Governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara) on Saturday felicitated with Muslims in the state and in the country as they join other faithful around the world to celebrate this year’s Eid-el-Kabir.

Fayemi in a goodwill message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, urged the Muslim Ummah to uphold the lessons of love, loyalty and sacrifice which form the foundation of the Eid-el- Kabir celebration, during and after the festivities.

Dr Fayemi also urged them to see the Eid-el-Kabir festival as an opportunity for sober reflection and spiritual renewal which Allah demands from the faithful.

While congratulating the Muslim faithful for witnessing another celebration, Governor Fayemi urged them to collaborate with adherents of other religions in the country in the quest for peace and progress.

He also urged them to keep praying for the country so that peace and stability will be restored in the troubled spots.

According to him, Nigerians need to imbibe the lessons of commitment, dedication and obedience to higher authority as demonstrated in Prophet Ibraheem’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to the word of God.

“It is only through love for one another and commitment to peace, security and stability that our country can progress.

“As we celebrate this year’s Eid-el- Kabir, it is important we remember our dear country and ask for divine intervention in the security situation as well as restoration of peace in the troubled areas.

“I extend warm greetings to the Muslim Ummah in Ekiti State and Nigeria as a whole as we celebrate this year’s Eid-el-Kabir festival. I believe the prayers of the faithful can get us the peace and prosperity our country needs,” the Governor added.

Ugwuanyi in his message enjoined all Nigerians to take advantage of the celebration to supplicate for enhanced peace, security and progress of the country.

He emphasised the significance of Eid-el-Kabir in strengthening the bond that binds the nation together, also urging Nigerians to embrace the virtues of love, charity and sacrifice as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Mohammed.

The Governor, in his Sallah Message, felicitated with President Muhammadu Buhari and other Muslim faithful, and wished them the guidance and blessings of Allah.

He reiterated that “the ultimate goal remains our collective ability to live in peace and harmony in a secure environment, to cherish one another irrespective of religious, ethnic and political differences, for sustainable development of the nation”.

Gov. Ugwuanyi wished all Nigerians a peaceful and pleasant celebration.

Makinde, while felicitating with Muslims, urged them to imbibe the virtues of Prophet Ibrahim, who, in obedience to God’s directive, was ready to sacrifice his only son.

He admonished the Muslim Ummah in the state to reflect on the significance of the celebration, which he said bordered on encouraging piety, sacrifice and love, noting that without these, no state or society could advance.

Governor Makinde stated these in a Sallah Message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Adisa.

“The significance of the season should be beyond the festivities. The real essence is to encourage piety, total commitment to Allah, self-discipline and sacrifice,” the Governor said.

The Governor further reiterated his administration's commitment to uplifting the state through the expansion of its economy and ensuring that the state reclaims its pace-setter status in different sectors.

Makinde, however, enjoined the Muslim faithful to use the Eid-el-Kabir period to pray for the peace, prosperity and stability of the state and the country, adding that for the state to prosper and reach its full potential, its people must contribute their quota through prayers and support for the leaders.

AbdulRazaq, on his part, called on the faithful to spend the holiday reflecting on the lessons of the season.

“The message of this season is that of sacrifice, selflessness, and total submission to the will of God as exemplified by not just Prophet Ibrahim, the father of all Abrahamaic faiths, but also Prophet Muhammad. As faithful, it is not enough to offer animals in sacrifice. We are in fact required to translate these qualities to our day-to-day living,” the Governor said in a Sallah message signed by his spokesman, Rafiu Ajakaye.

“We therefore call on all Kwarans to stay the course with us as we get down to the task of fixing our state. This definitely requires all of us to make sacrifice. It might also require us to adopt a new paradigm and forgo momentary gains for the larger interest of our state, especially the generations yet unborn.”

The Governor prayed to God to grant everyone a blessed Eid.

AbdulRazaq urged celebrants to think safety and modesty at all time, calling on all road users to respect speed limit and traffic signs to avoid accident.

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