President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has sent out a message of congratulations to Muslims in Nigeria for the successful end of 30 days Ramadan fast.

He also wished them all the blessings as they celebrate the feast of Eid El Fitri.

Akpabio’s congratulatory message was contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh.

“On behalf of my family, the people of Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District and indeed the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I heartily rejoice with all the Muslims in Nigeria as they join their counterparts in other parts of the world to celebrate Eid El Fitri.

“I wish all of you a peaceful and sweet celebration and pray the Almighty God to grant your heart desires”.

The Senate President urged Muslims to continue to offer prayers for peace, unity and prosperity of Nigeria saying, “Islam is a religion of peace and if its adherents go to God in prayer with sincerity, He will surely answer.

“I therefore ask you to pray for your leaders and the peace and unity of our dear country. I believe with your prayers, Nigeria will overcome its current challenges.

“Wherever you find yourselves, radiate the peace that Islam preaches and the love and care for the less privileged that Prophet Muhammad exemplified”

The Senator Representing Kogi East Senatorial District, Isah Jibrin (Echocho), has sent a message of felicitations to Muslim faithful on the successful completion of this year’s Ramadan fast.

Special adviser on Media to the senator, Mikail Ibrahim in a statement quoted the senator to have urged the Muslims to celebrate the Sallah in love, and unity across all communities.

Echocho who described the Ramadan period as being stressful said it is deserving, because it is the only period for spiritual reflection on the need to mortify the flesh in sincere sacrifice and supplications to Allah.

He added that, Ramadan symbolises Allah’s way of teaching humanity on virtuous living, where people keep away from all forms of comfort to appreciate what the less privileged experience and deprivation they suffer daily.
He tasked Muslims to extend the lessons of Ramadan to their daily lives and their relationship with their neighbours.
“Let’s seek peace at all times and promote unity of purpose in our society” the Lawmaker demanded.

He prayed that the celebration may usher in sustainable peace every home, Kogi East Senatorial District, Kogi State and Nigeria at large.

***Preaches Peaceful Coexistence, Unity.

By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.

SULTAN of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III has urged Nigerians to pray for their leaders rather than curse them as he tasked them on unity and peaceful coexistence for the growth and development of Nigeria.

Sultan Abubakar made the call on Saturday in Lokoja while inaugurating the “Alhaji Abdullahi Habib Memorial Mosque”, at Federal University Lokoja (FUL), built and donated by a widow, Dr Maimuna Abdullahi.

The Sultan who was represented by the Emir of Keffi, HRH Shehu Chindo-Yamusa said that as patriotic citizens, “We should fervently pray for our leaders and not curse them so that they don’t go astray to our detriment as a nation.

“We should learn to always respect our leaders and the rule of law for the nation to have a direction for better living.

“This edifice or place of worship (sitting on 150m x 250 expanse of land) is built and donated by a family that loves God and desires for others to know and worship Him for their wellbeing.

“It’s my prayer that God will handsomely reward the Habib family and give others the passion and zeal to do same for the benefit of mankind”, he said.

Earlier in his welcome address, Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi, Vice Chancellor of the University described the inauguration of the mosque as a historic moment in the annals of the institution.

He expressed the hope that the mosque would serve as “a testament to our shared commitment to knowledge, compassion and service to humanity.”

“The commissioning of the mosque today is but a historic moment in the annals of this university, and the Muslim community will observe daily religious obligations that will foster the unity of all faiths in the university.

“Quran chapter 57 verse 18 says: “For those who give in charity, men, and women, and loan to Allah a beautiful loan, it shall be increased manifold (to their credit), and they shall have (besides) a liberal reward”

“This explains the circumstance of Dr Memuna Abdullahi our benefactor, who in her wisdom, decided to build and donate this mosque in memory of her late husband, Squadron Leader Abdullahi Habib.

“I remain grateful to God Almighty that this project was initiated and completed under my tenure in the University. May God continue to bless the family of the donor for finding Federal University Lokoja worthy of this gesture”, Akinwumi said.

Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, Registrar of Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB), In his Keynote address, commended the family of the donor saying that the importance of the donated Jumaat Mosque in an University environment could not be over emphasized.

Represented by the Director of Legal Services of the organization, Abdulwahap Oyedokun, the JAMB Registrar said that the gesture would benefit the University community tremendously as it would go a long way in impacting useful knowledge and enhance “spiritual moulding.”

For the donor, Dr Abdullahi, the Mosque was a dream come true as it was the wish of her late husband who died on the 31st of October, 2021 leaving the instruction for her and the children to accomplish.

She disclosed that the mosque was the third and biggest of the three mosques the family has so far built and donated in Kogi as the family’s own way of giving back to God and the society.

“Today, we have have equally donated 75 copies of Qur’an to this very mosque located in FUL as our gesture in the service of God.

“This gesture is just the beginning and not an end to our resolve as a family in serving the Almighty God”, she said. (Ends)