As Muslims in Nigeria join others all over the world to mark the Maulud Nabiy, President Muhammadu Buhari has urged all citizens to use the occasion to reflect on the virtues of the Holy Prophet.
That, he said, should be by showing love and understanding for fellow citizens while exhibiting patience, honesty, sincerity, kindness and generosity in all their undertakings.
Also, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, rejoices with Nigerians, particularly the Muslim Ummah, on the occasion of this year’s Maulud Nabiyy
In a message to Muslims commemorating the birthday of Prophet Mohammed (SAW) which is being marked as public holiday, the president urged all citizens, and the youth in particular, to shun all negative tendencies as manifested in the recent hijacking of peaceful protests to loot and destroy public and private property.
He also reiterated his earlier promise to bring police officers responsible for misconduct as well as the looters to justice.
On the COVID-19 pandemic, Buhari, while noting that the country had so far managed the problem successfully by keeping the numbers as low as possible, however, cautioned that Nigerians must not stretch their luck too far.
“Looking at the trends in the other countries, we must do all we can to avert the second wave of the pandemic. We must make sure that our cases, which have gone down, do not rise again. Our economy is too fragile to bear another round of lockdown,” he said.
The president, therefore, advised all citizens to continue to observe the COVID-19 protocols of social distancing, wearing of face masks and washing of hands.
Also rejoicing with Nigerians on the occasion of Maulud Nabiy, Senate President Lawan noted that this year’s celebration came at a time that Nigeria was striving to restore law and order in the chastening aftermath of the #EndSARS protest.
“Our harrowing experience over the past few weeks underscores the need for us as a people of faith to imbibe and demonstrate in our every conduct the virtues of love, peace and tolerance which Prophet Mohammed personifies.
“This trying time requires our prayers and supplications to Allah to intervene to restore peace and love of neighbours to our land. However, it also requires of us introspection as to the roles we are playing as leaders and individual citizens in building the nation that we desire.
“Having made their points in their patriotic demands for better policing and political governance, and having secured the commitment of the government to addressing the issues that they have raised, I urge our youths to in the spirit of this occasion embrace peace and engage government through dialogue, as the corrections they seek can only manifest under a peaceful atmosphere,” Lawan said.
The Senate President reiterated the commitment of the ninth National Assembly to “the entrenchment of processes that will encourage our youths to tap their talents and pursue their dreams for the elevation of our great country.”
Lawan expressed confidence that “the trials we are going through will ultimately strengthen our bonds as citizens of the same nation and propel Nigeria to its great destiny.”
