Governors, CAN, task Nigerians on good neighbourliness, tolerance

Nigeria Muslims pray to mark end of Ramadan — Nigeria Muslims pray at Eid-el-Fitr celebration… Photo: Courtesy AP

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has called on Nigerians to use the Eid-el Fitr period to demonstrate virtues that promote good neigbourliness and peaceful co-existence.

Fashola made the call in his Sallah message signed by Hakeem Bello, his Special Adviser on Media, in Lagos on Saturday.

He urged Nigerians, especially Muslims to rededicate their lives to God as the ultimate reason and the significance of the Ramadan fasting.

He called on citizens to respect the country`s laws, pointing out that developed countries thrived on compliance with laws by their citizens.

Also, the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, called on Muslims in the state to imbibe the spirit of tolerance and sacrifice.

This is contained in a sallah message signed by his Director of Press, Bala Dawakin-Kudu, in Kano on Saturday.

Mr. Ganduje appealed to Muslims to emulate Prophet Muhammed’s way of life, stressing that the one-month Ramadan fasting should be seen as a period for cleansing and atonement.

“After the Ramadan, we should be more determined to live in the path of Allah as true believers.

“We should also emulate the exemplary attributes of Islam which are love, tolerance, and peaceful co-existence,’’ he said.

He called on the people to continue to pray for peace, unity and progress of the state and the country.

“We must see ourselves as partners in progress so that we can have a state which will be an envy of others in the country.’’

In Gusau, Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara on Saturday warned that nobody should pay him the traditional Sallah homage.

Mr. Yari, who made this known in a broadcast to the people, said that no one should visit him either at the Government House or in his private residence in Talata Mafara Local Government.

He, however, said he would visit the 14 Local Government Areas, starting from Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger chapter, has congratulated their Muslim brothers on the successful completion of the Ramadan Fast.

This is contained in a statement signed by the CAN Chairman, Musa Dada, in Minna on Saturday.

It stated that Mr. Dada advised the Muslim and Christian clergymen against inciting preaching.

“Arewa is known for oneness. We must all stand without hypocrisy and selfish interest.

“Let us all be peace ambassadors wherever we are and the blessing of Almighty God will rest upon our nation and generations to come,” he said.

He described Prophet Muhammad as a man of peace.