By Aisha Cole
Lagos – The Chief Imam, Ogo Oluwa Central Mosque, Ikorodu, Alhaji Sharafudeen Lawal, has urged Nigerians to be patient and support President Muhammadu Buhari with prayers for the country to enjoy full tranquility
Lawal made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (N AN) on the sideline of Eid-el Kabir prayers held in Ikorodu, Lagos.
He said that there was need for all Nigerians to be patient, adding that nothing could be done except with the wish of God.
“Before this generation, a lot of generations before us had witnessed this kind of situation we are experiencing in Nigeria now.
“During the pte Islamic era, Makkah had faced this kind of hardship before but they were able to conquer it with a lot of patience and now they are enjoying.
“I am appealing to all Nigerians to be honest with one another and wish we will go a long way to take us the level we wish to be where everybody we live in peace,’’ NAN quotes Lawal as saying.
The Chairman Butchers Association, Ikorodu Division, Alhaji Taliat Lawal, urged the Federal Government to put a stop to insecurity in the country.
He said that only God could grant Nigerians the needed success and prayed that God would support President Buhari to change corrupt-minded Nigerians.
“Many Nigerians cannot kill ram due to the economic situation of the country, ’’ the chairman told NAN.
Mr Sakiru Aluko, Manager, Marketing, Nigerian Security, Printing and Minting PLC, urged Nigerian Muslims to live in peaceful co-existence with Christians.
Aluko said that Nigerians should be more grateful to God in whatever condition they found themselves for God to increase His mercy on them.
He said that Nigerians should be patient, adding they should be more patient with President Buhari’s administration for things to get better soon.
A Medical Doctor, Mr Abdul-Kadiri Osumah, who worked in a private hospital in Ikeja, Lagos, urged Nigerians to be conscious of meat consumption during the Eid-el-Kabir to avoid excess cholesterol in the body.
Osumah said that too much intake of meat could course cholesterol, adding that Nigerians should reduce their alcohol intake “because it does no good to the body’’.
“The genesis of this celebration was the sacrifice by Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), who promised to sacrifice his son and Allah replaced his son with a ram because he obeyed God.
“This celebration is a complete submission to the will of Allah.
“Nigerians should celebrate with all their love ones and consume moderately and take a lot of water to enable everyone to stay healthy after celebration,’’ Osumah told NAN.
He said that the intelligence information on security threat in Edo was a good development, adding that it was good to save lives and properties before going for election.
Osumah advised all political parties to allow peaceful election to take place and urged “whoever wins or loose to accept their faith as God wishes’’.
He said that government needed to be up and doing with security issues to stop Boko Haram, Niger Delta militants and the issue of kidnapping in the country.
“Government needs to improve more on intelligence. It needs to support the Police the more to carry out its functions and put a stop to all the insecurity issues.
“Lagos State Government is really taking a wider step tom reduce crime and insecurity, ’’ NAN quotes Osumah as saying.
He urged other state to borrow a leaf from Lagos State and support government to improve on security in all states.
A trader, Alhaja Mutiat Bologu-Kenku, said that Eid-el Kabir was the best festival, adding that Allah gave mankind ram instead of killing their first son.
A building materials dealer, Alhaja Iyabode Rufai urged government to provide more jobs to stop all the social vices in the country.
A business woman, Alhaja Animat Jokogbola, said that “an idle hand is the devil’s workshop’’.
She said if the youth were engaged, they would be tired after working hours, noting that
joblessness led to crimes perpetrated by youths.