As Muslims all over the world celebrate Eid-el-Kabir, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged Nigerians to embrace the values of sacrifice, obedience, and faith in their daily lives.
The Christian body also urged them to set aside their differences and heed the call for unity and peace for a better Nigeria.
This was as the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Abubakar, called on leaders to intensify efforts in finding solutions to the economic and security challenges facing the country.
In a massage, yesterday, in Abuja, the CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, called on all Nigerians to embrace peace, love, forgiveness and pray for divine intervention in national struggles and strive towards building a united and prosperous Nigeria.
According to Okoh, Nigeria is in dire need of God’s mercy, peace and unity, adding that in the face of present challenges, citizens must unite in love, forgiveness and reconciliation.
The CAN president appealed to the Muslim faithful to remember that “the nation deeply needs God’s mercy, peace and unity,” stressing the need to work together to build a Nigeria where all citizens can thrive, regardless of religion or tribe.
He said, “Our diversity is strength and, together, we can overcome any obstacle. Let us pray for divine intervention in our security, economic and political struggles. May God’s comfort and strength support the displaced, the bereaved and the traumatised during this festival symbolising sacrifice, obedience and faith.
“I, on behalf of CAN, extend warm felicitations to our Muslim brothers and sisters. Let us remember the displaced, bereaved and traumatised, offering them our support and solidarity.”
The Sultan made the call in his Sallah message at his palace in Sokoto when thousands of Muslim Ummah gathered to pay him homage.
After the prayers, the Sultan addressed the Muslim faithful at his palace where he called on leaders to intensify efforts to fix the nation’s economy and fight the rising insecurity to enable access to their farm and end hunger in the country.
Chief Imam of the Sultan Bello Mosque, Malamin Akwara, led the two-unit prayers at the Sokoto Central Eid Ground, where the Sultan of Sokoto, the Sokoto deputy dovernor and other top government officials observed the Eid prayers to mark this year’s celebration.
He also advised well-to-do individuals to assist the less privileged members of the society.
In a related development, residents of Gwiwa Eka, a suburb of Sokoto metropolis were full of praise for the Labour Party (LP) Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, for donating a cow for the Salah celebration.
A resident, Adamu Abdulrahaman, who spoke on behalf of the Sallah meat beneficiaries, expressed their gratitude to Obi, for putting smiles on their faces.