As Nigerians celebrate this year’s Eid-ul-Maulud, governors of various states have called for prayers to restore peace and security in the country.
Eid-ul-Maulud is an Islamic celebration held annually to commemorate the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad.
The governors, in different statements by their media aides, appealed to residents in their respective states not to lose faith in their nation, saying Nigeria would surely overcome its challenges.
They believe the present situation, especially as it relates to security and the economy, is only for a while and will get better.
READ ALSO: Nigerians Celebrate Eid-ul-Maulud
In his goodwill message to the people of Adamawa, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri congratulated Muslims in the state and admonished them to imbibe the virtues of humility, sacrifice, and sharing which the Holy Prophet demonstrated throughout his lifetime.
“The occasion once again reminds us all of the virtues of Prophet Mohammed, which we should emulate in advancing love, peace, and progress of the state and country,” he was quoted as saying in a statement by his press secretary, Humwashi Wonosikou.
While regretting the state of the nation as a result of the challenges facing Nigeria, Governor Fintiri stated that the virtues of service and exemplary leadership, as demonstrated by the Holy Prophet, should guide both leaders and the led on the need to give their all in the overall interest of the nation.
He wished the Muslim Ummah a happy Maulud Nabiyya celebration, adding that the challenges facing the nation would better be confronted if such qualities were imbibed by all.
The governor thanked the people of the state for their continued peaceful mutual coexistence, tolerance, and support for his government and security agencies.
He urged the Muslims to use the occasion to reflect on the essential lessons of his life and pray for the continued well-being of the state and the nation in general.
Like his Adamawa counterpart, Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, has also congratulated Muslims in the state.
“I wish to share in the joy like all Muslims on this day when our Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam was born which is being celebrated by Muslims around the globe and, in particular, to join my good people of Zamfara on this happy day,” he was quoted in a statement by his media aide, Yusuf Gusau.
“This is the time for sober reflections on the life and time well spent by our dear Prophet (SAW) and I know that as Muslims, we will continue to cherish and imbibe those qualities with the prayer that Allah will reward us with His abundance in both worlds.
“I wish to implore the Muslims in particular and the general public in the state to continue to pray for the full return of peace in our dear state and in the nation in general.
“Your prayers individually and collectively have brought us to where we are now, with cases of armed banditry, kidnapping, and other criminalities drastically reducing and I believe this good work will be sustained for the attainment of lasting peace.”
Governor Matawalle assured the people that his administration would not rest on its oars at ensuring the enthronement of peace and provision of more dividends of democracy to all nooks and crannies of the state.
People Of Common Destiny
For Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, the occasion should be used to draw lessons and inspiration from the virtues of service, peaceful co-existence, and exemplary leadership of the Holy Prophet.
In his goodwill message, he called on the Muslim Ummah to imbibe the spirit of tolerance, humility, modesty, and generosity as exemplified by the life and times of Prophet Muhammad.
“As we commemorate this great and epochal day, I enjoin us to continue to demonstrate in our lives, what the noble messenger of Allah bequeathed to humanity in ethos, manners, and relationships for the good of the society,” the governor said.
He sued for continued prayers for the peace, well-being, and prosperity of the state and the nation at large.
Governor Yahaya added, “The celebration of Maulud should also renew our faiths and increase our tempo in coming together as a people of common destiny to pray for unity, peace, progress, and stability of our dear state and the nation for us to attain our aspirational growth and development.”
He urged both leaders and the led to give their best for the overall peace, unity, development, and prosperity of the society.
The governor stressed the need for tolerance among the diverse people of the state, regardless of their differences, and urged them to continue to be law-abiding and guard jealously the relative peace Gombe has been enjoying by shunning all acts capable of jeopardising same.
Down South, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, urged the people and Muslims, in particular, to continue to tow the path of peace for the sustainable development of the state.
He also asked Nigerians to embrace peace, harmony, and tolerance in line with the teachings of Prophet Mohammed, adding that Muslims should remain tolerant and continue to work in harmony with other religious denominations for a peaceful and violence-free society.
He also advised them to seize the opportunity of the celebration to strengthen their love towards one another and make the society a better place by eschewing tendencies that could tamper with the unity and stability in the country.
“Today, I join millions of people around the world, to wish our Muslim brothers and sisters in Lagos State and in Nigeria happy Maulud Nabiy, which is the birthday of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH),” he was quoted as saying in a statement by his chief press secretary, Gboyega Akosile.
“Lagos is noted for religious harmony, therefore, I want to enjoin Muslims to continue to be tolerant of other religious denominations as they’ve always been in the state.
“The Muslim faithful in Lagos State should continue to live in peace and harmony with believers of other faiths.”
Basis For Relationships
While commending the residents for their steadfastness, resilience, and cooperation with his administration, the governor reassured them of the government’s commitment to good governance and people-oriented programmes.
According to him, the present administration is fully committed to impacting the lives of the people by delivering the dividends of democracy to residents through its developmental agenda for a ‘Greater Lagos’.
Senator Hope Uzodimma of Imo State was also among the governors who congratulated Muslims on the occasion of the Eid-ul-Maulud.
In a statement by his media adviser, Oguwike Nwachuku, he urged them to not only emulate Prophet Mohammed but use the occasion to deepen the virtues of love, patience, and perseverance which he preached and stood for.
Governor Uzodimma said no time in the history of Nigeria was love, peace, unity, and respect for diversity needed more than now and admonished Muslims to fervently pray for peace, unity, and tolerance of one another in Nigeria.
He harped on the need for all Nigerians to play down on their faith, ideology, ethnic affiliation, and social classification, and focus more on the things that enhance togetherness and bring about the Nigeria of their dream.
The governor urged the people to shun violence, lawlessness, and crimes and focus more on the virtues of hard work, peaceful disposition to one another, and love for the nation.
He advised the Muslims that in the spirit of love that goes with Eid-ul-Maulud, they should share whatever they have with one another, saying doing so would please both Allah and humanity.
Joining his counterparts, Governor Nyesom Wike called on the Muslim community in Rivers State to use the celebration to advance the cause of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
In a statement by his media aide, Kelvin Ebiri, he promised that his administration would continue to promote religious tolerance among all residents of the state.
Governor Wike advised the Muslims to imbibe the virtues of love, peace, patience, communal living, and honesty in their daily lives.
While wishing them a wonderful Eid-ul-Maulud celebration, he urged them to always pray for the government and people of the state.
In Enugu, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has congratulated the Muslim faithful in the state and called on all Nigerians to renew their faith in God and intensify prayers for the country to surmount its challenges.
He also asked them to remain committed to the core values of the nation’s founding fathers so that the concerted efforts at sustaining the peace, unity, and progress of the country would be fully actualised.
The governor stated that the significance of Eid-ul-Maulud anchored on love, sacrifice, obedience, tolerance, and charity, as exemplified by the deeds and teachings of the Holy Prophet, was germane to the peaceful co-existence, unity, and prosperity of Nigeria.
He, therefore, wished all Nigerians a peaceful celebration as well as the guidance and blessings of the Almighty God.
In his message, Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, asked Nigerians to remain united and allow peace to co-exist between the Christians and Muslims.
The governor who spoke at the Nigerian Navy Mosque in Calabar stressed that religion should never be a basis for relationships but humanity.
He said the country was better united than divided, having learned from the Muslim’s preaching and teachings, adding that artificial divisions in terms of religious sensitivity were man’s creation and not what God has ordered.
