Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has advised community, religious and political leaders to take urgent steps to end the needless and brutal killings of innocent people in the country.
Abubakar, who made the call in his Sallah message released by his media office in Abuja, expressed deep concern at the rate innocent people were being gunned down daily by terror groups in Borno, Yobe and elsewhere.
According to him, the killing of innocent people by these dangerous armed groups breaches the teachings of Islam, which places high premium on the sanctity of life.
He regretted the extent to which life has been devalued by terror groups and those fighting them and the consequences of these on the social and economic life in northern Nigeria.
The Turaki Adamawa said there was no justification for the killings of innocent people along with their children.
Abubakar noted that the worst injustice and human right infringement is to destroy the life of innocent and defenceless people.
The former Vice President said northern religious, community and political leaders should no longer limit their outrage to lamentation and helplessness.
He advised leaders in the areas affected by terror activities to begin an urgent audit of their people and neighbours with a view to identifying those responsible for the misery inflicted on the north by these worsening deaths of innocent people.
He said effective human intelligence gathering could help communities to rid themselves of people that pose a danger to the society.
According to him, the time for blaming shadowy groups for these heartless killings had passed, adding that the Borno elders and other opinion leaders should take active measures to stop this looming anarchy posing the greatest security threat in recent memory.
The former Vice President warned that Northerners should not wait for outsiders to end needless deaths of innocent people daily.
He noted that the militarization of the North East would have been unnecessary if the community leaders had taken active measures to identify the activities of people in their domain and what they do for a living.
The Turaki Adamawa, while wishing Muslims a peaceful and happy Sallah, advised leaders of these militant groups to soften their hearts and open their minds to reason and embrace dialogue and disarmament for the sake of humanity and God.
In his Sallah message, former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has congratulated the Muslim community in Nigeria on the Eid el Kabir celebration.
Kalu urged Nigerians to use this festive period to reflect on their spiritual life as individuals and how they can promote the peace and unity in Nigeria as a nation.
Kalu admonished all Nigerians, irrespective of religion, to imbibe the spirit of love, brotherhood and tolerance amongst themselves as exemplified by Prophet Mohammed (SAW).
He also used the opportunity to call on Nigerians to remain law abiding citizens while challenging government at all levels to be responsive to the plight of the people.
The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has urged Nigerians to see the Eid-El- Kabir celebration as another opportunity to work for the strengthening of good neighbourliness and nation building, through sacrifice and selfless service.
Ahmed, who made the appeal in his Eid-El-Kabir message to Muslims, said for Nigeria to realise its potentials as a nation, Nigerians of all religions persuasions must work collectively, but consciously, for the good of all.
According to the governor: “The 1433A.H Eid-el-Kabir celebration provides another opportunity for us to reflect on the essence of sacrifice and humility as fulcrums for the promotion of harmonious relationship in our polity.”
Ahmed charged Muslims to see beyond the festive essence of the Eid-el-Kabir, but, more importantly, its symbolic representation of total submission to the will of Allah, goodness to one another and service to humanity as exhibited by prophet Ibrahim.
Ahmed, in congratulating Muslim Ummah in Kwara State and Nigeria as a whole for witnessing another Eid-El-Kabir, reminded them not to cease praying fervently for peace and harmony in the country and to celebrate the occasion with utmost modesty.
The governor thanked religious leaders, traditional rulers, community leaders, trade unions and politicians in the state for their prayers and love and for ensuring sustainable peace in the state.
He reiterated his conviction that the success of Nigeria’s fledging democracy is a function of robust exchange of ideas and continuous dialogue between government and the people.
He, therefore, promise to carry all stakeholders along in the implementation of his administration’s shared prosperity programme designed to give birth to a new Kwara State.
Ahmed reminded Muslims that Allah loves those who do good, those who ask Him for forgiveness, those who are God-fearing, those who are steadfast, those who trust Him, those who act justly and those who strive for His cause.
The Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has congratulated Muslims for witnessing this year’s Eid-el-Kabir festival.
Fayemi, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, urged Muslims in the state to imbibe the lessons of sacrifice and total submission to the will of Almighty Allah..
The governor charged Muslims to use the period to pray for the peace, stability and prosperity of Ekiti State, which he noted is on the path of rapid development in all sectors.
Describing Sallah as a period for sober reflection, Fayemi advised Muslims in Ekiti State to celebrate the festival with moderation.
He said Prophet Ibrahim’s readiness to obey Allah’s command to sacrifice his son Ishmael marked a dramatic turning point in the worship of his Creator who provided a ram for the sacrifice.
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