As Nigerian Muslims join other faithful across the globe to celebrate the festival of Eid-el-Kabir, President Bola Tinubu has said the celebration reminds citizens of the need to show resilience, tolerance, compassion, and dedication to the country’s progress.
This came as Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Dikko Radda, Mohammed Bago, Nasir Idris, and Dapo Abiodun of Lagos, Katsina, Niger, Kebbi, and Ogun States, respectively, yesterday, sent messages of hope to faithful as Nigerian Muslims joined their counterparts across the globe to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir Sallah.
Meanwhile, Muslim pilgrims prayed atop Mount Arafat during the high point of the annual hajj pilgrimage, even as Saudi officials called on participants to refrain from being outside during the hottest hours of the day. The President in his felicitations to the Muslim faithful said: “Eid-el Kabir represents the high point of the sacred first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah, a period filled with opportunities for acts of worship and good deeds. “It is a time for gratitude to Almighty Allah for His countless mercies upon us as individuals and a nation. While this festival is marked with joy and celebration, its true significance lies much deeper: Eid calls us to reflect on its core values of sacrifice, devotion, and selflessness.
“To truly honor Eid, we must embody these virtues, just as Prophet Ibrahim (AS) exemplified complete submission to Allah’s will and as our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has taught us. Let this sacred occasion renew our commitment to these ideals.
“Eid-el Kabir also reminds us of our responsibilities beyond faith: to show resilience, tolerance, compassion, and dedication to the progress of our beloved country. “Eid-el Kabir also reminds us of our responsibilities beyond faith: to show resilience, tolerance, compassion, and dedication to the progress of our beloved country. “I reaffirm my commitment to these values and express my deep appreciation for the faith, patience, and perseverance Nigerians show as we implement bold reforms. Together, we have weathered challenging times and are approaching a brighter horizon.
“I assure you that the toughest days are behind us. We are entering a new era of renewed hope and prosperity that we promised two years ago. In his message by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, Sanwo-Olu urged Nigerians, particularly Muslim faithful, to urged Muslims to imbibe the lessons of the sacrifice made by Prophet Ibrahim and work for the unity, peace and progress of Lagos State and Nigeria. Among others, he said: “Eid-al-Adha is a symbolic event in the history of mankind, particularly for Muslims, given the bountiful rewards that followed the patience and perseverance of Prophet Ibrahim, who held on tenaciously to his faith in God despite being afflicted.
“This symbolic Islamic celebration is a reminder to us that there will always be great rewards when we have abiding faith and patience in trying periods; persistence in prayers and tenacity in our beliefs.
“I want to appeal to all Lagosians to draw lessons from the Prophet Ibrahim’s examples by eschewing tendencies that could disturb the growth, development, progress, peace, unity and stability in our dear Lagos State and Nigeria.”
