Extend Love, Selfless Service Beyond Ramadan, Ambode Urges Muslims
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday evening urged Muslims to extend love to others and imbibe the act of selfless service to humanity during and after Ramadan, saying such would go a long way in making the world better.
Speaking at a Ramadan Tafsir held at Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja organised by the state government to mark the official commencement of the Muslim fasting month, Ambode said those having in excess must show gratitude by helping others and also exhibit total submission to God’s commandments.
“To all my Muslim brothers and sisters, I just want to use this opportunity to greet all of you that as we commence the Ramadan month and with all the lectures we have heard, we are doing this to be in tune with Allah and to be in sync with the kind of supplication that we want to give and we know 30 days out of 365 days are not enough to really show our total submission to Allah.
“What I just want to say is that the important thing in all these 30 days that we are going to have the Ramadan is to show love to ourselves and also show love to our neighbours.
“You need to love yourself first before you can even show love to another person. So, when we have in excess, we must show the attitude of gratitude to be able to give to others because somebody else has over provided for us,” the governor said.
“Beyond Ramadan, we must also show the attitude of giving at all times; that is the philosophy of our government; that is the practice we have been doing in the last three years; we must touch the poor and we must touch our people.,” Ambode said.
In his lecture on importance of Ramadan, National Missioner, Ansar-uddeen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdul- Rahman Ahmad, said almighty Allah, through the month, was calling on Muslims to learn the spirit of piety and service relationship with Him.
On his part, Founder of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Professor Ishaq Akintola, commended Governor Ambode for religious harmony and massive infrastructural renewal drive across the State.
Speaking glowingly about the governor, Akintola said: “We are hosted here today by a man of integrity; a man of honour; a man whose humanity has been attested to; a man who is not a Muslim but he is always there for Muslims.
Also, Chief Imam of Lagos, Alhaji Sulaiman Oluwatoyin AbouNollah, commended Ambode for always being on the field to monitor progress of work on the infrastructural projects across the state, saying the development had resulted in placing the state on sound pedestal for growth
and issued to journalists in Lafia.
He then urged Muslim faithful to use the period of Ramadan to offer supplication to Allah for the progress, peace and unity of the state and Nigeria. According to Al-Makura, “the Holy month of Ramadan brings goodwill to mankind by refreshing stronger ties with Allah.” He however said that Tafsir during the Ramadan period should be focused on proffering solutions to endemic societal problems and prayers for the nation’s leaders, as well as preaching love to one
another, including those of other faith as an expression of the life and virtues of the Holy Prophet Muhammadu (S.A.W).
The governor also called on the Muslim faithfuls to be steadfast with all sense of decorum and modesty by avoiding extravagance and ostentation living during the Holy month of Ramadan.
Al-Makura concluded by calling on all and sundry to continue to support the effort of the present administration to improve the living condition of the people.