President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), joined the Muslim faithful to observe Juma’at prayers.
His spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement, noted that the president attended the Friday prayers at Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed The First Mosque, where prayers were said for the repose of the soul of the late president of the UAE, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
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He stated that President Buhari was accompanied by members of the Nigerian delegation, who are on a condolence and congratulatory visit to the Middle East country, following the death of Sheikh Khalifa and the subsequent election of his successor, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
He stated that prayers were offered for the success of the new president, the vice president, the crown prince and his brothers, and the rulers of the emirate.
The statement added, “In a sermon titled: ‘Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the loss of the nation,” read at all the Friday mosques across the country, the chief imam of the mosque, Sheikh Ali Alhamoudi, expressed gratitude to God for the life and legacies of the late president.
“He described the late president as a forerunner in charitable works and humanitarian initiatives, saying that through his efforts, numerous mosques and hospitals were built; schools and universities were founded, while cities and institutions were established.
“On the new leadership, the imam said that Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was chosen by the emirate and its rulers, its sheikhs and people, bearing the great trust of the nation and the great responsibility to lead the UAE towards global leadership.”
