Sallah: We must sacrifice to move forward -Jonathan

*David Mark, govs, Tinubu, Oritsajafor others task Nigerians on patriotism, justice

President Goodluck Jonathan is soliciting the support and understanding of Nigerians towards his administration’s efforts to transform the country, which may require them to make more sacrifices to build a better nation for present and future generations.

In a message to the nation, Jonathan conveyed greetings and felicitations to all Nigerians, especially the Islamic faithful; and congratulated all those who have undertaken the holy pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina this year and wished them Allah’s mercies as they travel back home.

He urged Nigerians to seize the opportunity of the Eid-El-Kabir to reflect on how the ideals and virtues of peace, harmony, brotherly love, selflessness, tolerance, honesty, fairness, justice and equity, taught by Islam and other religions, can be more extensively harnessed and deployed in addressing the developmental challenges confronting Nigeria.

The president noted that Sallah is a festival of sacrifice that commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son, Ismail, in obedience to the will of Allah.

He however, assured Nigerians that such sacrifices will not be in vain as his administration’s efforts to positively transform the nation will soon begin to yield fruits.

”I am certain that this administration’s plans for rapid national development will soon begin to bear fruit and fulfill the yearning of our country men and women for qualitative changes in their lives,”Jonathan said. According to him, the anticipated progress will be more readily achieved with peace and security in all parts of the country. He, therefore, enjoined Nigerians to continue to work for the peace and stability of the nation.

”As we labour to grow and develop our country, it is important that we eschew all vices, including religious and social violence that can disrupt the peace and stability of our nation,” Jonathan added.

Put nation first – David Mark

David Mark, in his own Sallah message, called on Muslims to put Nigeria first in what they do, just as he urged them to lift up their spirits, pray for the nation and face the challenges of today with new hope and vision.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, Mark also implored the Muslim faithful to pray for the continued peace, unity and progress of the nation and wished Nigerian Muslims in Saudi Arabia performing the hajj safe journey back home.

According to him, today’s challenges should not dampen our spirit to celebrate, adding that Nigerians have indomitable spirit and resolute to live together under one indivisible geographical entity.

CAN president tasks Muslims

In another message, the president of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor,urged Muslim leaders to manifest the teachings of sacrifice and love for their fellow countrymen.

The CAN president urged Muslim Ummah to use the occasion to continue to preach peace and unity to their followers and display love towards one another as only these attributes can make Nigeria to attain greatness and return to her glorious era.

CDC: Don’t lose sight of Sallah significance

David Mark

The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) asked Nigeria in its message not to lose sight of the significance of the festival “which is anchored on sacrifice”. “It is our hope that the import of the festivities shall not be lost on us as Citizens within the nation space,”the party stated.

We need justice- Tinubu

Nigerians to seize the opportunity of Eid-el-Kabir to pray for the peace and security of Nigeria.

But he also cautioned that since peace cannot thrive on injustice, Nigerians, particularly those in government, should strive for justice in everything they do.

“Nigeria needs peace. It is the first condition of security and prosperity. I therefore call on Nigerians

to pray for our country. We should use this occasion of Eid-el-Kabir to pray to God to bring lasting peace to our country,” the former governor urged.

AREGBESOLA:We must all sacrifice for a better Nigeria

Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in his Sallah message, charged all Nigerians to live together as brothers with mutual benefit of peace, harmony, and stability.

He reminded them of the need for sacrifice by all towards building a better society.

The governor, in the goodwill message by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said love and unity should not be limited to periods of festivities alone; saying it should be part of people’s lives.

“Love and unity should not be limited to the time of Eid-el-Kabir; it should be part of our lives. In a country like Nigeria where the tendency is to emphasise our multiplicity in destructive direction, peace, love and unity should be the moderating factor”, Okanlawon stated.

Aregbesola noted that Eid-el-Kabir which is also known as a festival of sacrifice, commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his only son as an act of obedience to God, which is also recorded in the Bible, an act which he admonishes all to emulate while co-habiting with one another.

