By Adetutu Folasade-Koyi
Forty-eight days after he left Nigeria for medical check-up in London, the Presidency released an audio message from President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday, June 24, 2017.
The audio message was reportedly aired on some local radio stations as well as the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), on the eve of Eid-el Fitr celebration.
An online medium had alleged, last week, that President Buhari was suffering from speech impairment and memory loss.
But, in the audio message, which Daily Sun listened to, the president, who spoke in Hausa, felicitated with Nigerians on the conclusion of Ramadan, at the weekend.
Buhari thanked Nigerians for their consistent prayers for his well-being and also, urged citizens, irrespective of their socio-political affiliations, to avoid hate speech and divisive tendencies capable of causing disaffection.
He also prayed for good harvest as farmers embark on agricultural activities occasioned by rainfalls across the country.
In the audio recording, the president said: “In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
“I, Muhammad Buhari, would like to use this opportunity to felicitate with Nigerians on the occasion of Salah celebrations.
“I pray that Allah will accept our acts of worship during Ramadan and make it easy to imbibe and put to use the lessons learnt during the period.
“I thank you very much for including me in your prayers during the blessed month.
“May Allah give us the wherewithal to fulfil the promises we made and pray that He intervenes in solving the problems afflicting our nation.
“Finally, I will like to reiterate my call on Nigerians, to avoid comments capable of causing trouble.
“What we are praying to God for all times, is peaceful co-existence. We pray to Allah for a bumper harvest so we can feed with ease.
“May Allah bless us with peace and peaceful co-existence. I pray you have a peaceful salad celebrations. I thank you.”
Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, had, at the weekend, issued a similar message on behalf of his principal.
On January 19, 2017, Buhari left Abuja for London and returned to Nigeria in March, via Kaduna after staying abroad on medical vacation for 51 days.
On arrival, the president told Nigerians he had never been that sick, to the point of receiving blood transfusions and disclosed that he would soon leave for another follow-up medical checks. On May 7, 2017, the same day he received 82 Chibok girls freed by Boko Haram, the president left for London.
Twenty-three days after, his wife, Aisha, visited him in London and returned a week after.
Before her departure, she thanked Nigerians for their support and prayers for her husband’s quick recovery and called on Nigerians to continue to be strong in the face of challenges and to support the Federal Government in implementing the agenda for which they were elected.
On her return, she relayed the president’s gratitude to his deputy and Nigerians for their prayers.
“Mr. President thanked the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo for his loyalty and called on Nigerians to continue to support the acting president in his effort to actualise the mandate of the All Progressives Congress,” she said.
Eid-el-Fitri: Governors, Atiku, others preach peace, unity, tolerance
Governors across the country have sent goodwill messages to Nigerians on the occasion of this year’s Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.
The governors enjoined Nigerians to embrace peace, unity and tolerance and shun divisive tendencies.
Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun urged all Nigerians, irrespective of their religious affiliations, to continue to coexist in peace, unity and harmony.
Amosun urged Muslims in the country to imbibe all the virtues of Ramadan. “We must not forget to put to use all the lessons we have learnt during Ramadan. Let us all continue to live and love one another,” he said.
His Oyo State counterpart, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, congratulated the Muslim community in the country on the successful completion of the holy month of Ramadan.
The governor called for spiritual rebirth among the Islamic faithful and urged Muslims to use the Eid-el-Fitri celebrations to pray for the unity and peaceful co-existence of all the ethnic groups in the country.
Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai urged Nigerians “to uphold national unity and jointly resist the agents of division.”
“We should use this celebration to reflect and pray hard for peace and unity of Nigeria. As citizens, we should stand together against those preaching division and violence. Our diversity is a source of strength, and our common humanity is a threat to those who earn their living by manipulating differences.
“Let us be uncompromising about maintaining peace and promoting harmony,” he said.
In Imo State, Governor Rochas Okorocha called for serious prayers for the unity and progress of the nation.
The governor noted that with honest prayers, the nation would come out stronger and more united from its current challenges.
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State urged Muslims to shun divisive tendencies and collectively work for the unity of Nigeria.
The governor encouraged Muslims embrace the virtues of love and sacrifice in their day to day activities.
In Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki urged Muslims to continue to practise the lessons from the Ramadan, even after the fasting period, for the peaceful co-existence of all Nigerians and progress of the nation.
Obaseki, who was represented by his deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu, made the call when he played host to Muslim faithful in the state on a visit to government house, Benin.
Obaseki said for us to remain united, religious faithful must protect the interest of the country by showing love to their neighbours as enshrined in the holy books, the Bible and the Qura’an, which promote love for one another.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, urged Nigerians to embrace the virtues of tolerance, unity and cooperation, regardless of their ethnic, religious or social status.
He said it is only in such atmosphere that the nation can make meaningful progress.
“As we celebrate this auspicious occasion, let us renew our faith in our nation and implore the Almighty God to restore to us those values that place high premium on human life, love for our country and our neighbors,” he said.
Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed urged Muslims to imbibe the lessons of Ramadan, “such as endurance, tolerance, abstinence from vices and harmonious relationship with one another.”
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State also enjoined Muslims in Delta State and Nigerians, in general, to extend the spiritual benefits of Ramadan, which are love, peace and justice in their daily living.
“As Muslims celebrate Eid-el-Fitri, it is important to remind Nigerians of the importance of respecting the faiths and beliefs of all,” he said.
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, harped on the need for prayers, peaceful coexistence and sacrifice among Muslims and the entire people of the state. The governor also reassured the people that his administration will continue to give priority attention to security of lives and property, as well as other key sectors of the economy.
Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, urged Nigerians to engage in acts that promote national integration and the feeling of brotherhood.
“Indeed, the virtues of selflessness and dedication to the cause of fellow beings have been cardinal pillars which all societies that have achieved greatness in history had imbibed,” said Tambuwal. He commended the people of the state for their steadfastness in spite of the difficult economic times the country is going through.
Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, called on the Muslim Ummah to continue to exhibit lessons of tolerance, peace, fairness, justice, love and support for the needy and less privileged beyond the holy month in order to attain spiritual uplifting, peaceful coexistence, and national unity, particularly at this period of our national history where various agitations are assuming disturbing trends.
He also urged Nigerians to seize the occasion to pray for peace, security, development of the country and the quick recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Meanwhile, Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima has explained why the state government could not pay workers’ June salaries before the Eid-el-Fitri celebration.
Shettima said unlike in the past, when workers salaries were paid before the celebrations, no matter the date of the month, a technical fault on the lists of workers stalled the process.
“It was not my making not to pay salaries before the Sallah, but that of technical fault in the capturing and downloading of the salaries from the computer on Friday although we were able to pay our pensioners, Civilian JTF members and our ad hoc staff from the Borno State Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA) because we normally pay these group of people on table, it is unfortunate that all civil servants from state and local government Levels are yet to be paid due to the e-banking system where we had little hitches with our platform,” he explained.
Former Vice President and APC Chieftain, Atiku Abubakar, called on Nigerians to demonstrate a greater spirit of tolerance and firmer commitment to peaceful coexistence, which he said are prerequisites for unity and love.
In his message, Atiku urged Muslims to imbibe the lessons of the fast, which include self discipline and sacrifice through abstention from eating, drinking and sinful acts.
“Abstention from eating and drinking should go a long way to provoke empathy from the rich towards the poor, making the well to appreciate the conditions of millions who go hungry because of poverty. I urge well-to-do Muslims to identify with ordinary Nigerians who go without food almost every day, and to be more concerned about what to do to improve their plight.
He commended Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), for giving a good account of himself in running the affairs of the country in Buhari’s absence.
He urged Nigerians to continue to pray for the quick recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari who is receiving medical treatment in the United Kingdom.
Former Nigerian High Commissioner to Canada, Ambassador Dare Bejide, said the country could only make meaningful development and progresses when Muslims and Christians see themselves as one and form a common synergy that would bring transformation to the country.
Bejide said: “Ramadan teaches love and perseverance; and it is on that basis we, as Nigerians, regardless of ethnic and religious affiliations, must desist from showing intense hatred. If not for hatred, how can we be killing one another because of religion or making comments that vividly show that we are not one?
“Time has come for us to be circumspect and think beyond primordial sentiments of ethnic and religious leanings that will further create tension and cause deep cleavages among us,” the former envoy said.