Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, the Etsu Nupe and Chairman, Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, has called on Nigerians to live in peace with one another to foster peace and national unity.
The Etsu Nupe made the call while addressing his people shortly after the two Raka’at prayers at the Bida Eid praying ground on Sunday.
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.
He urged Muslims to intensify prayers during the Sallah period for return of permanent peace in Nigeria.
According to him, prayer remains the most effective weapon against any form of challenges.
He said security challenges such as insurgency, banditry and kidnapping would be overcome through fervent prayers by both Muslim and Christian faithful.
The monarch urged Muslims to always follow the path of dialogue in resolving differences rather than violence.
Alhaji Abubakar, who congratulated Muslim faithful on the successful completion of the Ramadan fast, said only tolerance and patriotism will help the country sail through its present situation.
The Etsu Nupe appealed to wealthy individuals 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 the entire society.
“The socio-economic predicament that we are now facing requires assistance from well to do individuals in the country”.
The traditional ruler also urged 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 continue to pray to God, for our leaders to overcome the current challenges bedeviling the nation.
He charged the people of his domain to send their children to school to acquire both western and Islamic knowledge.
The Chief Imam of Nupe, Sheikh Adamu Liman-Yakatun in his sermon advised Muslim faithful to imbibe the lessons of Ramadan.
He 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.