President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Muslims in Nigeria and beyond on this year’s Eid-el-Maulud celebration, charging them to live by the teachings of Prophet Muhammad.
The President, in a statement on Tuesday, said beyond celebrating the day marking the birthday of the Holy Prophet, the period should be used for deep introspection and fervent prayers.
“Adherents should make deliberate efforts to adhere to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad. There are great lessons of devotion, perseverance, tolerance, humility and selflessness that we can all learn from the life of the Prophet,” the President said.
President Tinubu urged religious leaders to use the period to pray for the country and to admonish their followers to take the appropriate lessons from Prophet Muhammad’s life in their commitment to the country.
“Nigeria has arrived at an important juncture. While the government is taking all necessary measures to make the country secure and economically viable, we need the full support of the citizenry in the form of patriotism, patience, and prayers. The light is certainly bright at the end of the tunnel,” the President affirmed.
President Tinubu also urged Muslims celebrating the Maulud festival to extend their hand of fellowship to the needy and vulnerable in the spirit of the season while praying for the country and her leaders at all levels.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has also congratulated Muslims as they celebrate this year’s Eid-el-Maulud, which marks the birth of Prophet Muhammad.
The Governor implored Nigerians, particularly the Muslim faithful to continue on the path of love, peace, unity, harmony and tolerance in line with the teachings of the Holy Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).
Governor Sanwo-Olu in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, also called on Muslims to work with other religious denominations for peace and sustainable growth and development of Lagos State.
He said, “I rejoice with millions of people around the world, particularly Muslim brothers and sisters in Lagos State and Nigeria on the occasion of this year’s Eid-el-Maulud, which is the celebration of the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
“As we celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad today, let us continue to pray and work together for peace in our dear Lagos State and Nigeria. Let us contribute our quota to the growth and development of Lagos State by supporting the incumbent administration to achieve the Lagos of our dreams.
“I want to use this medium to reassure Lagos residents of our administration’s commitment to the delivery of dividends of democracy, good governance and people-oriented programmes through the THEMES+ developmental agenda for Greater Lagos.”
Similarly, Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has called on the Muslim Ummah in Oyo State to continue to pray for the leadership of the country and the state.
The governor made this call on Tuesday, while congratulating Muslims in the state and across the country on the occasion of the 2023 Eid-el-Maulud, the festival commemorating the birth of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Governor Makinde, who charged the Muslim Ummah to use the blessedness of the occasion to seek the face of Allah for the country and Oyo State, commended them for their support for his administration.
He said: “I congratulate my brothers and sisters in Islam on witnessing the 12th of Rabi’ al-Awwal, the blessed day in which the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) was born.
“This is another opportunity for us to reflect on the majesty of Allah and the favour He bestowed on Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) among all his prophets and to use the blessings of the period to make supplications for our country and our state.
“As an administration, we value the support and prayers of the Muslim Ummah in Oyo State and we have continued to see the results of their prayers.
“As we move on in our efforts to develop our state sustainably, we will continue to need the prayers and support and we will never take them for granted.
“Eid Mubarak to everyone.”
The Federal Government has declared today, September 27, 2023, as a public holiday.
This is to mark the Eid-ul-Mawlid celebration and the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad.
The announcement was made in a statement on Monday by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Oluwatoyin Akinlade.
She noted that the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, urged Nigerians to be tolerant.
The statement partly read, “The Minister congratulates all Muslim faithful both home and in the diaspora for witnessing this year’s occasion.
“His admonition to Nigerians is to imbibe the spirit of love, patience, tolerance and perseverance which are deep spiritual virtues that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) exemplified
“Tunji-Ojo also urged Nigerians, especially our youths, to embrace the virtues of hard work and peaceful disposition toward fellow humans, irrespective of faith, ideology, social class, and ethnicity, and join hands with President Bola Tinubu’s administration in its effort to build a progressive and enviable Nation that all citizens will be proud of.”