As Muslims across the world celebrate Eid-el-Fitri on Thursday, former Nigerian leaders and other prominent Nigerians, have called for peaceful co-existence among different ethnic groups for the country to develop.
In Minna, Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, former military Heads of State, were among the Muslim faithful, who worshipped at the Minna main Eid prayer ground on Thursday.
Abubakar urged Nigerians to imbibe the lesson of the Ramadan fasting by living peacefully with one another irrespective of difference in religion and ethnic grouping.
In a sermon, the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Bahago, called on people to support government programmes, especially the polio campaign by allowing their wards to be immunised.
In Enugu, the Chief Imam of 82 Div., Col. Mustapha Garuba, called on Nigerians to always embrace peace in all their dealings.
“All religions scriptures either Muslim or Christian preached peace, therefore, Nigerians should adhere to it and put aside selfish interests,’’ Garuba said.
Similarly, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, called on the people of the state to continue to pray for the sustenance of peace and stability in the state and the country.
Bayero told Muslims faithful at his Palace after the Eid-el-Fitri prayer at the Central Mosque, Kano, that no society could achieve any meaningful development in an atmosphere of rancor and uncertainty.
Represented by Wamban Kano, Alhaji Abbas Sanusi, the emir warned the people, particularly Kano residents, to desist from indiscriminate building of structures on water ways to avoid flood disaster.
Sheikh Ali Ukiwo, a cleric and an Imam in Umuahia, enjoined Nigerians to support President Goodluck Jonathan, to ensure the realisation of the transformation agenda.
In a sermon at the state Library worship ground, Ukiwo said: “as you celebrate, I urge you all to imbibe the tenets of oneness, love and mutual cooperation in building a greater Nigeria’’.
The Deputy Governor of Yobe, Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu, in his message urged Muslims to maintain the religious and moral lessons of the Ramadan fasting to promote peace in the state.
Aliyu noted that the efficacy of prayers in stemming insecurity in the state, saying, “we must not relent in prayers because the efforts of security operatives combined with our prayers have brought relative peace in the state’’.
The deputy governor urged the public to continue assisting the security agents with useful information as part of their contributions to sustaining peace in the state.
The Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Sunusi, prayed for peace and mutual co-existence among the people in the country.
In his good will message to mark the Eid-el-Fitri celebration in Dutse, he advised Muslims to consider the fasting as a period of repentance and sober reflections.
The emir also enjoined Muslims in the country to live peacefully with one another irrespective of religious or ethnic differences.
