Peaceful Sallah as govs, others felicitate with Muslims

Ahovi

( Jos), Saxone Akhaine ( Kaduna), Ahmed Idris ( Birnin Kebbi), Njadvara Musa ( Maiduguri),

Odun Edward ( Ilorin) and

Bala Yahaya ( Minna) From Isa Abdulsalami HE Eid- el- Kabir celebration in Jos, Plateau State, yesterday, was adjudged peaceful and eventful because there was no restriction, unlike last year when Muslim faithful were restricted to mosques close to them for the two Rakat prayers.

Muslims trooped to their various Eid prayer grounds to observe the prayers.

At the Ali Kazaure prayer ground, the Chief Imam of the Central Mosque, Sheikh Adam Lawal, who led the prayers, said “this is the time to demonstrate the virtues of peace, faith, obedience, trust, love, sacrifice and tolerance as exemplified by Prophet Abraham.”

TGovernor Simon Lalong of Plateau said the Northern State Governors’ Forum ( NSGF) urged Nigerians to pray fervently for God’s protection and deliverance of the nation from its current challenges.

Lalong, who is chairman of the forum, said “the occasion calls for gratitude to God” for peace and unity of the country.

A REWA leaders, however, expressed misgivings that Nigeria was celebrating Sallah in the midst of banditry and terrorism, which have defied government’s control.

In its Sallah message yesterday, ACF National Chairman, Chief Audu Ogbeh, congratulated Nigerian Muslims and urged governments to live up to their responsibilities of protecting life and property.

KEBBI State Governor, Abubakar Bagudu, urged people to be more tolerant with one another irrespective of their religious, political or ethnic affinity.

Bagudu, who is also the Chairman of APC Governors’ Forum, stressed the need for Nigerians to show more love, respect for others, patriotism and fervent prayers.

GOVERNOR of Borno State, Babagana Zulum; senator representing Borno Central, Kashim Shettima; and the Inspector General of Police ( IGP), Baba Alkali, led top government officials and other Muslims to perform two Rakat prayers yesterday in Maiduguri.

In his sermon, the Imam, Shettima Ibn Saleh, urged Muslim faithful to pray for peace in the country.

KWARA State Governor, A b d u l R a h m a n Abdulrazaq, described peace as the harbinger of development to any society.

Canvassing peaceful coexistence in the country, he lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for his recent proactive steps towards solving insecurity challenges in the nation.

In a chat with reporters before paying ‘ Eid Kabir’ homage to the Emir of Ilorin, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu- Gambari, the governor said: “There is no alternative to peace. Our founding fathers worked so hard to entrench peace in the state and we will continue to promote the peace and unity in our dear state.”

N IGER State Governor, Abubakar Bello, called for peaceful coexistence among Nigerians, irrespective of the religion or culture. Also, former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, while congratulating Muslims, prayed Allah to touch the minds of bandits to repent.