Eid-el-Fitri: Alaafin, Atiku, Fayemi, Dickson, Daniel, Oyeyemi stress unity, tolerance

In the spirit of Eid-el-Fitri, Nigerians have been enjoined to maintain good neighbourliness.
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, gave the admonition in Oyo at the weekend.
Alaafin said: “God created all of us and wants things to be sufficient for everybody. If we look up to God and show compassion to our neighbours, we would have enough and our neighbours too would have those things that belong to them.
Said he: “There is need for leadership to thoroughly address the broader issues of unity, as our national consensus is still very important in the pursuit of a prosperous society. The imperative of Leadership is to do the right things at the right time for the good of
all. This places certain preconditions for leadership in any society such as a good understanding of the nature, structure and geography of the society, which are the plausible solutions to present challenges and the political will to address these challenges. Leadership should know when it has to control and when it has to influence’’.
“My advice, therefore, to Nigerians is that we should turn away fromthings that would hurt our neighbours so that our neighbours too would have liberty to life and live well,” he said.
The paramount ruler, who commended the Muhammadu Buhari administration for its determination, focus and unrelentless commitment towards turning around the economy for the good of all, admonished Nigerians to have
hope and faith in God, adding that things would turn around for the better for individuals, families, states and the nation.
Oba Adeyemi enjoined Nigerians to have love for one another
irrespective of religious background because this is the only way the nation can move forward and achieve her goals.
In his message to mark the end of the Ramadan fasting period, former Vice President and APC Chieftain, Atiku Abubakar, called on Nigerians to demonstrate a greater spirit of tolerance and firmer commitment to peaceful coexistence, which he describes as the prerequisite for unity and love in Nigeria.
Atiku urged Muslims to imbibe the lessons of the fast, which include: self discipline and sacrifice through abstention from eating, drinking and sinful acts.
“Abstention from eating and drinking should go a long way to create empathy from the rich towards the poor, making the well to do appreciate the conditions of millions who go hungry because of poverty,” the Waziri Adamawa said. “I urge well-to-do Muslims to identify with ordinary Nigerians who go without food almost every day, and to be more concerned about what to do to improve their plight.”
He also urged all Muslims to extend the lessons of the fasting period beyond the Ramadan.
Speaking on Nigeria’s current challenges, the former Vice President called on his fellow Muslims to be good ambassadors of Islam by demonstrating the spirit of tolerance, love, respect for others and firmer commitment to peaceful coexistence.
Atiku noted that Nigeria’s diversity should be translated into love, and religion should be a vehicle for cementing love and harmony amongst the people.
“The greatest tribute Muslims can pay to the Prophet Muhammad is to live by his example of a pacifist spirit and tolerance,” Atiku says. “These are the tools with which to strengthen the pillars of Nigeria’s unity. There is no religion in the world that doesn’t preach love, but  practice has far greater impact on perception than precept.”
The former Vice President also commended Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), for giving a good account of himself in running the affairs of the country, while we all continue to pray for the quick recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari who is receiving medical treatment in the United Kingdom.
“Professor Osinbajo has demonstrated strong leadership by moving fast to nip the recent tension in the country in the bud, which arose from the quit notice issued on the Igbos by a Coalition of Northern Youth group and the counter notices from groups from other regions.
“By moving quickly to invite chief executives of the 36 states, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other leaders of thought across the country,  the Acting President has proved himself be a very sensitive leader who demonstrated  remarkable resourcefulness at a point the country’s unity was being ominously threatened.”
He added that Osinbajo’s prompt response to the situation had earned him the respect of many Nigerians, adding that Nigeria cannot afford to toy with its unity when the rest of Africa envies its resilience.
Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, also joined in felicitating with Muslims across the country.
In a statement in Yenagoa, the governor called for more tolerance, unity and peaceful coexistence as they celebrate, emphasizing that no meaningful development can take place without those things. 
