President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, on Wednesday, enjoined Nigerians to sustain and preserve the good virtues of love, empathy, harmony, endurance and sacrifice shown during the period of Ramadan beyond the Holy month.
President Tinubu and Hamzat made the call after observing the Eid-el-Fitr prayers held at the Dodan Barracks Praying Ground, Obalende, Lagos, noting that though Ramadan had come and gone, the good deeds done during the Holy month should be sustained and preserved by everyone.
The president, while making the call, noted that Nigerians should be kind and cheerful givers and love the country better than any other country, pointing out that Nigeria is the only country they have and, therefore, the need to continue to protect the integrity of government and leadership.
“We must continue to protect the integrity of our government and leadership,” he said.
Speaking further, President Tinubu affirmed that the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of his administration was still alive, well and fine, urging Nigerians to continue to be very hopeful and have great faith in the country and themselves as, according to him, without hope, there is no salvation, development and life.
“The ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ is still alive, well and fine and Nigerians should continue to be very hopeful. Without hope, there is no salvation. Without hope, there is no development. Without hope, there is no life. Eid Mubarak,” the president said.
Lagos State Deputy Governor, Hamzat, in his own remark, called on Nigerians to continue the good deeds exhibited during the Ramadan fast beyond the Holy month to continue in order to build the nation for the benefit of all, noting that “taking care of our neighbours has gone nowhere” even though Ramadan was over.
“All our good deeds and good behaviour, empathy, and love, that we show during the period of Ramadan should be continued. Though Ramadan is over, good behaviour did not leave, Ramadan has gone, but our worship and service are not gone, and taking care of our neighbours has gone nowhere.
“So we should sustain the good behaviour that we portray during the period of Ramadan,” he said.
According to him, Muslims must show love and empathy to fellow Muslims, Christians and unbelievers, adding that it was not for them to judge anyone as the Prophets showed empathy to everybody.
“We have no business fighting anyone, let us have religious harmony, let us behave well so that we can do the right thing for the country and mankind,” Hamzat said.
In his exhortation, the Grand Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Suleman Oluwatoyin Abu-Nolla, while speaking on the significance of Ramadan, said the Holy month is a sacred month of blessings, mercy, forgiveness, repentance, sober reflection, and acceptance of prayers, adding that those who fast during Ramadan with faith are rewarded and forgiven their sins.
The Muslim cleric also stressed the importance of Zakat-ul-Fitr as a means of purification, which he said was meant to help the needy celebrate the Eid-el-Fitri
“Nigerians should shun all forms of violence, be patriotic and change their mindsets to build a better country and overcome the challenges the country is presently facing.
“Besides, we must also be disciplined, and law-abiding and allow peace and harmony in the country. As people, let us have hope in our nation, let us be more patriotic to our nation and Allah will guide us,” Sheikh Abu-Nolla admonished.
He, therefore, prayed for President Tinubu and his cabinet for divine guidance and protection, saying that Allah should grant them the courage to make the right decision for the country’s development.
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