Sallah Message: Love Christians, Buhari urges Muslims

President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to Nigerian Muslims to love their Christian counterparts to enable him deliver his electoral promises to all the citizens of the country.
Buhari, who praised Nigerians for their resilience, promised to fix the economy to lessen the burden of the current hardship they face.
In a message to mark this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration, the President said that Nigerians have demonstrated enough capacity to weather the storm of economic recession, which he blamed on global trend and recklessness of past administrations.
The President said it was impossible to separate the present from the past to “appreciate the extent to which mistakes of the past were affecting everyday life today.”
Nonetheless, he gave his assurance that his government was working vigorously to redress the situation by tackling corruption, insecurity, providing infrastructure and encouraging the diversification of the national economy.
The message reads: “Fellow compatriots, as you celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir, I salute your steadfastness in spite of the difficult economic times the country is going through. The lessons of the Eid are piety and sacrifice and, my dear brothers and sisters, you have exhibited these in equal measure.
“The present recession is as a result of cumulative effects of worldwide economic downturn and failure in the past to plan and save for difficult times. It is impossible to separate the present from the past to appreciate the extent to which mistakes of the past are affecting everyday life today.
“I assure you that this administration is working round the clock to remove the hardships the country is going through. Rail and road constructions, projects in the housing sector, support for farmers and for small and medium scale industries, youth and women’s empowerment programmes and support for revival of industries are all designed to reinvigorate the economy and enhance living the standards of ordinary people.
“We are getting security right. We are stopping corruption in its tracks and we will get the economy right by the Grace of God.
“I enjoin Muslims to live by the dictates of Islam; to keep good relationships with their Christian brothers and sisters and as patriots, to maintain the spirit of the Nigerian nation. I wish everyone happy holidays.”
Also yesterday, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State urged Nigerians, especially Muslims, to take advantage of the period of the Eid-el-Kabir to offer special prayers for the peace and unity of the country.
Ugwuanyi, in a message to Muslims, noted that it was only through prayers and absolute faith in God that Nigeria can overcome her current socio-cultural and economic challenges.
The governor stressed the need for peaceful co-existence among Nigerians irrespective of their religious and ethnic differences, adding that the God, who brought us together as one entity, will certainly take the nation to the dreams of the it’s founding fathers.
He also urged Nigerians to love and appreciate one another and avoid all ungodly acts that could lead to disunity.
Similarly, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has said that despite the current economic challenges confronting the country, there’s hope that measures put in place by the Federal Government will yield positive results and return Nigeria to the path of growth and financial stability.
Tambuwal, in a message to commemorate this year’s Eid-el-Kabir, said the reforms instituted by the APC-led Federal Government were designed to start the journey to the country’s development and self-reliance.
“We may be facing tough challenges now, but I believe they are just for the short-term. Measures put in place by the government will have positive impact in the medium and long-term. This administration has shown a strong will to diversify the economy and reduce reliance on oil. That measure has started yielding results,” he said.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, his deputy, Hon. Sulaimon Lasun and former National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday all called for peaceful co-existence among the citizens, irrespective of tribe, religion and party affiliation.
Dogara, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan, called on the Muslim faithful to use the period for sober reflection and to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice for peace, unity and progress of the country.
The Speaker noted that peaceful co-existence and understanding, as well as sustained prayers among citizens were essential in the face of the current economic and security challenges in the country which are not insurmountable.
Lasun, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Wole Oladimeji, appealed to the Muslim faithful all over the country to reflect on the spirit of Eid-el-Kabir by being their brothers’ keeper.
Lasun called for patience and perseverance, especially in this period of economic recession.
He urged Muslims to emulate the practice of Prophet Mohammed (SWT) by extending hands of fellowship to friends and neighbours alike and pray for the improvement of our economy and to support the present administration.
Tukur, in his goodwill message to Muslims and other Nigerians, urged greater love and unity among Nigerians irrespective of religious inclination.
He appealed to the citizens to support the Federal Government “as we have no other country than Nigeria.”