The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, has urged Muslim faithful to extend charity and support to the less privileged during Ramadan.
He stated this on Monday night at a joint meeting held by the Ilorin Emirate Council and the Council of Ulama, after the Emir consulted with the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, Emir of Gwandu, Muhammadu Ilyasu Bashar and Etsu Abubakar Yahaya of Bida respectively.
The Emir, who is also the Chairman Kwara State Council of Chiefs, enjoined the people of Ilorin Emirate and beyond to join the year 2020 Ramadan fasting which commenced on Tuesday.
According to him, ”the announcement is in line with the directive of the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III.”
The Emir urged Muslim ummah to use the month of Ramadan to move closer to Almighty Allah by engaging in good deeds, charity, humanitarian services, supplications as well as seeking forgiveness at all times.
He however, congratulates them for witnessing another glorious month of Ramadan, stressing that such privilege should be used to foster peaceful co-existence among religions adherence in the state.
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Covid-19
Emir therefore advised religious leaders to abide by the state government’s directives towards curbing the spread of Covid-19 infection in the state by observing social distancing and maintaining public as well as personal hygiene during and after the spiritual exercise of fasting.
Meanwhile , a former gubernatorial aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 elections in Kwara State, Mallam Saliu Mustapha, has urged political office holders in Nigeria to demonstrate peace and love to mankind beyond lip service.
In his Ramadan message, Mustapha said that Islam preaches peace and peaceful coexistence among humankind.
He said: “At a time like this, it is not unusual for persons in authorities to mouth peaceful co-existence in countless speeches and multiple press releases. As much as this approach is desirable, I believe that there is a more urgent need for us- the political class- to practice and demonstrate peace as well as love more than we preach it.
“Our country is faced with an existential threat. This is in spite of the spirited efforts of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
“There is therefore no better time for the political elite to move away from mere rhetoric on peace and love to the actual demonstration of same than now. We have to begin to practice peace and love more than we preach it.”
“In situations like this, there is much more to leaders’ crisis communications than just the speeches. Action must now begin to speak louder than words in all ramifications.
“Irrespective of our political differences, there should be a legitimate desire to pull together in offering and finding solutions to the crisis at hand,” Mustapha added.
The APC chieftain also hammered on the need to empower the poor as part of charity during the holy month.
He congratulated Muslims across the globe for witnessing yet another Ramadan.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
