As Ramadan Begins Today, Jonathan, Others Urge Re-dedication To Allah

As Muslims worldwide begin a month-long fasting today, being the first day of the holy month of Ramadan, President Goodluck Jonathan has implored all adherents of the Islamic faith in Nigeria to take advantage of this year’s Ramadan fast to offer special prayers during the period for greater peace, security, unity and rapid socio-economic development in the country.

In a statement by his special adviser on media and publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, Jonathan saluted the Muslim brothers in the country “as they join the global Islamic community in undergoing the spiritual purification of Ramadan”.

“The president calls on all Nigerians, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, to strive to imbibe in greater measure, the virtues of piety, self-discipline, tolerance, equity, fairness and sympathy for the less privileged which the Ramadan fast promotes,” Abati added.

President Jonathan also urges all persons of the faith who may have been misled by extremists and agents of international terrorism into taking up arms against their fellow countrymen, women and children to re-open their minds, during this Ramadan season, to Islam’s true lessons of love and peaceful co-existence with others.

“The President prays that God Almighty will grant the prayers of the faithful during Ramadan, reward them bountifully and grant Nigeria greater peace, security, unity and national harmony. He wishes the Muslim community a successful and spiritually gratifying Ramadan fast.”

Tambuwal sues for peace, unity in Nigeria

For his part, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, yesterday also said the Islamic holy month of Ramadan should be used to pray for peace, unity and progress of Nigeria.

In a statement by his special adviser on media and public affairs, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal said service and good governance could only make meaning when those in positions of authority see themselves as leaders with responsibility to serve the people.
He enjoined Nigerians to increase their worship by abstaining from the physical pleasures of this life and seek blessings from the Almighty God.

The speaker said that the holy month provided the opportunity for Nigerians, especially the Muslim faithful, to rededicate themselves to the pursuit of the common good of Nigerians.
“Unless and until we insist on what is right for the overall good of our people, our quest for good governance and its derivatives may remain elusive to us a nation,” he said.

Tambuwal urged Nigerians to dedicate their time to acts of worship in order to enjoy maximum favour from the Almighty God.
“We must use this holy period to love one another, sacrifice for the overall growth and development of the nation, and cooperate with constituted authorities for the attainment of our national goals,” Tambuwal said.

 Al-Makura urges Muslims to re-dedicate themselves to Allah
Also, Governor Tanko Al-Makura of  Nasarawa State has urged Muslims to use the holy month of Ramadan to re-dedicate themselves to Allah and reflect on his injunctions in dealing with the people.
This is contained in a statement signed by the senior special assistant on media and press affairs to the governor, Mr Sani Mairiga,  and issued on Tuesday in Abuja.
The statement urged Muslims to reflect Allah’s injunctions in their dealings with fellow citizens and the government.

It added that the fasting period taught all devoted Muslims the virtues of discipline, honesty and sympathy in their relationship with fellow human beings.
“It is important for all Muslims to display these virtues in their daily endeavours.

“Those who are fasting should present themselves to other citizens as a model of good mannerism. That is the essence of Ramadan.
“The denials that Muslims will experience during the next one month should forever make us be law-abiding, honest, patient, maintain good relationship with fellow citizens and perform our civic responsibilities as good citizens of this great country.”

Al-Makura also advised religious leaders to use the period to preach unity and co-operation among Nigerians who belong to different religions so that peace would continue to reign supreme in Nasarawa and the entire nation.
The governor urged Muslims to use the period of fasting to pray to Almighty Allah for a quick resolution of security challenges currently confronting the nation.
According to him, no meaningful development will take place without peace.

``We must be our brothers’ keepers and eschew acts capable of causing trouble; we are all equal before our Creator and Allah in his wisdom has made us live together irrespective of tribal or religious differences,’’ it said.

Use Ramadan period to alleviate poverty, Gov Ahmed charges Muslims
The Kwara State governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, has also charged the Muslim Ummah to use the holy month to do more for the less-privileged members of the society .

This, he said will close the ever-increasing wide gap between the rich and the poor.
In his Ramadan message to Muslims, Ahmed also urged them to intensify their prayers for the continued peace and unity of the country especially with the security challenges across the country.
Fasting, the governor recalled, was made compulsory for all able Muslims by Almighty Allah, as a golden opportunity to move closer to God and desist from all forms of wrongdoing.

Ahmed enjoined family heads to make adequate provision for their households during the fasting period, pointing out that bountiful blessings from Allah awaits such family heads for doing so in the holy month.
He advised all wealthy Muslims to appreciate the pains of hunger by donating generously to the less privileged in this holy month of Ramadan, noting that the reward for this is enormous from Almighty Allah.
He congratulated the entire Muslim community in the state for being alive to witness the commencement of the Ramadan fast and reminded them that whatever good deeds they do in the holy month would be rewarded in multiple folds.

Estu Nupe admonishes Islamic scholars against provocative preaching
Meanwhile, Etsu Nupe Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar has urged all Islamic leaders and scholars to use the period to preach peace and adherence to the Islamic injunctions and avoid provocative preaching.
In his Ramadan message issued yesterday in Bida, the royal father said rather than provocative preaching, the fasting period should be used to pray for national development and progress.

According to the Etsu Nupe, who is also the chairman of Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Muslims should be encouraged to pray for sustained unity and integration  of the country devoid of any security breach.
“Fasting is not only for abstaining from drinking and eating but also a time to emulate what Prophet Muhammad SWA was sent by Almighty Allah to come and do, as well as preach,’’ he said.

July 10, 2013