Senate President Bukola Saraki,
House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara stressed the importance of
prayer in the development of the country yesterday.
They spoke in their
congratulatory messages to Muslims across the world on the successful
completion of this year’s Ramadan fast and the celebration of Eid-el-Fitri.
Mark, who spoke in a statement by
his Media Adviser Yusuph Olaniyonu, urged Muslim faithful should intensify
prayers for unity, peace and progress in Nigeria.
He urged Muslims to adhere to one
of the injunctions of Allah that formed the basis of sermons delivered in
various mosques during the holy month that all citizens should pray for their
leaders and their nation for divine guidance.
The statement reads: “At this
point in our national life, unity among all the different ethnic and religious
groups will usher in peace and peace will engender progress and development.
“We therefore need to learn to
live together in peace, tolerate one another and eschew actions which can
threaten the peace of the nation.
“Muslims, in particular, should
continue to demonstrate the fact that the meaning of Islam is peace and
therefore we should learn to live in peace with people of other faith and
tolerate one another.
“We should also remember our
fellow citizens in the North eastern part of the country who are being assailed
by insurgents who call themselves Boko Haram.”
Saraki urged all Nigerians to
pray for the military in the war against the insurgents so that by the period
of the next Ramadan, peace would have been totally restored to the whole of the
Northeast and other parts of Nigeria.”
Also yesterday, Speaker Dogara
urged Nigerians to be optimistic of a better tomorrow despite the harsh economic climate in the
land.
His deputy, Yussuf, also appealed
for understanding as the President Mohammadu Buhari administration and the APC
unfold plans on how to move the nation forward.
Felicitating with Muslim
faithful, Dogara called on all Nigerians not to relent in prayers for the
peace, unity and development of the country.
In the statement by his Media
Adviser Turaki Hassan, the Speaker urged Nigerians, especially Muslims, to use
the Sallah period to pray for the country to overcome the multifaceted
challenges facing it.
It reads: “He said that, more
than ever before, the present crop of leaders are coming at a very difficult
time when the country`s economy is in bad shape, and worsened by dwindling
revenues, as leaders, we are ready and prepared to make the necessary sacrifice
and lead by example.
“The Speaker maintained that
recent happenings in the country, especially the renewed attacks by the Boko
Haram in the Northeast are source of concern, nonetheless, he expressed hope
that Nigeria will surely over come.”
Dogara described the resurgence
of bombings of worship places by the insurgents as “last kicks of a dying horse
and that it will soon be a thing of the past”.
Commending President Muhammadu
Buhari for the recent shake-up in the military high command with the appointment
of new Service chiefs, Dogara promised the National Assembly’s support to
ensure adequate funding and kitting of the military and other security
agencies.
Yussuf’s media aide said the
deputy speaker has a strong belief that only unity that can bring about growth
and development to the nation.
A statement by Oladimeji reads:
“The deputy speaker appealed to Nigerians be patient and allow the present
government unfolds its plans on how to move the nation forward.
“No meaningful development and
achievement could be made under a hostile atmosphere which leads to
instability.”
Senator Mark urged for ceaseless
prayer and genuine resolve by all
Nigerians in the war against insurgency in the country.
The former Senate President called on all men
of good will to rise to the challenge posed by the unabating terrorism being
orchestrated by Boko Haram insurgents.
Noting that the situation was pushing the
country to the extreme, Mark said: “There is no hiding place any more. We must face the reality of a war situation.
We either confront the monster headlong or get consumed.”
He bemoaned the agonies being
unleashed on Nigerians “especially in the Northeast region that has led to
millions of avoidable deaths, made our people refugees in their fatherland and
destroyed property worth millions of naira.
“I’m convinced that we can
overcome our challenges including insecurity if we come together in an honest,
sincere and committed manner. In these circumstances, we have no choice but to
come together and confront our problem in a holistic way.”
Credit: Nation
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