The president, in a message through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in Abuja, said fasting is not just merely meant to stay hungry or thirsty but an opportunity to strive for inner purification and self-accountability.
“It is meant to inculcate righteousness and discipline,” he said.
President Buhari enjoined fasting Muslims to increase their love for humanity, acts of charity, kindness, generosity and gratitude.
He said the Holy Prophet Muhammad used to spend very generously on the poor and the needy during this period and urged Muslims in the country and all over the world to copy the good example.
Former military president, Ibrahim Babangida, enjoined Muslims to conduct themselves well during the holy month to maximise the spiritual and physical benefits inherent in the fasting period.
Babangida, in a statement on Thursday, in Minna, said: “I join all to congratulate Muslims in Nigeria and across the world on seeing yet another Ramadan month.
“It brings to note the transient nature of the world, with the realisation that some people we observed the month with last year and many years back are no longer there this year.
“So, we have this and many more reasons to thank Allah (SWT) for His mercy to be alive, to witness this holy month.
“We are no doubt faced with various challenges at personal and national levels; but we are always strong and believing in divine intervention to always take us through the right path with prayers, to find solutions to our challenges.”
“I enjoin Muslim Ummah and scholars to pray and preach, so that all Muslims will, in this month, accord Ramadan as an important pillar of Islam the needed devotion for the good of the religion, humanity and the society at large.”
President of the Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, urged the entire Muslim Ummah to use the period to pray for continuous unity and peaceful coexistence in the country.
“The commencement of fasting has yet provided us with rare and unique opportunity to fervently pray over the security situation of the country and call on Allah to help us restore sanity and love among our country men and women.
“Nigerians, Muslims in particular, should make use of this opportunity to pray for the end of insecurity and other violent crimes threatening our existence both as a people and nation.
“Apart from being a time to assist the weak, vulnerable and less fortunate among us, let us utilise this period to pray for continuous peace and unity in the country because with Allah’s help all our individual and national challenges are surmountable,” he said.
In the same vein, former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, urged Muslims to use the Ramadan period to pray for unity in the country.
In a statement on Thursday, in Abuja, Abubakar described Ramadan as period of recompense, piety and separation from sin, saying Muslims must be ready to sacrifice and pray to Almighty Allah who made Ramadan a blessing for them.
He added that the holy month of Ramadan was an avenue for every Muslim to reflect on the past with a view to seeking forgiveness from Allah.
He admonished Muslims to manifest the spirit of love, oneness, charity, reflection, obedience and other tenets of Islam during and after the Ramadan.
“As a Muslim, I believe so much in prayers, especially the ones offered during Ramadan because this is a period of purification when a Muslim is expected to, more than ever before, show piety in all areas of life.
“So, any prayer offered at such period is always acceptable as the Almighty Allah is merciful and benevolent,” the former nation’s number two man said.
Fayemi charges Muslims
The Minister of Mines and Steel Development and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, congratulated Muslims in Ekiti State and Nigeria in general as they commence another season of Ramadan.
Dr Fayemi, in a goodwill message to the Muslim Ummah, said “the Ramadan season offers faithful a unique opportunity to draw closer to the Almighty Allah and deepen relationship with him in total submission to his will.”
He, therefore, urged Muslim faithful to use the period to pray for the progress of the country and for peace to reign in all the trouble spots.
Noting that the Ramadan season emphasised piety, discipline, self-control and empathy for the less privileged in society, Dr Fayemi called on all adherents of the Islamic faith to reflect on these lessons during the 30 days fasting period.
Ambode: Be loving, selfless
Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, called on Muslims to extend love to others and imbibe the act of selfless service to humanity during and after Ramadan, saying such would go a long way in making the world better.
The governor, on Wednesday, at a Ramadan Tafsir held at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, organised by the state government to mark the commencement of the fasting month, said those having in excess must show gratitude by helping others and also exhibit total submission to God’s commandments.
