By Cross Udo, and Linus Aleke, with additional report
The Chief Imam of Kubwa, Shaikh Abdurrahman Yahya, has urged Muslims to avoid returning to acts of disobedience after the month of Ramadan to sustain their relationship with Allah.
Yahya made the call while delivering his Eid-el-Fitr sermon on Wednesday at the Kubwa Eid praying ground.
He said that the holiness attained during the month of Ramadan would be destroyed if the Muslim faithful returned to acts of disobedience.
”Take caution against evil companions, keeping evil companions will make you become enemies on the Day of Judgment.
”Consider anyone that sends you far away from Allah as your enemy. Stick with righteous people and run away from criminals and evildoers,” he said.
The Iman further advised Muslims not to forget the importance of giving out Zakatul Fitr after Ramadan.
He said that Zakatul Fitr was ordained by Almighty Allah to purify those who fasted from vain and indecent talk. Zakat ul Fitr is compulsory for every Muslim who possesses food for themselves and their family members. It is compulsory upon children and adults, male and female, freeman and slave,” he said.
*We must love Nigeria more than any other country — Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu yesterday in Lagos joined the Muslim faithful to observe Eid-el-Fitr prayers, urging Nigerians to continue to have faith in his government and remain patriotic citizens.
The President called on the citizenry to love Nigeria more than any other country and continue to protect the integrity of the government and leadership.
Addressing journalists after the prayers at the Eid Ground at the Dodan Barracks, President Tinubu said the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration, which is aimed at bringing prosperity to Nigerians, is being diligently implemented.
Encouraging Muslims celebrating the conclusion of Ramadan to extend the values of sacrifice and resilience beyond the fasting period, President Tinubu emphasized the need for Nigerians to prioritise the exhibition of love for their country.
The President, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, was quoted to have said, “The resilience and sacrifice that we have shown and made during these months should be preserved.
“Be a kind and cheerful giver. We must love our country more than any other country because that is the only one we have. We must continue to protect the integrity of our government and leadership.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda is 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 told journalists at the end of the prayers led by the Chief Imam of Lagos State, Sheikh Sulaiman Oluwatoyin Abou-Nolla.
Earlier in his sermon, the Chief Imam urged Nigerians to shun all acts of violence, ensure peaceful co-existence, and continue to have faith in the country.
He asked those in leadership positions to remain faithful to their oaths of office and work towards alleviating the suffering of the less privileged.
“Let us not forget our brothers and sisters in Gaza and other areas of conflict,” the Chief Imam said.
He offered prayers of God’s guidance, wisdom, and protection for President Tinubu and the Lagos State government, as well as for peace and stability in the country.
*Let’s hold fast lessons from Ramadan, says Bamidele
Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele yesterday urged Muslims to hold on to the lessons learnt from the 30 days of Ramadan which culminated with the celebration of Eid Mubarak.
In a statement yesterday by his Media Team, the Senate Leader, who rejoiced with the Muslim faithful, said lessons are not meant for the period of Ramadan fasting only.
He said, “I rejoice with the Muslim faithful as they celebrate Eid-el-Fitr nationwide. Eid-el-Fitr marks the end of the 2024 Ramadan fasting, which started on March 10 and ended on April 9. Within this timeframe, we must have learnt a lot of lessons, especially at this critical time in our history.
“Ramadan, I strongly believe, has again reminded us about the essence of forgiving others, ministering compassion to the less privileged, respect for human dignity, promoting peaceful co-existence, and upholding propriety and piety in all facets of life, which we must all embrace irrespective of our ethnic and religious leanings.
“These lessons are not meant for the period of Ramadan fasting only. Also, they are indeed principles and values, which should always guide and shape the life of every Nigerian, the quest of all businesses and conglomerates, the timeless task of building our fatherland as well as the decisions of the governments at all levels.”
He noted that now that Ramadan has come to an end, these lessons should reflect in the way we support our governments to resolve the myriad of internal challenges that we face collectively as a federation.
“It should reflect in the way we intercede the more for this federation to sustain the gains of economic stability and political cohesion that we have started experiencing in recent times.
“It should also reflect in our approaches to conducting businesses; running governments at all levels and discharging civic responsibilities daily.
“Since the sustained implementation of pro-people macro-economic policies under this government, stability has started returning to economic and fiscal spaces.
“As against ₦1,900/$ in February 2024, the value of Naira is ₦1,117.5/$ as of Wednesday. This represents a gain of about 42% within the space of two months.
“Besides, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has settled $7 billion valid foreign exchange backlogs. The federal government has paid back a whopping sum of ₦4.83 trillion out of ₦30 trillion ways and means it obtained from the CBN. And the flow of foreign direct investments is improving by the day,” he added.
*Remain resilient despite global challenges, Tuggar tasks Muslims
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has called on Muslim faithful all over the world to remain resilient in the face of the ongoing global challenges.
The minister made the call on Wednesday in his message to Muslims celebrating Eid-el-Fitr across the globe.
In a statement by his Media spokesman, Mr Alkasim Abdulkadir, the Minister urged adherents of the Islamic faith to reflect on the sacrifices and lessons of the concluded month of Ramadan for guidance.
He enjoined the Muslim Ummah to pray for the country and the success of the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to bequeath dividends of governance to the nation.
He also called on the adherents to pray for a lasting peace in the country, particularly in the regions plagued by strife and wars across the world.