The governor said the demand of sacrifice increases daily in the country, especially the demand for exemplary and qualitative leadership.

Ajimobi sues for peaceful co-existence

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State admonished Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of togetherness and peaceful co-existence to enhance growth and development of the country.

The governor, in his Sallah message, said that it was only in an atmosphere of peace that Nigeria can achieve the desired greatness.

Ajimobi, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, condemned the spate of violence in some parts of the country, saying it was an ill-wind that would not blow anybody any good.

“We cannot say we are brothers and sisters and still be carrying guns and matchetes against one another. What do we stand to benefit by killing and maiming ourselves with ignominy?”, he queried.

According to the governor, while it is not out of place for any person or group to have an axe to grind with Nigeria as a state, proper channel should be employed to settle whatever grievances instead of recourse to violence.

He admonished Nigerians to continue to exhibit love towards their fellow human beings and dedication to the service of humanity as exhibited by Prophet Ibrahim.

Embrace fear of God, Atiku urges leaders

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, in his own message on Sallah,urged leaders at all levels to embrace the fear of God in the discharge of public responsibilities and in task of making the lives of the ordinary people worth living.

According to him,without practising the ethics of their religions, leaders would not have the conscience to appreciate the untold hardship facing millions of ordinary citizens.

He asked leaders to carry religion beyond symbolism and external ostentation, adding that without the fear of God, justice and equity to the people would mean nothing in the hearts of leaders.

The former PDP presidential aspirant noted that the worsening poverty in the country and the widening distance between leaders and the people is disturbing.

He advised elected leaders to bring back the people from the brink of despair, caused by unfulfilled promises and disappointed expectations of the country’s democratic order.

“The obscene display of wealth by elected leaders while millions of voters continue to wallow in abject poverty carries the risks of the people losing faith in governance. In fact the happiness, welfare and security of the people are the bedrock of any legitimately elected government,” he said.

Atiku, however, enjoined Nigerians not to let up in their supplications to God for the continued growth and development and unity and stability of the country.

Ekweremadu calls for sacrifice and unity

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, also speaking on Sallah, stressed that  if Nigeria must achieve rapid development and transformation of the nation, there was the need for display of obedience and high sense of sacrifice.

Ekweremadu, however, attributed corruption, poverty as well as the rising waves of insecurity and violent crimes in the land to greed and disobedience, adding that they were complete departure from the sound religious teachings and precepts in the country.

According to him, “Our nation is at a juncture where all Muslim Umah and indeed every Nigerian must necessarily show high sense of patriotism, submission to the rule of law,  and emulation of the great values of selflessness, unity, and love for one another to ensure the nation reclaims her pride of place among the comity of nations”, Senator Ekweremadu emphasized.

While wishing the Muslim Umah and the nation a hitch-free Eid al Kabir, he enjoined them to seize the opportunity of the celebration to pray for the peace, unity, and prosperity of the land.

Fayemi preaches service

In his own message, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State congratulated the Muslim faithful on the celebration of the Eld-el-Kabir, urging them to use the period of the celebration to renew their commitment to the service of Allah, love for one another and progress of  the country.

He also reassured the people of Ekiti of the readiness of his  administration to preserve the peace, tranquility and religious harmony that have taken root in the state. He urged the citizens to partner with the government to ensure this. The governor urged the citizens to exercise restraint, remain law-abiding and allow the overall interest of the good of Ekiti to guide them through the festive period.

Fayemi said, “For Muslims and non-Muslims alike, this period, no doubt, calls for celebration. As we celebrate, it is important for us to reflect on developments in our  environment and ask for the mercies and benevolence of Allah to guide us as a people, state and nation.

“As we celebrate this glorious moment, it is my hope that we would, individually and collectively-as the faithful reflect on its significance to us in our individual endeavours and as a state.

”The lessons of patience and total submission to the will of God which are part of the basic tenets of Islam are quite instructive. It means that with God, all things are possible”.

