The Etsu Nupe and Chairman, Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, has called on Nigerians to live in peace with one another to foster peace and national unity.
Etsu Nupe made the call while addressing his people shortly after the two Raka’at prayers at the Bida Eid Praying Ground, on Wednesday.
The royal father said that there was the need for Nigerians to ensure peaceful co-existence in the country so as to ensure economic growth and development.
According to him, no society or country can achieve any meaningful development or greatness in an atmosphere of chaos and mistrust.
The monarch also admonished Muslims to have the fear of God in all their activities, adding that we all have to give account of our deeds one day to our creator.
He urged Muslims to intensify prayers during the Sallah period for the return of permanent peace in Nigeria.
According to him, prayer remains the most effective weapon against all forms of challenges.
He said security challenges such as insurgency, banditry and kidnapping would be overcome through ceaseless and fervent prayers by both Muslim and Christian faithful.
The royal father urged Muslims to always follow the path of dialogue in resolving differences rather than resorting to violence.
Alhaji Abubakar who congratulated Muslims on the successful completion of the Ramadan fast, added that only tolerance and patriotism would help the country sail through the present situation it is currently facing.
He appealed to Muslims to use the occasion to restore national unity and reaffirm Nigeria’s common destiny as an indivisible entity.
The monarch expressed optimism that Nigeria would be the ultimate beneficiary of the spiritual lessons from the celebration.
He added that with prayers and fear of Allah, peaceful coexistence, mutual respect and love, Nigerians would work together and harness its abundant resources as a progressive nation.
Abubakar appealed to wealthy individuals in the country to assist the less privileged to enable all and sundry to celebrate Eid-fitr with ease.
He said: “God has endowed wealth on people not for themselves and their immediate family, but for the benefit of entire society.
“The present socio-economic predicament that we are now facing requires such assistance from well to do individuals in the country”.
The monarch urged Muslims to continue to pray to God, for our leaders to overcome the current challenges bedeviling the nation.
He also charged the people of his domain to send their children to school to acquire both western and Islamic knowledge.
The Chief Imam of Bida, Sheikh Adamu Liman-Yakatun in his sermon advised Muslims to imbibe the lessons of Ramadan.
Liman-Yakatun called on those who prayed and fasted for the 30 days to internalise and practicalise the social and moral objectives of the holy month of Ramadan.
