Eid-el-Fitr: Etsu Nupe felicitates Muslims, preaches peaceful coexistence
By Mohammed Baba Busu
Alh. Yahaya Abubakar, the Etsu Nupe, has called on Nigerians to live in peace with one another to foster unity and national development.
Abubakar, who is the Chairman, Niger State Council of traditional rulers 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 stressed 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 could achieve any meaningful development or greatness in an atmosphere of chaos and mistrust.
He added that only tolerance and patriotism would help the country sail through the current challenges.
He also admonished Muslims to have the fear of God in all their activities, adding that “we all must give accounts of our deeds one day to our creator.”
Abubakar 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 that security challenges such as insurgency, banditry and kidnapping would be overcome through ceaseless and fervent prayers by both Muslims and Christians.
He further charged Muslims to always follow the path of dialogue in resolving differences rather than resorting to violence.
The Etsu Nupe congratulated Muslim on the successful completion of the Ramadan fast and appealed to them to use the occasion to rebuild the fabric of national unity and reaffirm Nigeria’s common destiny as an indivisible entity.
The royal father 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 the 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-el-fitr with ease.
“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 wealthy individuals in the country,” he said.
He called for continuous prayers for leaders in the country in order to overcome current challenges in Nigeria.
Abubakar also charged his subjects l to send their children to school to acquire both western and Islamic education.
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 practice the social and moral objectives of the Holy month of Ramadan.
