Maulud: Etsu Nupe urges Muslims to pray for peace, Nigeria’s progress
By Mohammed Baba Busu
Bida (Niger State) – The Etsu Nupe and Chairman, Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, has called on Nigerians to offer special prayers for the sustenance of peace, unity and progress in the country.
Abubakar made the appeal on Saturday at his Wadata Palace in Bida, in his message to celebrate the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
He said that the celebration of Maulud Nabiyi was “remarkable and reinvigorates the virtues of faith, sacrifice, obedience, love, tolerance, charity and peaceful co-existence”.
The Etsu Nupe also felicitated with the Muslims on the occasion of the 2025 Eid-el-Maulud which signifies commemoration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad.
Alhaji Abubakar urged Muslims to have the fear of Allah and behave in acceptable manner to fellow human beings.
According to him, being a Muslim is not enough but to consistently have the fear of Allah in dealings with all and sundry.
“I want to urge us to revive and rekindle the teachings of the Prophet by preaching peace wherever we find ourselves irrespective of any part of the country we may find ourselves,” he said.
According to the first class traditional ruler, Maulud is not only for merry making, but also a time to emulate what Prophet Muhammad was sent by Almighty Allah to do for humanity.
“As Muslims who are sincere in their faith, we are supposed to follow all that the Prophet of Islam preached and taught.
“Prophet Muhammad preached peace, love and unity, and as true followers of Islam, we should emulate the same virtues, so that we can enjoy the blessings of Almighty Allah, here and in eternity.”
He urged the Muslim faithful to learn how to forgive, stressing that Allah Himself forgives in an unquantifiable manner.
Besides, he called on the Muslims to be prayerful as prayer is key to overcoming any situation in which they find themselves, adding that the time we are is indeed challenging.
He also admonished Muslims to shun acts capable of tarnishing the image of Islam, saying that there is a reward for every action.
The royal father charged the Muslim faithful to use the occasion to imbibe and promote the virtues of humility, love, peace, harmony and mutual co-existence which Prophet Muhammad professed.
“I sincerely appeal to Muslims to seize this opportunity to offer special prayers for the unity, progress and prosperity of Nigeria so that the country may overcome its recurring myriad of challenges,” he said.
Abubakar described Maulud Nabiyi as a special period that called for sober reflection and special prayers to the Almighty Allah for Nigerian leaders at all levels for Allah’s wisdom and guidance.
“We must also put aside our ethnic, religious and political differences and come together to build a more united and peaceful Nigeria,” he admonished.
