* As President blames insecurity, COVID-19, flood for rising food prices
Stories by Michael Oche, Kelvin Osas, Francesca Iwambe, Olatorera Dickson-Amusa and Ola Adediran, Abuja
As Nigeria joins Muslims faithful across the world to celebrate this year’s Eid- el-Kabir , President Muhammandu Buhari, Senate President, Dr Ahmed Lawan, Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabaiamila, state governors and other prominent Nigerians have called for peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.
Incidentally, Nigeria is facing its worst security challenges in decades, with ethnic tension across the various ethnic nationalities.
In his Sallah message to Nigerians, President Buhari said, “I urge all Muslims to continue to live in peace and harmony with their fellow Nigerians of other faiths in the spirit of peaceful coexistence. Let us pray for the progress of Nigeria at all times. Let us expose undesirable elements among us who are creating security problems for the country.”
Speaking on the significance of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, the President appeals to Muslims “to demonstrate the good virtues of Islam through personal examples and practices
President blames insecurity, COVID-19, flood for rising food prices
Meanwhile, President Buhari has explained the cause of food inflation in the country.
In a statement made available on Monday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, Buhari stated that the COVID-19 pandemic and floods which have ravaged farmlands across the country have impacted negatively on food production.
Buhari said, “COVID-19 pandemic has taken a heavy toll on the economies of all countries, including Nigeria, in addition to the fact that floods have caused large scale destruction to agricultural farmlands, thereby impacting negatively on our efforts to boost local production in line with our policy to drastically reduce food importation.
He also said that, “Apart from the destruction caused to rice farms by floods, middlemen have also taken advantage of the local rice production to exploit fellow Nigerians, thereby undermining our goal of supporting local food production at affordable prices.”
The President also noted that the current insecurity in the country “has produced severe and adverse effects on agriculture because farmers are prevented from accessing their farms by bandits and terrorists.”
Pray for peace, Lawan urges Nigerians
In a related development, the Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan, has urged Nigerians to unite and confront the current challenges.
In a statement personally signed by him and made available on Monday, Lawan said, “I also want to use the occasion to urge the faithful and all Nigerians to be steadfast in working and praying for the peace, unity and progress of our beloved country.
“The current challenges are painful but this is a passing phase in our historical process of nation-building,” Lawan said while felicitating with all Nigerians and the Muslim Ummah on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir.
Gbajabiamila sues for prayers, unity
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, has called for prayers and unity of purpose among Nigerians at this period of Eid-el-Kabir.
He said Nigerians, especially Muslims, should use the opportunity of the Eid-el-Kabir to pray for their leaders to be able to find solutions to our problems.
Gbajabiamila said Nigerians must remain united and steadfast at all times to be able to face the challenges confronting the country.
He said, “As Muslims, we must make frantic efforts to emulate the virtues of the Holy Prophet, whose life is a perfect example of what we all should be.
“The act of sacrifice, one of the major lessons of the Eid-el-Kabir, should be part of our lives at all times. We must make sacrifices for ourselves, our families, our friends, our neighbours, and of course, our country.
Governors, others preach Peace
Also, Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has urged the people of the state and other Nigerians to continue to pray and support the peace and unity of the country.
This is even as the Benue Governor said the current spate of insecurity where hundreds of school children are being kidnapped on the daily basis in some parts of the country by armed herders as well as their frequent attacks and killing of farmers in communities across the state and other acts of terrorism can only be surmounted if security agencies are given adequate support.
The governor emphasized that the safety of lives and property in all parts of the state remained the priority of his administration.
According to him, Eid-el-Kabir offers all Muslims the opportunity to exemplify the virtues of piety, honesty, charity and generosity, according to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad.
The governor assured that the present administration will continue to uphold the values of transparency, accountability, justice and equity in serving the people of the state.
Ortom once again appreciated the understanding and support Benue people have given him since 2015 despite the challenges the state government has faced within the period.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary Terver Akase quoted the governor as wishing Muslims in the state a joyful Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has felicitated with the Muslim Ummah on the celebration of this Year’s Eid-el-Kabir.
In a statement by his press secretary Mr Humwashi Wonosikou, Fintiri urged Muslims to remember that the season is one to give thanks to Almighty Allah “for sparing our lives as individuals and families to celebrate”.
The Adamawa Governor said, “Eid-el-Kabir teaches and reminds us of the meaning of sacrifice, love and forbearance with one another. The significance of the celebration is rooted in peaceful co-existence, mutual respect and tolerance”.
According to him, this year’s celebration is to commemorate the trials and triumph of Prophet (Abraham) Ibrahim.
“As we mark the festivities, I sincerely believe that our state will make a rapid progress on all fronts if we re-enact the exemplary virtues, typified by Prophet (Abraham) Ibrahim, through his sacrifice, patience, steadfastness, generosity and obedience to Allah’s command and constituted authority.”
He urged Muslims to remember and share their God-given wealth with the less privileged and live in peace with one another as enshrined in the tenets of Islamic faith.
Fintiri however encouraged Muslims to pray and abide by the COVID-19 guidelines for the good of our societies.
“We should imbibe the noble virtues of our great prophets in order to establish closer connectivity between religious teachings and practice.”
In his own message, Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade has felicitated with Muslims on the festival of Eid-el- Kabir as they join their counterparts round the world to mark the occasion.
Ayade urged them to imbibe the virtues of obedience, love, alms giving, honesty and sacrifice as exemplified by Prophet Muhammed.
The governor’s admonition was contained in a Sallah message signed on his behalf by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Christian Ita.
Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has also urged Muslims, and indeed all Nigerians to use the occasion of this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration to remain committed to God in prayers for the peace, unity, security and progress of the country.
In his Sallah Message, Ugwuanyi felicitated with all Muslim faithful, wishing them the blessings and guidance of Allah.
The governor also urged Nigerians to embrace the cherished virtues of love, peace, charity and sacrifice as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Mohammed.
