The Presidency has cancelled this year’s Eid-el-Fitr homage to President Muhammadu Buhari by various communities.
The Presidency also said the President would be conducting a private Eid prayers with his family to mark the end of the month-long Ramadan fasting.
These were contained in a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, on Friday.
According to the statement, the changes in the pattern of celebrating the Eid-el-Fitr this year were both in obedience to new rules to help in combatting the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure social distancing.
President Buhari, over the years, had traditionally received sallah homages from various groups, including top government officials, political leaders, community heads, Muslim and Christian religious leaders and children.
Announcing the pattern for this year in the state, the Presidency said “with the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations around the corner and the month-long Ramadan fast coming to an end, President Muhammadu Buhari will be conducting his Eid prayers with his family at home.
“This is in observance of the lockdown measures in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, put in place “to save lives and protect people from all dangers.”
“This is also in line with the directive of the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III suspending Eid congregational prayers across the country as well as the protocol against mass gathering issued by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
“Further to this, the President who has traditionally shared the joyous moment with top government officials, political leaders, community heads, Muslim and Christian religious leaders and children, will not be receiving these homages in a bid to stop the coronavirus from further spreading”, it said.
The Nation
