Governors Ibikunle Amosun, Rauf Aregbesola and Abdulfatah Ahmed of Ogun, Osun and Kwara states, respectively, have requested Nigerians to steer clear of any actions and utterances that can truncate Nigeria’s unity and plunge the nation into another civil crisis, saying Muslims and Christians, Southerners and Northerners are brothers and sisters.
While Governor Amosun was preaching for cohesion and unity among Nigerians across all divides, Governor Ahmed requested citizens and residents of the country to endure and tolerate one another’s shortcomings, which might bring about disunity, Governor Aregbesola urged Nigerians to pray against hatred and intolerance, which sparked off unacceptable utterances coming from some sections of the country.
Governor Amosun, who observed Eid-el-Fitr prayer in company of some of his cabinet members at Oke-Lantoro prayer ground in Abeokuta on Sunday, enjoined all the people to work towards national cohesion and unity of the country, saying: “Let us all continue to live and love one another.
“One of the virtues of the Holy period was unity, hence all and sundry must work to achieve unity in the country rather than working towards things that would further divide the country. Let us run away from anything that divides us and speak more of what unites us.”
Also, Governor Aregbesola, while observing Eid-el-Fitr prayer at Oke-Baale prayer ground in Osogbo, Osun State, requested all Nigerians to steer clear of hatred and utterances that can negatively affect Nigeria’s unity, saying Ramdan and Eid-el-Fitr signifies love and in love, there must be unity and understanding.
But, Governor Ahmed of Kwara State noted that the lessons learnt during and after Ramadan should be “such lessons as endurance, tolerance, abstinence from vices and harmonious relationship with one another. These are important ingredients for growth and development, which should endure after fasting.
“We must not depart from the path of steadfastness to God, but continue to do the right things that will launch the nation to the path of greatness, sustainable growth and development, and national cohesion. As a nation, we should promote love, peace and unity with oneness of purpose as well as pray for our leaders’ sound health, divine guidance and direction.”
Similarly, speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Ali Ahmad admonished Nigerians to put aside their differences and think of how to make the country work.
Ahmad said that the challenges before every Nigerian, more than ever before, are daunting, stressing that being divided and working on parallel lines would not augur well for the nation.
He added that at a time such as now when Nigeria is at the threshold of a new beginning, it is very important that all hands are on deck to support the leadership in the objective of giving the country a new beginning.
According to him, the nation’s uniqueness in terms of religions, tribes and ethnicity must be harnessed purposefully to improve the country and discourage calls from any part to divide Nigeria.
On Ramadan, Ahmad congratulated Muslim Ummah on the successful completion of the month and tasked them to sustain the virtues of Ramadan by maintaining the love, togetherness and peaceful co-existence that characterized it.
The speaker stated that the discipline and self-restraint exemplified during the holy month is the only way to live a good life and make the society a better place to live.
Ahmad urged Muslims to see Eld-el-fitri celebration as a season for sober reflection, noting that they must also rededicate their lives to the teachings of Holy Qur’an as demonstrated by Prophet Mohammed.
He said, Nigerians especially Muslims should use the Sallah period to pray for Nigeria to overcome the multifaceted challenges facing the country.
He stressed, “Being good Muslims requires that we follow the examples of Prophet Muhammad who was always quick to forgive those that transgressed against him and lived a life of building common understanding among the people.”
RAZAQ AYINLA, SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin & BOLA BAMIGBOLA, Osogbo
