By Rasheed Abubakar
* President calls for unity, compassion and respect for rule of law
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that there is nowhere in the holy teachings that supports banditry, violence or the killing of innocent human beings, urging Nigerians to embrace peace, tolerance and obedience to God during the Eid-ul-Adha celebration.
The President made the remark while speaking with journalists after observing the Eid prayer at Dodan Barracks in Lagos alongside Muslim faithful, top government officials and political associates on Wednesday, May 27.
“There is nowhere in the holy teachings that encourages banditry or the killing of fellow human beings,” Tinubu said.
The Eid prayer was led by the Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Engr. Sulaimon Abu-Nolla, who led the congregation in the two-rakat Eid prayer and delivered a sermon centred on sacrifice, righteousness, unity and peaceful coexistence.
Among those who joined the President at the prayer ground were his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola; Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa; Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat and other Muslim faithful.
Speaking further, Tinubu thanked Almighty Allah for granting Muslims the opportunity to witness another Eid-ul-Kabir celebration and urged citizens to reflect on the spiritual lessons of the season.
“We thank Almighty Allah for giving us the opportunity to witness another Eid Kabir. We must learn from the lessons of this season by sharing love and rejecting hatred and ethnic divisions. We should show generosity and compassion to one another in ways that reflect the values of our country and our shared humanity,” he said.
The President stressed the importance of tolerance, obedience to the will of Allah and respect for the rule of law as necessary ingredients for national peace and stability.
“It is important for us to be tolerant, obedient to the will of Allah and also respect the rule of law that guides our society,” he added.
Tinubu also reflected on the significance of the Eid sacrifice, saying it symbolises obedience, submission and divine mercy as demonstrated in the story of Prophet Ibrahim (AS).
“The sacrifice we are observing today reminds us of obedience and submission to Allah, where an animal was used to replace a child,” the President stated.
Eid-ul-Adha remains one of the most sacred celebrations in Islam, commemorating faith, sacrifice and total devotion to Almighty Allah.
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