Muslims in Nigeria yesterday celebrated the Eid-el-Fitr, which marked the end of the Ramadan season. The 30 days of fasting, praying, listening to lectures and reading the Holy Koran in the Holy Month of Ramadan culminated in special prayers in mosques and Eid grounds in different parts of the country. The occasion was also marked with visits and the sharing of gifts to loved ones and the less privileged.

We congratulate Muslims on this year’s Ramadan and pray that they will enjoy the benefits of their supplications to Allah in this month that He is most mer­ciful and gracious. The 2016 Ra­madan season came at a time of serious economic and security challenges in Nigeria and the prayers of the faithful will doubt­less avail for peace and progress in the country.

As Nigerians continue the cel­ebration of the Eid-el-Fitr today on account of the extended public holiday, we enjoin all Muslims to continue in the spirit of self-deni­al and self-sacrifice that marked the fasting season. The attun­ement of the mind to prayers and holy living that marked the Ramadan should not be jetti­soned on account of the end of the fasting season. Instead, the piety and strict adherence to re­ligious observances by Muslims throughout the season should be hallmarks of daily living in the country. It is only by continuing in these practices prescribed by Allah, that the faithful can hope to obtain and sustain the gains of the month of self-denial. It is also by continuing in the spirit of love and charity to all men that Nigeri­ans can hope for a bridging of the religious divide in the country and the placement of our quest for a peaceful and progressive nation on a stronger pedestal.

Among the cardinal hallmarks of the Ramadan observance are the humility and self-restraint of the Muslim faithful. These are characteristics which can help Nigeria to overcome many of its present challenges if only the people can imbibe them and dem­onstrate them in their daily liv­ing. If this is done, the problem of insurgency, which is now be­ing brought under control in the North-East of the country; the incessant bombing of pipelines in the Niger Delta and the end­less agitations for secession by some groups in the country, will not be threatening the stability of Nigeria. This is because all minds will be attuned towards the promotion of peace and the development of the country.

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In the spirit of Eid-el-Fitri, we urge all Nigerians to spare a thought for the country and re­solve to come together to build a country that we can all be proud of.

We urge our leaders to begin to demonstrate the ethos of their different faiths by caring more for all Nigerians. There is no re­ligion in the country that preach­es selfishness, greed and self-ag­grandizement by the leadership class. The hallmark of good lead­ership is service to the people. This is what we expect from our leaders. Let there be renewed commitment to the welfare of the people. Let the wellbeing of the people be the reason for the quest for political power. Let our leaders be mindful of the funda­mental objectives and directive principles of state policy out­lined in the Nigerian Constitu­tion and make the security and welfare of all Nigerians their guiding principles.

Once again, we congratulate all Muslims on the Eid-el-Fitr and pray that the gains of the Rama­dan remain with them as they look forward to another celebra­tion next year.