Senate President Ahmad Lawan and governors have called on Muslims in Nigeria to sue for greater unity and tolerance among all Nigerians.
They made the call in separate messages to felicitate with the Muslim Ummah on the occasion of the Eid-el Maulud, which commemorates the birth of Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
Lawan, in a statement by his media aide, Ola Awoniyi, said, “Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) set clear examples through his life of piety and fervent worship of Allah for all true Muslims to emulate at all times.
“Doing so is particularly important now that these virtues are required for healing our land and strengthening our bond as humans, people of faith and Nigerians.
A former deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, urged Nigerians to close ranks and also be their brothers’ keepers in order to move the nation forward.
“It is only by doing so that we can overcome and move our country forward on the path of peace, security, and prosperity, and development,” Ekweremadu was quoted as saying in a statement by his media aide, Uche Anichukwu.
Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State said the selfless service of Prophet Muhammed should serve as a unifying factor to all Muslims and a lesson to humanity.
Ayade said, “The virtues of service and exemplary leadership as demonstrated by the Prophet Muhammed should be imbibed by all mankind,” urging Muslims to pray for peace and progress of the country.
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and his Bauchi counterpart, Bala Mohammed, charged Muslims in the country to advance the cause of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence in spite of the ethnic, religious and political differences of Nigerians.
“As we celebrate this year’s Eid-el Maulud, I wish to appeal for sober reflection and self-evaluation by all with a view to knowing how well we related with our creator and fellow human beings during the last one year and make amendments where necessary,” Governor Mohammed said.
By Abdullateef Salau, Eyo Charles (Calabar), Victor Edozie (Port Harcourt) & Hassan Ibrahim (Bauchi)
