At Sallah, Leaders Preach Peace

At Sallah, Leaders Preach Peace

05 Oct 2014

Sallah prayer session

Mohammed Aminu in Sokoto,  Yemi Akinsuyi in Abuja, Hammed Shittu in Ilorin, Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano, Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi, Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia and Daji Sani in Yola

Messages of peace and harmony resonated around the country during the celebration of Eid-el-Kabir yesterday as leaders enjoined Nigerians to eschew violence and the campaign of calumny in the overall interest of the nation, especially as the 2015 general elections draw near.

The Sallah messages were delivered amid tight security in various states of the Federation and particularly the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, where the police moved round the city in their numbers checking and ensuring maintenance of peace and order.

However, in Adamawa State, the Acting Governor, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, cancelled traditional homages and all activities to mark the Sallah celebration in the state to commiserate with the families of victims of insurgency attacks and empathise with internally displaced persons(IDPs).

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, in a Sallah message to the Muslim Ummah in his palace in Sokoto  admonished Nigerians to stop campaign of calumny against opponents ahead of the elections next year.

He advised politicians to fear God as well as desist from abusing opponents so as to ensure peaceful electioneering campaigns in the country.

The monarch maintained that it was only when politicians avoid campaign of calumny that peace could reign in the polity. While calling on  Muslim Ummah to pray for peace, he also told them to pray for those in position of leadership.

According to him, “Politicians should fear God and realise that He gives power to whoever He wishes. So, we don’t want violence during campaigns. Those seeking for elective posts should conduct their campaigns with decorum and avoid abuse of opponents. They should realise that they are brothers irrespective of the political parties they belong to.”

He stressed the need for politicians especially those seeking for public office to see Nigeria as their constituency. He  told them to join hands irrespective of party affiliation to salvage Nigeria.

To this end,  the monarch admonished politicians in Sokoto, not to allow themselves to be used by outsiders to create division among the people. He called on the people of the state to be vigilant and keep away from selfish politicians who may want to use them to create chaos in the state.

“Whoever calls you to engage in violence, please ignore him. Tell him to bring his children and wives to join in the protest or violence and if he fails to do so, don’t listen to him,” he stated.

He expressed worry at the number of displaced persons in the North-east as a result of the insurgency and appealed to residents of the state to support and pray for them.

The Sultan also challenged governments at all levels to redouble efforts towards tackling the problems of unemployment in the country.

He charged governments to do more by creating jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in their areas.

The monarch attributed the rising wave of crime and social vices to youth unemployment in the country. He commended Governor Aliyu Wamakko for his tireless efforts in improving the lives of the people.

He applauded Lagos and Rivers state governments for their efforts in overcoming the Ebola disease in their states.

In the same vein, the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman, Kwara State Traditional Council, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, urged Nigerians, especially the people of Kwara state to continue to live in peace to further attract more infrastructural developments to the state.

He also charged religion leaders to inculcate the habit of preaching messages that  promote peaceful co-existence among   adherents of the two major religions in the state and nation at large.

Sulu-Gambari stated this in his message delivered shortly after the two rakat prayers marking the 2014 Eid-el-Kabir celebration led by the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Soliu.

Also speaking, the State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, urged Muslims to use the Eid-el-Kabir to rededicate themselves to the service of Allah and Nigeria through sacrifice, selfless service and good neighbourliness.

Ahmed, who spoke with journalists in Ilorin  to mark this year’s Eid-el-Kabir festival, stressed that Nigerians must always work for the good of the country.

He noted that for Nigeria to realise its potential as a nation, Nigerians of all religions persuasions must work collectively, and consciously, and submit to common religious doctrine of being their brother’s keepers.

“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.

In his own Eid-el-Kabir message, the former governor of the state, Dr. Bukola Saraki, advised Nigerian  leaders at all level to deeply reflect on the theme of sacrifice and embrace the courage to deny selfish interest for the sake of Nigeria’s progress.

According to him, “As we reflect on the symbolic reason behind this season, I oblige every one of us to reflect on the lessons of obedience, perseverance in total submission to the will of Almighty Allah in His remembrance; as exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim’s  willingness to sacrifice his only son.”

“This, particularly is the recipe for peace that Muslims the World over are enjoined to emulate to put an end to violence and raging crisis that threatens our peaceful co-existence.

“As Nigerians, It is important for us to unite on all fronts and live harmoniously with people of other faiths while carrying out our religious obligations. The moral lessons of these historical characteristics of Prophet Ibrahim must not be forgotten”, he stated.

Saraki noted: “There is indeed light at the end of the tunnel as most of the good things we desire for our great country will not happen by chance, but by the sum of the individual choices we make as citizens.

“Let us also use the occasion of this Eid celebration to pray for our military men and other security personnel as they toil hard day and night, away from the love and affection of their family, to combat terrorism, secure our territory, and #bringback our girls.

Also, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II, has called for constant prayers for the sustenance of peace and stability in the state and Nigeria.