The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged Muslims to embrace the lifestyle of Prophet Ibrahim by adopting the spirit of selfless life for the purpose of nation building.
The All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu have also urged the Muslims to live like the prophet.
Tunde Akinsanya, the Chairman of the association in Ogun, made the call in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Tolulope Taiwo, in Abeokuta on Thursday, August 31 to felicitate with Muslims on the celebration of the 2017 Eid el-Kabir.
Akinsanya congratulated Muslims in the country at large and Ogun State in particular on the occasion.
He thanked God for keeping Nigeria as one entity in spite of various challenges.
He explained that it had been God alone that made it possible for Nigerians as a people to live above religious and other crises in the country.
He also thanked God for giving President Muhammadu Buhari sound health and the ability to be with his people to celebrate.
“I want to specially congratulate the head of the Muslim faithful, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar, while also felicitating with Governor Ibikunle Amosun for witnessing another season of joy and giving.
“The Christian family called on all Muslim faithful to embrace the lifestyle of Prophet Ibrahim who chose to offer his son to Allah.”
He called on Nigerians to join hands with government at all levels to offer good governance to the citizenry.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has also felicitated with Muslim faithful in the country on the joyous occasion of Eid-el-Kabir, the second of two Muslim holidays celebrated worldwide each year.
As we gather around family and friends to celebrate Eid-el-Kabir, we should be reminded of the significance of the holy festival which is to celebrate the love and grace of Almighty Allah to mankind through sacrifice, devotion and faith, APC said in a statement on Thursday.
APC statement read: “Irrespective of our ethnic and religious affiliations, we urge Nigerians to use the opportunity of the holy celebration to rededicate themselves to selfless sacrifices for the benefit of our neighbours and indeed the progress of country.
“In our national life, we urge citizens to eschew all forms of violence, live in peaceful coexistence and be our brother’s keeper. Recently, the nation has witnessed some agitations with the potential of undermining the unity and our relationship across religious and ethnic divides.
“As a Party, we believe it is in our collective interest to support and remain steadfast to the cause of a united Nigeria as our strength remains in our diversity.
“The Party calls on Muslim faithful and indeed all Nigerians to pray for well-being of the country and the good health of our dear President Muhammadu Buhari.”
Also, the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has enjoined Nigerians to eschew all forms of recrimination and imbibe self-sacrifice, forgiveness and other higher virtues that promote national unity and development.
Ekweremadu made the call in his goodwill message to the Muslim Umah on the occasion of Eid el-Kabir.
He said: “I congratulate our Muslim brethren on this occasion of Eid el-Kabir. This season of conviviality presents another opportunity to reflect on our national challenges and the way forward.
“No nation realises its full potentials without equity, justice, unity, and peaceful co-existence. I enjoin the Muslim Umah and indeed all of us to imbibe the virtues of sacrifice, forgiveness, and love that the season represents in order to move the nation forward.”
While also enjoining the Muslim Umah to cease the opportunity of the Sallah to recommit the nation into God’s hand, the Deputy President of the Senate wished the Muslim Umah a merry and hitch-free Eid el-Kabir celebration.
Former Governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel has also congratulated Muslims on the celebration of this year’s Eid-El-Kabir urging them to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice, forgiveness and selfless service as part of the virtues of Islam.
Daniel, in a goodwill message signed by his Media Officer, Ayo Giwa, stated that Muslims should be guided by the spirit of the festival, which was a symbolic demonstration of total obedience to the will of Allah, kindness to one another and service to humanity as exhibited by Prophet Ibrahim.
Eid-El-Kabir, according to the former Governor, goes beyond festivity but rather, to embrace love, eschew bitterness and offer prayers for genuine peace, unity and progress of Nigeria and its leadership at all tiers of governance.
He also urged Muslims to always preach against religion extremism and allow lessons of the season to continue to guide their conducts long after the celebrations.
Ends