Eid Al-Fitr: Kogi, Anambra, Oyo Governors felicitate Muslims

The Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, Anambra, Chukwuma Soludo and Oyo, Seyi Makinde have felicitated Nigerian Muslims as they celebrate Eid Al-Fitr.

Governor Bello called on Muslims to maintain peace, law and order in the country.

He made the call in Lokoja, on Friday while performing the Islamic festival of Eid Al-Fitr prayers to mark the end of the Ramadan Fast by Muslims at the Muhammadu Buhari Square in the state capital.

“My message to Muslims generally is to ensure the continued peaceful co-existence of Nigerians of different religious beliefs to maintain peace, law and order.

“And just like the Chief Imam that led the Eid prayer,  reminded us in the sermon, the unity and peace of Nigeria, our country cannot be compromised, and I urge each and everyone of us to unite as a people.

“It is only when you are united that all what you put forward can be achieved and I implore everyone of us to pray for our leaders our locals, traditional, state and the nation.”

Governor Bello prays for Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari adding that, “We should pray for the incoming President by the special grace of God, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his vice, Senator Kashim Shettima.

“We should pray that the next transition in Kogi State should be very smooth as I promise to continue to abide by the rules of the game and ensure that there is a smooth transition.

“And by the special grace of God, this is going to be my last Eid prayer – Eid-Al-Fitri in this particular arena as the governor.

“When next you see me here, I will be a former governor, particularly in Eid-Al-Fitri prayer.

“And for all that we have achieved for our people, I pray that by the special grace of God, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo that is going to succeed me by the grace of Allah, will do more.

“I urge that everyone of us should support him, pray for him, vote for him and ensure that we become victorious in the election that is coming ahead. Success shall be ours.”

Anambra

Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo while congratulating Muslims on the completion of the 30-day fast, stressed that the spiritual exercise had drawn them closer to Allah.

In a statement released by Christian Aburime, the Press Secretary to Soludo, the governor urged Muslims and other Nigerians to live in peace, love and harmony with one another as brothers and sisters.

The Governor encouraged Nigerians not to lose hope, despite the difficulties and economic hardship in the country but charged them to live in peace with one another and continually pray for the country.

“The holy month of Ramadan, no doubt, has drawn you closer to the Almighty Allah. The period was one characterised by discipline, humility and love for fellow men and women. I urge you not to depart from these noble principles.

“Let these teachings of the holy month define your future relationship with fellow Muslims and other citizens. I urge you not to lose hope in the country, irrespective of the difficulties and economic challenges the country is currently passing”.

The Governor also called on Nigerian leaders irrespective of religion and denomination to draw from the lessons of Ramadan in ensuring justice, equity and good governance for every citizen.

He sued for peace among the component parts of the country, stressing that without peace, no meaningful development can take place.

Oyo State 

Meanwhile, the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Friday, said that his administration had laid a very solid foundation for governments that would come after him, adding that his successors would ride on the initiatives of his administration to achieve greater feats for the state.

Makinde, while receiving the State Executive Council members and other Muslim members of his administration led by the Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, congratulated Muslims for the completion of the Ramadan fast.

The Governor said that all the achievements attained by his government were the collective efforts of the cabinet, maintaining that the people that would come after him would do more and surpass his achievements because he had been laying a solid foundation for the future.

He stated that there were lots of talents among the Christian and Muslim faithful whom he said would take the state to greater heights and expressed the hope that the state would produce more Makindes and Adebayos in the nearest future.

The governor also thanked the people of Oyo State for supporting him in the last election, declaring that he would continue to ensure that the dividends of democracy get to the nooks and crannies of the state.

“Let me use this opportunity to greet our people Barka de Sallah and I would like to mention that we should be thankful to God, no matter how difficult we feel the situation has been. God has kept us through the 30 days of fasting, which is to discipline the flesh. So, I would like to let our people know that there is room to be thankful to God.

“When Professor Malik was talking, he said we have raised the bar of governance in Oyo State, and people coming behind us have serious challenges to face. But I said no, it is actually the other way round because we are laying a very solid foundation so that the people coming behind us will even surpass what we have been able to achieve, simply because the foundation is solid.”

Earlier, the Deputy Governor, Abdul Lawal, had said that the purpose of the visit was to pay homage to the governor after leaving the Mosque for the Eid prayers, explaining that Governor Makinde had raised the bar of governance in the state.

During the visit, prayers were said for the success of Governor Makinde’s second term in office, which commences on May 29, 2023.

Before the visit to the governor’s house, the deputy governor had led the Muslim government functionaries and some other Muslims in the state to the Agodi Eid praying ground, in Ibadan, to offer prayers to mark the end of the Ramadan fast.

Addressing newsmen after the prayer, the deputy governor, Bayo Lawal, enjoined citizens of the state to imbibe the virtues of Ramadan, including love, peace, perseverance and justice and encouraged them not to relent in supporting the present administration, assuring them of continuous dividends of democracy.

While leading the Eid prayers, the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh Abdulganiy Agbotomokekere, prayed for the country’s safety and peaceful co-existence

 

 

PIAK