Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has called on the Muslim faithful to pray against insecurity in the country. In his Sallah goodwill message to Muslims, yesterday, the governor said he was, on behalf of the state government, sending them warm felicitations as they join the rest of the world to celebrate Eid el-Kabir.
“Benue is still drowning in the stagnant waters of insecurity and underdevelopment. Therefore, I encourage you to pray and make selfless sacrifices and commitments for peace and development of the state and the country,” he said.
Alia said the festival should foster the spirit of compassion, mutual aid, solidarity and togetherness as the only true meaning of life.
Also, his Kogi counterpart, Yahaya Bello, has charged the citizens to be law-abiding and security-conscious at all times to keep the state safe.
After the Eid prayer at Okene Eid ground, Bello charged Kogites to respect constituted authority, while promising to fulfil his promise of leaving the state better than he met it in 2016.
“I thank God, who has brought us thus far. This is my last time of praying on this ground as governor. I thank God for his protection, guidance and good health we have enjoyed throughout my tenure.
“I have been able to turn the fortune of the state around far better than I met it in 2016 when I took over the,” he said. Bello called on the citizens to be patient with the government of President Bola Tinubu, assuring of better days ahead under the administration.
He noted that in the last seven years, his government had committed a lot into ensuring that the state remained peaceful, urging citizens to support him to complete his tenure that would end January 2024.
The governor appealed to the Chief Imam of Ebiraland, Sheikh Salihu Abere, to use his position and unite the people irrespective of belief, urging him not to allow anybody to detract him from the performance of his functions as religious leader.
The Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, HRH Dr. Ado Ibrahim, who had earlier arrived the Eid ground with the governor, commended him for developing the state. Abere, in his sermon, reminded Muslims to get closer to God through intensive prayer to enable them enjoy divine favour.
