Maulud: Jang, Fashola urge peaceful co-existence
Governors Jonah Jang of Plateau State and Babatunde Fashola of Lagos in their separate Eid el-Maulud messages yesterday urged Muslims in the country to uphold the tenets of peaceful co-existence and respect for all faiths as preached by Prophet Muhammad.
Jang in a statement by his Director of Press, James Mannok, urged Muslims to use the occasion to re-commit themselves to religious harmony in Nigeria.
The statement quoted the governor as saying that without forgiveness, true peace cannot be attained while development activities are bound to suffer setbacks. The governor urged Nigerians not to use religion negatively but as a positive platform for building not only the individual but the society as a whole. He urged all Muslims to use the period to pray for peace and unity of the country and its leadership.
Fashola advised Muslims to imbibe the virtues of tolerance, restraint and perseverance as demonstrated by the holy prophet. According to him, Nigerians must constantly embrace optimism and faith in Almighty Allah while also renewing belief in their country.
“As we commemorate this auspicious occasion, let us renew our faith in our nation and beseech Almighty Allah to restore to us those values that hold dear the sacredness of human life, love of neighbour and sharing, even as we express our faith in the unity of our dear country and resolve to engage in the hard work that would lead to her taking her proper place in the comity of nations”, the governor said.
He expressed gratitude to the various communities in Lagos for their continued peaceful co-existence, tolerance, and support for his government while urging the Muslim Ummah to use the occasion to reflect on the essential lessons of the holy prophet’s life and pray for the continued well being of the state and the country.