Eid-el Fitr: Atiku, Lawan, Adeola, others preach tolerance, love, unity

Former Vice President of Nigeria and presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, has called on Nigerians to strengthen the bond of love despite religious differences, saying love is the prerequisite for binding unity in any diverse society like ours.

In his Eid-el Fitr message to mark the end of the month-long Ramadan fasting season by Muslims, the former Vice President appealed to Nigerians to develop the spirit of tolerance and respect towards one another, despite ethnic and religious differences.

“We should use religion as an instrument for creating unity, love and harmony rather than using it to feed hate and intolerance, which usually results in needless conflicts. Let’s not allow selfish politicians and people of bad faith to divide us and use us as fighting tools for their own sinister agendas,” Atiku stressed.

ON his part, Senate President Ahmad Lawan called on Muslims to imbibe the lessons of self-restraint, sacrifice, charity and sharing with their neighbours and the needy, which the holy month teaches.

Lawan, in his message, congratulated the Muslim Ummah for successful completion of Ramadan. He reminded Nigerians to continue to pray for security and peace in the country.

He said: “As Nigerians, let us engage in what is right and avoid whatever is forbidden by our faith, and be good representatives of our faith. We should continue to abhor whatever threatens peace and embrace whatever strengthens the unity of our nation.”

CHAIRMAN of the Senate Committee on Finance, Solomon Adeola, congratulated Muslim faithful on the successful conclusion of Ramadan.

In a message signed by his media adviser, Chief Kayode Odunaro, Adeola prayed that Almighty Allah would answer the supplication of adherents.

He expressed hope that the spiritual lessons of Ramadan and injunctions of the Holy Prophet on self-denial, love, peaceful co-existence, fairness and justice will continue in their daily lives and relations with people.

He also called on Muslims and other Nigerians to continue to pray against insecurity and ask wisdom for leaders to find lasting solution to killings, stressing that Islam is a religion of peace, love of Allah and fellow human beings.

ALSO, Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN) felicitated with Muslims, urging them to continue to reflect on lessons learnt. In a message, the national president, Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Balogun, said the lessons of self-restraint, sacrifice, charity, fear of Allah, devotion and love of mankind imbibed during the period must continue all year round.