The statement, signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Daniel Iworiso-Markson,‎ urged all Muslim faithful to love their brothers and sisters in other religions and see themselves as one at all times.
He said there is so much to achieve in the country by working together as one and urged all promoters of hate spe‎eches and divisive tendencies to desist for the interest of the future of upcoming generations. 
Dickson maintained that his administration will continue to protect the lives and business interests of all law abiding residents in Bayelsa State including Muslims and wish them a happy celebration.
Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, also sent messages of love and unity.
The Minister, in a message by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, congratulated Muslims on the successful completion of the Ramadan fast, stressing that witnessing another Eid-el-Fitri is a special privilege from the Almighty Allah who has control over the destiny of man.
Fayemi said the 30-day spiritual exercise, no doubt,  has drawn the faithful closer to Allah and urged them to keep on practising the lessons learnt from the holy month in their relationship with their Maker and fellow human beings.
He also urged the citizens to be vigilant and celebrate in moderation, noting that the current situation in the country and globally has made it imperative for Muslims and adherents of other religions to live in love, peace and  harmony with one another, and seek the face of God in prayer for divine intervention.
The Minister said prayers by the faithful are needed more than ever for God’s intervention in the affairs of the country, even as he expressed confidence in the ability of God to bless and keep the country in answer to the prayers of his people.
Former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, also congratulated Muslims on the celebration of the Eid-el-Fitri, charging them to renew their faith in Allah and pray for peace and unity in the country.
Daniel, in a goodwill message signed by his Media Officer, Ayo Giwa, said; “Muslims should be guided by the spirit of the period of total abstinence, keeping away from vices in all ramifications and imbibing the teachings and pious lifestyles of the Holy Prophet Muhammad”.
The former Governor urged Muslim faithful in the country to uphold the lessons of the Holy Month by avoiding all sinful acts that were abhorred and not allow them to become part of their lives after Ramadan.
The celebration of Eid-el-Fitri, he stated, goes beyond merry making but rather, a period of total submission to the will of Allah as demonstrated during the fasting period.” He then urged Muslims and other religious faithful in the country to continue to have faith in Nigeria and pray for the leaders while also calling on the citizens to reflect on how to contribute meaningfully towards making Nigeria great and pray for greater strength and unity in our diversity.
The Corps Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, congratulated the Muslim faithful for successfully completing the one month fasting period.
He enjoined them to celebrate the feast with care and obey the traffic rules and regulations as they move about in festivity.
In a statement by Bisi Kazeem, the Corps Public Education Officer, FRSC, the Corps Marshal gave the admonition in his Eid El Fitri message in which he congratulated the Muslim faithful for obeying the injunction of the Almighty Allah by abstaining from food and drink in the daytime within the month while intensifying prayers and other spiritual activities to please the creator.
Oyeyemi expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance with the traffic rules and regulations within the month as he enjoined in his earlier Ramadan message at the commencement of the fast.
He called for sustained vigilance on the road during the celebration and beyond in the collective resolve to restore sanity to the nation’s highways.
The Corps Marshal particularly warned drivers against certain traffic violations including speeding, overloading, route violation and dangerous driving as well as making use of phone while driving.
He identified these offences as the factors responsible for most of the fatal crashes that have been recorded on the nation’s highways in the recent past.
The FRSC boss stressed that in view of the need for crash and obstruction -free celebration, the National Headquarters of the Corps has deployed adequate number of personnel and logistics to the identified black spots and corridors across the country for effective traffic management. He appealed to all road users to cooperate with the patrol and rescue teams as well as supervisors and other security agencies and volunteers who are out to ensure compliance with the traffic rules and regulations for crash and obstruction-free environment during the celebration and beyond, saying road safety is a shared responsibility.
Oyeyemi called on members of the public to immediately notify FRSC rescue teams of cases of obstruction or other emergency situations observed anywhere through the FRSC call centre lines: 122 or 080-CALL FRSC (08022553772) for prompt response.
He wished all Nigerians happy Eid El-Fitri celebration.