LAGOS- Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has implored Muslims to take the lead in the battle against the social ills by upholding the tenets of Islam .
The advice is contained in a statement issued in Lagos by Mr. Hakeem Bello, his spokesman, in Lagos on the Eid-el Fitr celebration.
Fashola, in the statement, urged the Muslims to live exemplary lives and reminded them that the greatest lessons from the Ramadan fasting included the need for discipline, respect for constituted authorities, tolerance, honesty and sincerity.
“Islam is all about love, honesty and cleanliness, both of person and society,” Fashola was quoted as saying in the statement.
“It will be unbecoming of a Muslim, for instance, after observing the Ramadan fasting, to drive against traffic, litter the streets with rubbish or build on drainage channels,” the governor said.
Fashola described this year’s Eid-El-Fitr celebration as very significant, saying:
‘The fact that it coincided with the 48th anniversary of our independence offers us the unique opportunity to have sober reflections.
“We should reflect more on how to contribute our quota to making this nation truly great,” he said.
Also, Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State has urged Muslims to use the lessons learnt during the Ramadan period to take corrective measures in drawing closer to God.
In his Sallah message, Yuguda said that the just concluded Ramadan fast had strengthened the faith of Muslims in Allah and had purified their souls, advising them to sustain the lessons of Ramadan.
The governor reiterated his administration’s determination to provide basic social amenities that would improve the people’s well-being.
He said that his administration had embarked on various policies and programmes, aimed at improving the welfare of the citizens and called on them to continue to support the government.
Speaking on the newly introduced Ramadan feeding scheme, Yuguda said that it was aimed at providing succour to the less-privileged, saying that the problems witnessed in the scheme would be corrected in the future.
The governor appealed to motorists and other road users to strictly observe traffic rules and regulations so as to reduce road accidents during and after the festive period.
Reports from Lafia said that thousands of Muslims in Nasarawa State joined other Muslims to celebrate the Sallah festival.
Report says that a drive round Lafia and its environs showed that many Muslim faithful spent the day visiting friends, relations and other well-wishers.
The Sallah activities kicked off with the congregational prayers at the Eid praying ground, where the Muslims converged to mark the end of the 30-day fasting period.
|
