Taiwo Ogunniyi
The Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Mai-Martaba Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR has urged Muslim ummah to sustain their religious obligations of living in peace and harmony with fellow human beings.
He urged them to desist from actions that can bring about disunity among members of the society.
Alhaji Sulu-Gambari stated this in his sallah message delivered shortly after the two rakat prayer marking the end of the glorious month of Ramadan 1444AH at the Ilorin Central Yidi praying ground.
While congratulating the Governor of Kwara State, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of this year’s Eid-el-Fitr celebration, the Emir said: “I pray that Allah continue to guide and protect him in the course of steering the ship of the state for the second term.”
He added that the people of Ilorin Emirate and beyond should be security conscious by being vigilant at all times even as he congratulated them and security agents for the security arrangements made during the last general election.
The monarch also disclosed that a powerful committee has being inaugurated tagged: “Eid Praying Ground Development & Management Committee with the Zanna of Ilorin, Engr. Yusuf Lanre Sagaya as its chairman.
“The committee has started work in earnest and we are confident that they will perform wonderfully insha Allah. May Allah guide the committee aright in this arduous task”, the Emir added.
He however prayed for safe return for all those who went for the holy pilgrimage of Ummrah, quick recovery for the sick and prayed Allah to forgive the dead and also give their families the courage and fortitude to bear the great loss.
Earlier in his sermon, the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheikh Dr Muhammad Bashir Imam-Soliu OON, admonished Muslims to remain committed to teachings of Allah and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) at all times even after the month of Ramadan.
Meanwhile, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has earlier, congratulated the Muslim community on the completion of Ramadan and the dawn of Eid-el-fitri.
In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye and made available to newsmen in Ilorin
on Thursday, the Governor urged the faithful to imbibe the lessons and spirits of the fasting month and let the same henceforth guide their conduct in the society.
AbdulRazaq, who is away in Saudi Arabia to perform the lesser Hajj (Umrah), specifically congratulated the Emir of Ilorin and leader of the faithful Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari on the occasion of the Eid, praying God to grant the first class monarch more rewarding years in good health.
The statement added: “I wish everyone a blessed Eid, and pray Allah to accept and reward our fasting, our alms, and our worship with Al-jannah Firdaus. I pray Allah to accept our prayers on ourselves, our families, our communities, and our country, Nigeria. We beseech Him to grant us peace and harmony, and give all the leaders (incumbent and incoming) the guidance to move our country to greater heights,” the statement said.
“Similarly, in the spirit of the holy month, I urge our compatriots to forgive one another, put behind us all pre-election grudges, and support all government’s initiatives to build and consolidate peace in every part of Nigeria, as well as build a stronger economy in an atmosphere of love and harmony. This is our country; we have a task to make it work with our collective efforts, commitment, and good attitude, keeping in mind that no society is without its struggles.”
Also, The Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Engr. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu rejoiced with Muslims, as faithfuls celebrate the end of Ramadan and commencement of Shawwal culminating into the Ediul Fitr 1444AH.
Rt. Hon. Engr. Danladi-Salihu in his Eidul fitr greetings to the Muslim faithfuls in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Sheu Abdulkadir Yusuf harped on the need to sustain the reflection and practice of the essence and lesson of the holy month which he noted would make the world a better place for all irrespective of religious affiliation.
“Eid Mubarak to the good people of Kwara state especially my Muslim brothers and sisters as we complete the spiritual journey of the holy months of Ramadan. The sacred month is gone what’s left for us as Muslims is to sustain the practice of the lessons the month of Ramadan taught us, we should continue to tolerate and show love and kindness to one another, be our brother’s keeper and increase our acts of ibaadah especially sacrifice and alms giving to the needy”, the speaker noted.
“In the same token, we should also not forget to remember our dear nation and state; Nigeria and Kwara in prayers for more breakthrough in socioeconomic, security and other aspects of development, our leaders too should be remembered for Allah’s divine guidance for them to pilot our affairs to a promise land so that in the end, we can have cause to glorify and give thanks to Allah”.
“May this special day bring us all joy, happiness, and prosperity. Eid Mubarak!”, Rt. Hon. Danladi-Salihu concluded.
