He used the occasion to preach peace and
unity in the country, and warned against reckless statements capable of
causing disaffection in the country.
The president, in his message made
available to journalists by Senior Special Assistant to the President on
Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja, said he was grateful
to God for the successful completion of the Ramadan fast and prayed for
the long lasting effect of Ramadan lessons, urging the citizens to live
in unity and peace.
Today was declared as the eid-el-fitri
following the sighting of the moon yesterday in Saudi Arabia, Oman,
Malaysia and some other Arab countries.
Although India, Pakistan and Bangladesh
might be sighting the moon on Sunday, according to an Aljazeera report,
they commenced Ramadan on May 28, and as a result, Sunday would be the
29th of Ramadan for them.
But Turkey and Muslim communities in
North America, Europe and Australia had previously announced they would
celebrate Eid al-Fitr from Sunday June 25, based on astronomical
calculations.
Eid al-Fitr simply refers to “festival
of breaking the fast”, marking the end of the Muslim holy fasting month
of Ramadan. It is, therefore, an official holiday in all Muslim-majority
countries across the world.
Buhari, who spoke from London, the
United Kingdom, where he is presently observing his medical checkup,
noted that, “I am immensely grateful to God for his mercy in guiding us
successfully to conclude another Ramadan fast. My greetings to all
Nigerian Muslims and our brother Christians on the occasion of
Eid-el-Fitr! May the lessons of Ramadan namely piety, self-denial,
prayers and generosity to the poor and needy be with us for all time.
“I, again, appeal to all Nigerians to
avoid reckless statements or actions against our fellow countrymen. We
should all resolve to live in peace and unity in our great country,
which is the envy of many less endowed nations,” he said.
President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar
Bukola Saraki, while congratulating Muslim faithful on the successful
completion of Ramadan, urged all Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of
tolerance, peace, patriotism and love for one another as a way of
building a strong and united nation.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on
Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki, who also spoke from
Saudi Arabia, where he had been to observe the lesser hajj for the last
ten days of Ramadan, said only tolerance, stronger sense of patriotism
and love for one another will help the country sail through the present
multiple agitations confronting her.
“We should put into practice the lessons
of tolerance, perseverance, and love for our neighbours that we learnt
during the Ramadan period to overcome the multiple agitations
threatening the corporate existence of our country,”
On his part, Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, also urged religious leaders to
continue to preach and promote the virtues of unity, love and peaceful
co-existence for Nigeria to attain greatness.
In a statement yesterday, Dogara urged
Nigerians to eschew divisive and hate tendencies, adding that Nigerians
must learn to live in harmony, tolerate one another and see the nation’s
diversity as a source of strength.
“For Nigeria to attain greatness and
fulfill its potential, we must regard our diversity as a source of
strength and continue to promote and strengthen the unity, peace and
progress of the country at all times,’’ the Speaker said.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad
Sa’ad Abubakar, while also declaring today as Eid-el-Fitr festival after
he had announced the sighting of the new moon of Shawwal in a broadcast
in his palace in Sokoto last night, said the new moon was sighted in
parts of Kaduna, Katsina, Borno, Adamawa and Sokoto States.
“In accordance with Islamic law, we have
the honour and pleasure to announce that today, Saturday, the 29th Day
of Ramadan, 1438 AH, which is equivalent to June 24, 2017, has marked
the end of Ramadan and the beginning of the new month of Shawwal.”
He said reliable reports of moon
sighting were received from Muslim leaders and religious organisations
across the country, which were duly verified and authenticated by the
national moon sighting committee.
“Consequent upon this, tomorrow, Sunday,
the 25th Day of June, 2017, becomes the first day of shawwal, 1438 AH
and is therefore declared the Sallah day for 2017 Eid-el-Fitr”, he said.
He therefore urged the Muslims to
sustain their prayers for President Buhari, other leaders, as well as
for sustainable peace and unity in Nigeria and beyond. He also called on
Nigerians to continue to live in peace with one another irrespective of
ethnic and religious differences
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