Abuja—President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, restated the commitment of his administration to the restoration and maintenance of peace in all parts of the country even as he outlined the essential ingredients that will make us have faster progress towards development as a nation.
In his message to mark this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration, Jonathan assured that the Federal Government would continue to have constructive engagement and dialogue with all Nigerians.
Pilgrims at the Mount Arafat on Arafat Day In Saudi Arabia
This came as the National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor; Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins; Senate President, David Mark and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal enjoined all Muslims to pray for national peace.
In his message, the president urged Nigerians to “seize the opportunity of the Sallah season and the public holidays to reflect on how we can bring the ideals and virtues of our religious beliefs to bear on the positive resolution of the many challenges facing us as a nation.
“Nigerians remain a people of great faith with the vast majority of our people professing belief in God either as Muslims or Christians.
“There can be no doubt that we will make faster progress towards the attainment of developmental objectives as a nation if we all resolve to do more to live up to the highest ideals of our religious beliefs including the fear of God, willingness to make personal sacrifices for the collective good, selfless service, respect for laws and constituted authorities, honesty, justice, equity, fairness, dutifulness, peace and harmonious co-existence with others.”
Jonathan orders probe of hajj crisis
Speaking on the challenge faced by some Muslim Pilgrims in the Holy land, Jonathan noted that though “the problem was eventually resolved with the positive intervention of the Federal Government, I have ordered a thorough post mortem of the incident with a view to ensuring that our Hajj airlift operations are never disrupted by such problems in future and that no Nigerian pilgrim is ever subjected to such traumatic experience in the Holy Land again.”
He expressed the commitment of his administration to give dedicated, committed, focused and purposeful leadership towards overcoming old and emerging challenges before the nation.
He enjoined all Muslims to remember the plight of the many thousands of Nigerians who have been displaced by the floods which recently devastated many communities across the nation and resolve to contribute whatever we can to ameliorate their suffering.
Oritsejafor, Martins preaches peace
Pastor Oritsejafor and Rev. Martins in their messages urged Muslim leaders to embrace the faith of Abraham by making more sacrifices to preserve the peace and unity of the country.
In his goodwill message signed by Mr. Kenny Ashaka, Special Assistant to CAN President on Media and Public Affairs, Oritsejafor urged the Muslim Ummah to use the advantage presented by this Sallah celebration to pray fervently for peace, security, good governance and development of the country.
In his Sallah message signed by the Director of Social Communications, Very Rev. Msgr. Gabriel Osu, the Catholic Archbishop also called for peace and unity in the country even as he condemned the violence meted out against innocent people, especially in the northern part of the country.
In his words: “Nothing can justify the act of violence. We must encourage tolerance and reconciliation. We must respect one another and seek peace, realising that what binds us together surpasses what drives us apart. There can be no peace without sacrifice.”
…Mark too
The Senate President Mark in his message urged Muslim faithful across the country to pray for Nigeria in the spirit of this year’s Eid el-Kabir.
In a goodwill message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Paul Mumeh, the Senate President implored religious leaders to teach their followers the right thing to do so that they do not deviate or depart from the truth.
Tambuwal urges Nigerians to make sacrifices
Also in his own message, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Tambuwal, urged Nigerians to restore the virtues of good neighbourliness and strive to maintain law and order at all times.
According to him, all Nigerians must show commitment and be ready to make sacrifice towards the development of the nation
In a message signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, the Speaker said for the country to make the necessary progress it desires, the citizenry at all levels must be their brother’s keepers and be more sensitive to the well-being of one another.
Ekweremadu calls for peace
Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu in his own Sallah message called on Muslims across the country to embrace peace in all its ramifications.
In his message by his Special Adviser, Media, Uche Anichukwu, Ekweremadu who attributed the nation’s problems to corruption, greed and willful disobedience to Allah and the teachings of the prophets, stressed that such virtues of selflessness, justice and total submission to the will of Allah epitomised by Prophet Ibrahim would restore the nation on the path of speedy growth and transformation.
