As the nation celebrates Eid el Kabir festival, the Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha, has enjoined all Nigerians to pray for peace, unity and progress of the nation in order to enjoy the nation’s democracy in areas of security and the economy.
While receiving the Muslim council of Imo state of Nigeria at the Sam Mbakwe expanded exco chambers in Owerri, the state capital, the governor who was represented by his deputy, Eze Madumere, said that sacrifice is one of the major reasons for celebrating Eid el Kabir and as a result all Nigerians must imbibe the spirit of sacrifice and love and also see ourselves as our brother’s keeper irrespective of our religion in order to move the nation to greater heights.
In his address, the secretary general of the Muslim council of Imo state, Jibril Nwagwasim, said the occasion which comes once a year gives them the opportunity to interact with the leadership of the state and to commend the state government for their continuous support for the Muslims in the state which has encouraged inter-religious harmony amongst its citizenry.
He added that Islam as a religion preaches peace, harmony and unity amongst people and therefore, called on all Nigerians to emulate this virtue in order to make the country a better place.
Madumere, who enjoined Muslims and all Nigerians to pray for peace, unity and progress, reiterated that the state government’s readiness to continually give total support to the Muslim community so as to encourage peace and harmony with indigenes of the state.
Meanwhile, Muslims present at the event also used the opportunity to advise Nigerians to pray for peace in the northern region of the country as well as the leadership of the nation so as to steer the affairs of the country in the right direction. They also advised Nigerians to be dedicated and tolerant with one another as stipulated in the Holy Quran.
Eid el Kabir celebration falls within the hajj season, one of the 5 pillars of Islam. It is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to honour the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his young first-born son Ismail as an act of submission to Allah’s command and his son’s acceptance to be sacrificed before Allah intervened to provide Ibrahim with a lamb.
