…as Abiodun preaches resilience, patience
Lagos State governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has congratulated Nigerians, especially Muslims across the country, on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir festival.
Sanwo-Olu while rejoicing with Muslims on Eid-el-Kabir celebration urged them to celebrate with caution in the wake of the third wave of coronavirus infections in Nigeria.
He also advised them to keep to all the COVID-19 protocols.
This is even as his Ogun State counterpart, Prince Dapo Abiodun, urged the Muslims to emulate Prophet Ibrahim’s resilience, patience and steadfastness
Sanwo-Olu in his Eid-el-Kabir message issued on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, advised Lagosians, especially Muslim faithful to imbibe the lessons of sacrifice made by Prophet Ibrahim and work for the peace, stability, unity and progress of the country.
The governor said there is strong connection between peaceful coexistence of all tribes and religions and development, noting that as Lagosians, every resident must live together peacefully.
“On behalf of my family and government of Lagos State, I join millions of people around the world, to wish our Muslim brothers and sisters in the state and in Nigeria happy Eid-el-Kabir, which comes with significant lessons for mankind.
“Eid al-Adha has become a symbolic event in the history of mankind, following the events that led to the sacrifice by Prophet Ibrahim, who held tenaciously to his faith in God despite his unpleasant circumstances at the time.
“The festival, therefore, reminds us that there will always be great rewards when we have abiding faith and patience in trying periods; persistence in prayers and tenacity in our belief, as well as sacrifice for the progress of mankind and development of our society,” he said.
On his part, Abiodun urged Muslims in Ogun State to emulate the resilience, patience and steadfastness as well as absolute faith in Allah, as exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim.
The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, said the festival which is symbolised by slaughtering of rams as commanded by Allah, should be used to further foster unity and spread love in the state, and Nigeria.
He added that though the country is going through a trying period, the Eid-el-Kabir should serve as an opportunity to supplicate and seek the face of God, for restoration and healing.
Abiodun, who noted the festival is a significant one in the tenets of Islamic faith, called on the faithful of the religion to engage in moderate celebration across the state.
He further urged Muslims to remember those who don’t have and share the merriment with them.
“Eid-el-Kabir is a significant one in the tenets of Islamic religion. It is symbolised with slaughtering of ram as commanded by Allah and exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim. As Muslims all over the world celebrate this great festival, I congratulate our Muslim brothers.
“I want to urge them to emulate the resilience, patience, steadfastness and absolute faith in Allah, displayed by Prophet Ibrahim, when he was commanded by Allah to fulfil his covenant by sacrificing his son, Ismael.
“Though Allah asked the Prophet to slaughter his son, He replaced the son with a ram, in response to Ibrahim’s total submission to Allah’s will and commandments.
“Let us therefore use this period to seek the face of Allah in surmounting the present socioeconomic situation in our country.
“I strongly believe and hope, that God who changed the reproach of Prophet Ibrahim and replaced with joy and victory, will change our situation in Nigeria for better.
“As our Muslim brothers celebrate, let us be moderate and remember those who don’t have in our neighborhood and share the merriment with them. Let us remember Nigeria and in particular, Ogun State, in our supplications.
“As an administration, we shall continue to espouse good governance and put policies in place to ensure prosperity for all”, Abiodun was quoted to be saying in the statement.