President Buhari celebrates Sallah in Daura, receives Masari, Ganduje, others
President Muhammadu Buhari celebrated the Eid-al-Adha in his hometown of Daura in Katsina State and was visited by many of his supporters and well wishers who trouped in to felicitate with him and to greet him on his recovery from the illness which took him to the United Kingdom for treatment which lasted over three months. The Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, and his Katsina State counterpart, Aminu Masari, were among the dignitaries that visited the president in his residence, yesterday.
Others include the Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank, Ahmed Dangiwa, and the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Faruk.
Governor Masari said the president had expressed appreciation to all Nigerians for their constant prayers for his health and well being of the nation.
In his remarks, Governor Ganduje thanked Nigerians for their continuous prayers, saying that the nation’s diversity should be a strong pillar for development.
He called on all to rally round the administration for speedy growth and prosperity.
Since when it became official that President Muhammadu Buhari would proceed to Daura for the Sallah, the news elicited great joy and excitement across Katsina State, especially in Daura, as his supporters and well wishers who could not come to Abuja to welcome him from his medical vacation last month saw in the visit an opportunity to express and show solidarity with the president.
Immediately after the Executive Council meeting last Wednesday, President Buhari departed Abuja for Daura.
The presidential jet touched down at the airport in Katsina, the state capital, at 4.05pm to the admiration of well wishers, led by Governor Aminu Masari.
President Buhari was received by a high powered delegation led by Governor Aminu Masari, which included the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Mustapha Inuwa, alongside other top government officials.
The Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumin Kabir Usman, and some of his council members were also at the airport to welcome the president.
Thereafter, the president was airlifted by a helicopter to his country home in Daura where he observed the Sallah.
The president was received in Daura by a mammoth crowd led by the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Faruk Umar.
Seeing the crowd chanting in solidarity with him, President Buhari chose to trek home from where he alighted from the helicopter, waving to the crowd.
The walk home was a happy moment for most of those that came to welcome him for it proved to them that the president was strong and in perfect health.
On Sallah day, Daura became a Mecca of sorts as hundreds of worshippers thronged the Kofar Arewa Daura Eid prayer ground to catch a glimpse of the president who attended the prayers alongside the Emir of Daura and other dignitaries.
The Chief Imam of Daura, Salisu Rabiu, who led the prayers, called on Muslims to intensify prayers for the president and the country at large.
The chief imam said; “As followers it would only be much appreciated of us as enshrined in the teachings of Islam to pray for leaders so that they can lead us to prosperity and growth.
After the prayers, security officials had to contend with the crowd who surged towards the president to catch a glimpse. The president just waved to the admiration and jubilation of many. He then returned home to meet with visitors and family friends.
From Daura, the president gave his Sallah message. He appealed to Nigerians to be patient and show understanding as the Federal Government was working towards national economic recovery.
The president’s Sallah message was delivered by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Malam Garba Shehu, shortly after the Eid prayers.
President Buhari noted that significant success had been recorded in the fight against insurgency and corruption which served as impetus for investment and economic growth.
He appealed for more support from Nigerians as the Federal Government consolidated the feats achieved in security and the anti-corruption crusade.
The president also cited the $5.7bn Mambila Power Project which upon completion would generate 3,050mwts of electricity.
Meanwhile, members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in Daura were among early callers to wish the president Barka Da Sallah.
Addressing the corps members through his spokesman, Garba Shehu, the president urged them to ensure that they continued to promote unity and peaceful coexistence in Nigeria.
He then presented a bull, 10 bags of rice and N250,000.00 to the corps members to celebrate the Sallah. They danced and sang, thanking the president for the gifts.
Security was tight in Katsina State as no fewer than 3,800 policemen were deployed across the state. The state Commissioner of Police, Usman Ali Abdullahi, had earlier warned potential trouble makers and social miscreants, otherwise known as “Kauraye”, and hoodlums not to foment trouble, especially during the festive period.
CP Abdullahi said the police, in partnership with other security agencies, were fully prepared to ensure safety of life and property before, during and after the celebrations.
While soliciting for maximum cooperation from the general public by providing useful information on suspected criminals and their hideouts to ensure hitch-free Sallah celebrations, Abdullahi assured of the command’s readiness to continue to safeguard lives and property.
Meanwhile, Governor Aminu Masari, in his Sallah speech, urged for continued understanding and prayers for the health of the president and the well-being of Nigeria, noting that prayers and constructive criticism could go a long way in adding value to where the nation wanted to be.
Masari also cautioned against actions, statements and utterances that were capable of jeopardising the corporate togetherness of Nigeria, saying, “We must avoid recklessness and exercise restraint and caution in all we do and say regardless of what our grudges may be since the collective wellbeing of Nigeria is greater than our individual or regional aspirations.”
In their respective Sallah messages, the Emirs of Katsina and Daura called for intensified prayers for the president and cooperation to enable him continue to drive the developmental process of the country.
Special prayers were held for the president and the country in virtually all the mosques across the state.