Put interest of Nigerians first-Ikuforiji

In his own message, the speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, called on the political leadership in the country to always put the overall interest of Nigerians first while making life more meaning for the people.

” I also would like to advise the political leadership in our country (in the spirit of sacrifice) to always put the overall interest of our people first, since it is their votes that actually made it possible for all political office holders in the land to occupy their enviable positions,” he said.

He said it was unacceptable that fifty one years after independence, the country was not self sufficient in food production and still depended on imported fuel products.

“As we therefore celebrate this season, it has become imperative for the political leadership to be more patriotic and take the necessary steps to make Nigeria self-sustaining in food production and also ensure that we refine our God given petroleum locally”.  This measure if taken, Ikuforiji argued will reduce the large scale unemployment and poverty in the land.

Ondo: Mimiko preaches sacrifice

Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, in his message, urged Moslems and Nigerians in general to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice being the very essence of the Eid-el-Kabir. Mimiko, in a statement by his chief press secretary, Mr. Eni Akinsola, appealed to muslims to, in the spirit of the sacrifice, all personal weaknesses, limitations and vices with the symbolic slaughtering of the seasonal ram and not be carried away with the feasts and merriments that usually go with the celebrations, saying that herein lies the very essence of the symbolic sacrifice of the rams.

His words: “Just as the meat from the sacrifice of Eid-al-Adha is mostly given away to others, this act not only symbolizes our willingness to give up things that are of benefit to us or close to our hearts, in order to follow Allah’s commands; it also symbolizes our willingness to give up some of our own bounties, in order to strengthen ties of friendship and help those who are in need. We do this in recognition of the fact that all blessings come from Allah,and we should open our hearts and share with others.”

ACN leader, Bola Tinubu

The governor, who praised the people of Ondo State for being partners in progress, gave them kudos for their cooperation which has made his government a model in the nation in the area of service delivery.

Ajibola sues for peace

Former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Prince Bola Ajibola, in his Sallah message, enjoined Muslims to pursue peace and peaceful resolution of crises facing the nation as taught in the holy Qur’an.

According to a release by his Public Relations Officer, Mr. Idris Katib, the former ambassador to the United Nations urged Muslims to emulate the virtues of Prophets Muhammad and Ibrahim as taught by Islam.

Ajibola called on leaders to use the festive occasion to devise better “ways of pursuing the welfare of the downtrodden,” adding that the lawlessness that was gradually enveloping the country should be arrested by government.

Plateau: Poor rams sales

In Plateau State, ahead of Eid-el-Kabiri, yesterday, ram sellers and other traders complained of poor sales with some blaming it on the delay in the salary of civil servants.

Traders at markets and commercial centres visited described the volume of sales this year as the worst in recent times with some saying the usual high turnover recorded towards festivities had been absent.

Ram sellers especially complained that they are stuck with the animals and have been spending more on feeding the animals because of poor patronage. They said despite their preparedness to sell at lower prices than last year, patronage has remained low.

At the Bukuru Cattle Market, Mallam Sanusi Haruna who is the Financial Secretary of the traders association in the area described the situation as frustrating.

“It is shocking and disappointing that even as Sallah is only some hours away, the market has not yet picked up as it should. Last year things were much better; a big ram was sold for N50,000 but we are offering the same for N40,000 this year and there are no buyers”, he lamented.

A ram dealer, Haruna Panke who transports a trailer load from Niger to Plateau State during Sallah expressed similar frustration saying he has not sold up to half of the rams he took to Jos a situation he said is causing him great distress.

According to him, “By now I should be resting and preparing for Sallah with my family back home in Niger, but I cannot make it before Sallah because I have to sell off my rams before returning to Niger.”

The state acting governor, Mr. Ignatius Longjan, felicitated with the Muslim faithful in the state on the occasion of the Eid-el Kabir, urging them to uphold the spirit of sacrifice and love which the festival signifies.

In a message, he urged citizens of the state to work for the sustenance of peace and support government’s efforts to restore lasting peace to the state and avoid actions capable of reversing the gains already made in that regard.