IBB, Saraki, Dogara, Others Seek Divine Intervention to Rescue Nigeria from Problems
Our Correspondents
As Muslims in the country observe the Holy month of Ramadan, former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and his deputy, Sulaimon Lasun Yussuff, have said only divine intervention can rescue Nigeria from its myriad of problems.
The leaders made remarks in their messages to Muslims as they begin this year’s 30-day fasting and prayer.
Babangida called for fervent prayers during the period for God to take control of the problems facing the country.
According to him, “We are no doubt faced with various challenges at personal and national levels, but we are always strong and believing in divine intervention to always take us through the right path with prayers to find solutions to our challenges.”
He therefore enjoined Muslims to conduct themselves very well during the holy month in order to “maximise the spiritual and physical benefits inherent in the fasting period,” and for “us to surmount our challenges at all levels and premises of life.”
The former military leader reminded Nigerians of the transient nature of life, saying several people who took part in last year’s Ramadan fasting were no longer “with us today,” necessitating the need for all that are alive today to give glory to God.
On his part, Saraki felicitated with Muslim faithful in the country for another opportunity afforded by the commencement of the Ramadan, saying it is aimed at strengthening their devotion to the Almighty Allah.
Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, also urged the entire Muslim Ummah to use the period to pray for continuous unity and peaceful coexistence in the country.
He noted: “The commencement of fasting has yet provided us with rare and unique opportunity to fervently pray over the security situation of the country and call on Allah to help us restore sanity and love among our country men and women.
“Nigerians, Muslims in particular, should make use of this opportunity to pray for the end of insecurity and other violent crimes threatening our existence both as a people and nation.”
The senate president said Ramadan is a unique and special period for Muslims around the world to renew their faith in the Almighty Allah, deepen their worship and practicalise the injunctions of the Holy Quran in their daily lives.
“May Almighty Allah be praised for another unique opportunity to fast and pray in obedience to the dictates of the Holy Quran, which is to fulfill one of the five pillars of Islam, through family and congregational prayers, sharing of Iftar meals and being generous to the less fortunate around us.
“Apart from being a time to assist the weak, vulnerable and less fortunate among us, let us utilise this period to pray for continuous peace and unity in the country because with Allah’s help all our individual and national challenges are surmountable,” he said.
He urged all Muslims to strictly observe the injunctions of the Holy Quran as they pertain to their conduct and personal disposition during the holy month in order to benefit maximally from the fasting exercise.
Similarly, Dogara urged Muslims faithful to use the period of Ramadan to pray for peace, unity, security, socio- economic development and political stability of the country.
The Speaker also enjoined them to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness, self-discipline, tolerance, righteousness and sympathy for the less privileged in the society which the Ramadan fast teaches and promotes.
Describing Ramadan as a period for spiritual rejuvenation and enrichment, Dogara urged Nigerians to devote themselves in the worship of the Almighty and imbibe the lessons of love and peaceful co-existence with one another.
The statement signed by his Special Adviser (Media and Public Affairs), Mr. Turaki Hassan, said: “In the spirit of Ramadan, I want to enjoin Muslims in Nigeria to maximise the spiritual and physical benefits associated with the holy month as well as assimilate the Ramadan’s ethical principles of sharing, caring, love, tolerance and piety.”
“The Ramadan fast is a very significant act of worship, being one of the five pillars of Islam, as such, I urge Muslim faithful to use the one month period in devotion and supplication in order to achieve the blessings inherent in the holy month and to pray God to restore peace, unity and stability across the country.”
In the same vein, Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Sulaimon Lasun Yussuff also appealed to Muslims to use the period of fasting to reflect and eschew violence.
He said Ramadan is a period to “rethink and do what is right before Almighty Allah and be your brothers’ keeper, unite together as one and coexist.”
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Wole Oladimeji, Lasun added:” We fast for spiritual rebirth and cleansing, therefore, it is an opportunity to change those attitude that are not acceptable before Almighty Allah and turn a new leaf and also reflect in our daily activities.”
He said government is currently “doing everything to ensure L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. Abdul Hakeem Abdul Latee; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; Chief Imam, Al-Husma Central Mosque, Ejigbo, Alhaji Zul-Nurain Alfa Nla, during the Ramadan Tafsir at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja...Wednesday
that the nation regain it’s lost glory- and therefore, this process needs efforts and support of every Nigerian; all hands must be on deck in achieving a strong, united, indivisible and virile nation.”