of Prophets Ibrahim and Ishmael (Peace and Blessings of Allah be with them) that accompany it requires that we take the whole of humanity as one nation.
The significance of the celebration today is rooted in peaceful co-existence, mutual respect and tolerance. These are the virtues that we, as Nigerians, need to imbibe as we seek to heal our country of all shades of mistrust.
According to the teachings of Noble Prophet Muhammad (SAW), the slaughtering of animals in celebration of this festival is to evoke and reinforce the consciousness of God in all our deeds and wishes.
We would not be able to fully appreciate the love from God if we allow killing of the innocent souls and propagation of hateful rhetoric become a norm amongst us.
As I congratulate Muslims in Nigeria and across the globe on this year’s Eid el-Kabir, may I remind you of our beloved Prophet’s saying that, “no nation is superior to the other. But the best amongst you is the one with the best piety to Allah.“
▪︎ Atiku Abubakar, Vice President of Nigeria, 1999-2007, Yola.
EID-EL-KABIR: ASIWAJU TINUBU CALLS FOR GREATER FAITH, BROTHERLY CONCERN AS NIGERIANS CELEBRATE
On this occasion of Eid-el-Kabir, I extend warmest greetings to our Muslim brothers and sisters in Nigeria and around the world. We give utmost gratitude to Almighty Allah SWT for His munificent blessings and abiding love for all mankind.
As we celebrate let us never forget the reason for Eid-el- Kabir. We commemorate an act of complete faith in Allah and His instructions unto us. Thus, let celebrate but may we also dedicate ourselves to greater adherence and obedience to the compassionate and spiritually nourishing commands of Almighty Allah.
Celebrate yes, but let us not forget the poor and vulnerable among us. Reach out to give solace and succour to those unable to help themselves. Show brotherly concern and compassion to all. To be a good Muslim is to be a caring and generous human being. The challenges that we face as a nation call upon us to adhere even more closely to Allah’s commands so that we may overcome these challenges and continue to build the just and prosperous society destined for us.
This Eid, we must, therefore, beseech Almighty Allah to protect the weak, feed the poor and give us the courage and wisdom to subdue and defeat those who would do violence and destruction to the innocent.
We pray for our gallant soldiers and other security agents confronting these agents of evil people. we pray for the unity and stability of this country. Let us also remember President Muhammadu Buhari, our governors and other leaders in our prayers so that they can continue to confront and surmount the challenges facing this country so that together we can enjoy the benefits of a better Nigeria.
Once again, I wish Muslims and indeed all Nigerians a happy Eid-el-Kabir.
▪︎ By Asiwaju Bola Tinubu