LAGOS (Sundiata Post) – As Muslims commemorate Eid-el Adha, a festival symbolising sacrifice, obedience and faith, President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, said Nigeria needed sacrificing citizens to fulfill the dreams of its founding fathers.
Addressing newsmen after observing eid prayers at Dodan Barracks, Lagos, he emphasised the need for the people to follow the path of sacrifice to make the nation great.
“Being a very good citizen comes with responsibility, As citizens, what do you do to be a very committed member of our society? Go and sacrifice. Love your country, love your neighbours, share what you have with one Tinubu salutes fathers for sacrifice, resilience in shaping nation’s future
Earlier, while addressing the worshippers, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, deputy governor of Lagos State, harped on perseverance and patience.
He enjoined the Muslim faithful to understand the reason for Eid, which he described as sacrifice and endurance.
Delivering the Eid-el-Adha message, Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Suleiman Abou-Nolla, who made reference to the Qur’an chapter 3 verse 102, said all believers should fear God as He should be feared.
He said all believers must not die except as a Muslim in total submission to Allah.
The cleric said all the prophets of God sent to mankind with their messages from Adam to Noah, to Ibrahim, Issah and Mohammed came with the message of sacrifice. It is all about service to their God and humanity, he said.
He recalled that former Nigerian leaders from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Ahmadu Bello, Nnamdi Azikwe, Obafemi Awolowo, MKO Abiola, Madam Funmilayo Ransom-Kuti and others sacrificed their knowledge, wealth, sweat that led to the growth and development of the country.
“All their activities and actions were passionate and geared toward nation-building; we must, therefore, ensure that their labour and struggles are not in vain.
“It is, therefore, incumbent on us to follow their footsteps in ensuring that this nation, Nigeria, continues to grow in leaps and bounds.”
The Imam prayed to God to forgive Nigeria’s sins, asking God to send peace to every part of the country.
“We seek your blessings and economic prosperity of our land, open the doors of opportunities and success to all sectors of our economy,” he said.
Imam, who noted that Tinubu had the heart and passion for the people, asked God to grant him wisdom, strength and good health to govern the country well.
“Surround him (Tinubu) with sound and wise counsel to navigate our country through all the challenges we are currently facing,” he prayed.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kashim Shettima has prayed for peace and bumper harvest this cropping season.
“We urge Nigerians to pray for peace and prosperity in the land.
“We have to cultivate peace; there can never be development without peace.
“This is the farming season, we also need to pray for bumper harvest, ” Kashim, who joined other Muslim faithful to observe the Eid-el Kabir prayer in Maiduguri, Borno State said
The acting governor, Umar Kadafur, also prayed for peaceful coexistence and the need to pray for the nation and thanked the people of Borno for their sustained support to the government, and assured them of quality leadership.
