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Government, religious leaders sue for peace during Ramadan
Nigerian government and religious leaders have called for peaceful co-existence during the holy month of Ramadan which began on Monday, and admonished Muslims to uphold the teachings and virtues of the holy month.
President Goodluck Jonathan, in his goodwill message, urged all Nigerian Muslims to seize the opportunity of the Holy Month of Ramadan to offer prayers for peace, unity, stability and rapid socio-economic development in the nation.
He noted that, while increasing their acts of worship as enjoined during the month, Nigerian Muslims should also re-dedicate themselves to projecting the Islamic virtues of brotherly love, peaceful co-existence, honesty, tolerance, piety, fairness, equity and justice for all in their dealings with others.
The President reaffirmed that all sections of the country would be fully carried along in the implementation of his agenda for national transformation while developmental projects would be equitably distributed across all geo-political zones.
Goodwill messages
As Muslim group lauds the uniform commencement of Ramadan across the country, a Sokoto-based Islamic scholar, Sheik Yusuf Alibawa, tasked Muslims to use the Ramadan fasting period to pray for God's intervention in the activities of the country.
He expressed the belief that prayers would enable the country to overcome the security challenges threatening its peaceful co-existence.
"We need prayers among all Nigerians, irrespective of religions differences, for God's intervention for peace, progress and political stability." He said.
He also called on Muslims to embark on special prayers, for God to instill His fears in the minds of Nigeria's political leaders.
The chief Imam of the Ansarudeen central mosque, Damaturu, Yobe, Alhaji Lawal Saliu, advised Muslims to abide by the laws of Allah both during and after the fasting period as directed by Allah.
He then urged them to live peacefully with their neighbours, Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state on his part called on Muslims to spend the 30-days Ramadan period for the stability of the country.
Meanwhile, the Niger state governor, Dr Mu’aza Babagida Aliyu, enjoined Muslims to maximize the spiritual and physical benefits attached to the month.
Ramadan feeding programme
In another development, the Kano State government has inaugurated a feeding programme to cater for the less-privileged Muslims in the state during the Ramadan.
According to the state deputy governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, the programme would involve the distribution of meals to target beneficiaries at Mosques, Qu’ranic and Islamiyya schools, in strategically located centres in the eight metropolitan local government areas of the state capital.
He appealed to wealthy individuals and organizations to emulate this gesture by feeding the needy during this holy month.
Security measures
Reports from Maiduguri, Borno state, which has been under the insurgency of Boko Haram sect, say that Ramadan is observed amidst tight security, with police and military tanks patrolling the streets to forestall possible attack by Boko Haram sect in worship places.
This development according to the report has made residents of the town, afraid of going to their various mosques to offer prayers to usher in the fasting period, as they were forced to stay in their houses to pray with their families and immediate friends.
Nevertheless, all Nigerians were urged in the spirit of the Holy Month, to embrace peace and join hands with the Government to build a more united, progressive and prosperous nation for the benefit of all.
Newspaper/Emma/Williams
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