President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has felicitated Muslims on this year’s Eid-al-Fitri, which marks the conclusion of the month of fasting – the Holy month of Ramadan.
Tinubu’s wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, also extended greetings to her constituents in the Lagos Central district which she has been representing in the upper legislative chamber since 2011.
The President-elect thanked Allah for the grace to witness this year’s celebration, expressing the fact that, for Muslims in Nigeria and all over the world, Ramadan is a sacred spiritual obligation being one of the five pillars of Islam. “With the help of Almighty Allah, we have gone through a period of abstinence, self-discipline, self-reflection, self-purification in gratitude and total submission to the will of Allah,” he said.
He further said: “Beyond the self-abnegation and pious living that the fasting period imposed on us, the spiritual exercise we just concluded has also helped us to improve on our moral character, refine our minds in pursuit of higher ideals for which there should be no turning back.
“At the heart of our faith and a major demand on all faithful is the requirement to commit ourselves to wholesome living. This entails love for one another, love for fellow humans regardless of creed, region and ethnicity, love for our communities and love for country.
“To love one another, have compassion, empathy and love our beloved country means we must become better citizens in line with the teachings of Prophet Muhammed.
“We must constantly seek to become a better version of ourselves in patriotism, dedication to duty and honesty. We must also never be weary of doing what is right, fair and just to all.
“We are at the dawn of a Renewed Hope for a better, greater and a more prosperous Nigeria and I stand ready to walk with all Nigerians, young and old, male and female, with this opportunity to serve you in honour and dignity. This is a commitment that I have made and one in which we cannot afford to fail.
“I wish all Muslims in Nigeria and beyond happy Sallah celebration”.
Mrs Tinubu, who is a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, centred her message on “Embracing Diversity, Celebrating Unity”.
Celebrating with Muslim faithful in her constituency and all over Nigeria, she saluted women, “who worked tirelessly to cater to the needs of their families and communities during the odd hours in Ramadan”, and urged the youth, who she described as “the future of our country”, to realise that Nigeria required their “energy, creativity, and innovation to drive our nation forward”.
She said that the holy month is a period of “self-discipline, commitment, reflection and absolute trust in God”.
Mrs Tinubu further said: “Beyond the Ramadan, it is however important to carry on these virtues into our everyday lives, continually praying for our loved ones and for peace and prosperity of our nation, Nigeria.
“During the holy month of Ramadan, we have learnt the values of empathy, patience, and resilience. These are virtues that are much needed in our society today, even as we eagerly await the Renewed Hope era, let us draw on the lessons. I urge all of us, to embrace these values as we move beyond this month.
“To our women, I urge you to be strong, resilient, and supportive of one another. Let us continue to work towards gender equity and the empowerment of women in all spheres of life.
“To our youth, I say that you are the future of our country, and we need your energy, creativity, and innovation to drive our nation forward.
“As a nation, we have faced many challenges in recent years, therefore, as we move forward, let us remember the importance of unity and solidarity in overcoming these challenges and building a brighter future for ourselves and our children.
“Eid-al-Fitr, with its focus on harmony, mutual respect and understanding, is a fitting occasion to affirm this commitment, and to celebrate the values that make us who we are. As we celebrate, let us all come together as one community, irrespective of our differences. Let us spread love, celebrate our diversity as we work together to build a more peaceful, prosperous, and inclusive society.
“May this Eid bring you joy, happiness, and blessings.
“May this Eid bring you joy, happiness, and blessings”.
