Four state governors on Saturday sent solidarity messages to the country’s Muslim faithful ahead of the Eid-el-Fitri celebration holding today, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, in his Eid-el-Fitri message in Ado-Ekiti, congratulated the Muslim faithful on the completion of the 30-day fast, stressing that the spiritual exercise had drawn them closer to Allah.

Dr. Fayemi, who is the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, admonished Muslims to put the teachings of the holy month to good use in all undertakings.

He urged Muslims and adherents of other religions to live in love, peace and harmony with one another as brothers and sisters.

While noting that Ramadan was a season of discipline and sacrifice, the governor urged them to celebrate Eid-el-Fitr with modesty in view of the ravaging coronavirus pandemic which has disrupted socio- economic and religious activities globally.

He stressed that prayers by the faithful are needed more than ever for God’s intervention even as the world looks forward to a medical breakthrough for a cure for the deadly coronavirus.

Governor Fayemi also urged citizens to cooperate with government by adhering to restriction orders and other guidelines for the COVID-19 containment; saying that success would be achieved in the fight against the pandemic with the cooperation of all and sundry.

Fayemi who commended Muslims in the state for their unflinching support for his administration through prayers, counsel and active participation in governance, urged them not to relent in contributing to the religious harmony being enjoyed in the State.

He urged adherents of all religions in the state to join the government in promoting peace and orderliness and in restoring the core values of honesty, honour, hard work for which the state was renowned.

“On behalf of the government and Ekiti kete, I congratulate the Muslim Ummah on the Eid-el- Fitri celebration, and pray that Almighty Allah will accept our prayers, grant all our heart desires and preserve our lives to witness many more celebrations.”, the Governor added.

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State in his message to the Muslim community in the country commended them for their resilience, dedication, patience and self-sacrifice in the face of the coronavirus pandemic challenge ravaging the global community, and urged the Muslims to depend solely on God in all situations.

Uzodimma said God has been merciful to Nigeria and Nigerians and advised the Muslim faithful to remain steadfast in their prayer for a one united, peaceful and prosperous country.

The Governor said this year’s Eid-el-Fitr ceremony which seemed “marred” by the Covid-19 has provided an opportunity for the Muslim faithful to reflect deeply on the awesomeness of God in the face of predicament and the need for mankind to subject themselves to the sovereignty of God Almighty.

Uzodimma, therefore, advised the Muslim faithful to use this period of Eid-el-Fitr to remember the vulnerable, weak, and needy in our midst and show them love.

He also encouraged the Muslim faithful to pray for the leadership in our country so that they will be God-fearing and work in the interest of the society.

The Oyo State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, expressed gratitude to Muslims and residents of the state for remaining steadfast despite the situation imposed on the state by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The governor equally rallied them to use the auspicious occasion of the Eid-el-Fitri to make supplications for themselves, the state and Nigeria.

A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted Makinde as saying that it was regrettable that Muslims in the state and across the country cannot observe Eid-el-Fitri prayer at the Eid Praying Grounds, due to restrictions occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He, however, charged them to see the situation as “part of the sacrifice we all have to make at this time,” saying: “It is gratifying to note that we are concluding this year’s Ramadan on a good note.

“Despite the current COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the whole world, the Almighty Allah allowed Muslims in Oyo State to join the Muslim Ummah in making supplications for the forgiveness of our sins.

“I remain grateful to my Muslim brothers and sisters and residents of the state for remaining steadfast despite the situation imposed on us by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Governor Makinde sought for the continued support and cooperation of the Muslim Ummah and all residents of the state in adhering to the COVID-19 protocol such as wearing of face masks, observing social distancing, regular washing of hands and eating of immune-boosting foods and others, as directed by the Oyo State COVID-19 Task Force.

He promised to continue to make life more meaningful to all residents of the state, reiterating his administration’s commitment to the socio-economic transformation and the infrastructural revolution currently going on in the state.

“On the part of this pacesetter government, I solemnly promise that we shall continue to make life more meaningful to all the people of Oyo State through policies and programmes that are godly and humane.

“As we look forward to an end to the current gloom and a return to normalcy, let us continue to work together for the safety, wellbeing and prosperity of our state.

“Once again, I felicitate our Muslim brothers and sisters and our community,” the governor said.

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, prayed God to reward and grant the supplications of the faithful. He however called on Muslims to observe their Eid prayers at home as the ban on large social and religious gatherings – as is typical of the end of Ramadan prayers – remains in place as part of the measures to curtail the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

“We congratulate our Muslim brethren on the successful completion of Ramadan fasting, and pray the Almighty Allah to accept it as an act of worship, forgive our excesses, grant all our supplications during and after the holy month, and gift us long life and good health to observe several Ramadan in the best state of faith in God,” the Governor said on Saturday in a statement by his spokesman Rafiu Ajakaye.

“Ramadan was a time of complete and sincere submission to the will of God. It served to purify our souls and train us to be discipline, selfless, and conscious of our creator. We beseech Kwarans and indeed Nigerians to internalise the takeaways and let them guide our daily existence for the sake of humanity.

“As the fast ends today, we repeat that the 2020 Ramadan came at an extraordinary time of human existence during which we are to temper certain rights and privileges to preserve the human race against the ravaging deadly Corona Virus (COVID-19). To that extent, there shall be no large gathering for congregational Eid prayer or other large social gatherings in Kwara State this year. For emphasis, all religious places remain shut until further notice. All malls and related places are to prevent such conditions or interactions that can spread the virus. All of these are in line with the COVID-19 safety protocols which have been designed solely to flatten the curve of transmission and protect the people.”

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