“To all my Muslim brothers and sisters, I just want to use this opportunity to greet all of you that as we commence the Ramadan month and with all the lectures we have heard, we are doing this to be in tune with Allah and to be in sync with the kind of supplication that we want to give and we know 30 days out of 365 days are not enough to really show our total submission to Allah.
“What I just want to say is that the important thing in all these 30 days that we are going to have the Ramadan is to show love to ourselves and also show love to our neighbours.
“You need to love yourself first before you can even show love to another person. So, when we have in excess, we must show the attitude of gratitude to be able to give to others because somebody else has over provided for us,” Governor Ambode said.
Remember the sick, needy, says Aregbesola
The Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, implored Nigerians, especially Muslims, to remember the poor and the sick during this period.
In a message by his media adviser, Mr Sola Fasure, the governor said it was essential for the faithful to consider the plights of the sick and the needy, including those suffering from deprivations at this particular time.
“I am most pleased to see the beginning of this year’s Ramadan. Ramadan is that period when Muslims worldwide engage in fasting – a physical and spiritual act of self denial, cleansing, prayer, fellowship and charity,” the governor said.
Obaseki seeks support for Muslims
The governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, called on Nigerians to support Muslims across the country as they commence the spiritual activities lined up for the holy month.
“The holy month is a period of fasting and deep spiritual reflection and a period to deepen the love for one another.
“I call on Nigerians of all faiths and religious convictions to support Muslims in their midst as they carry out these activities and urge Muslims to pray for the nation’s unity,” Obaseki said.
The governor noted that “the holy month affords Muslims the opportunity to back with prayers, the nation’s collective aspiration to join the league of developed countries; in which everyone can realise their dreams.”
Oyinlola seeks prayers for peace of Nigeria
A former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, urged Muslims to use the Ramadan period to pray for the peace of Nigeria
Prince Oyinlola, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in a statement in which he congratulated Muslims on the commencement of the Ramadan fast, urged the faithful to use the holy month to pray for the peace of Nigeria.
“In particular, I call for prayers for successful elections in Osun and Ekiti states this year and nationally next year.
“The country needs these prayers, particularly at this period when the people yearn for peace and for leaders that will serve their interests,” he said.
He also urged Nigerians of all faiths not to lose hope in having a country that is secure, peaceful, caring and protective of the interests of its citizens, young and old.
Pray for Nigeria –Orji Kalu
A former governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Kalu, in a statement, on Thursday in Abuja, by his Special Adviser, Alhaji Kunle Oyewumi, called on the Muslim Ummah to offer prayers for the nation’s socio-economic development during the month of Ramadan.
Kalu also called for religious tolerance and mutual respect among people of different religious beliefs.
According to him, the teaching of the Holy Qur’an and qualities of Prophet Muhammad should be emulated by the Muslim faithful beyond Ramadan.
Kalu, who is also a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said, “I congratulate our Muslim brothers and sisters on yet another Ramadan.
“It is a season of spiritual rebirth and self-appraisal in the service of God and humanity.
“This period should be used to offer prayers for the nation.
“The acts of piety, forgiveness, selflessness and togetherness should be demonstrated and upheld in this holy month and beyond.”
Alao-Akala felicitates with Muslims
A former governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, felicitated with Muslims in the state, Nigeria and the world at large on the commencement of Ramadan fasting.
Alao-Akala urged the faithful to use the period to seek divine intervention for peace and harmony in all the geopolitical zones in the country.
He described the period of Ramadan fasting as characterised by sober reflection, sacrifice, love and fervent prayers and, therefore, urged Muslims faithful to use this to pray to Allah to change the fortune of the nation for the better.
As the 2019 general election is around the corner, he charged them to use this opportunity to pray for the current administrations in the state and in the country for the peaceful conduct of the election and advised leaders to shun issues that might divide the nation.
Soun of Ogbomosho advocates peace
The Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Jimoh Oladunni Oyewumi, called on Nigerians to use the holy month to pray for leaders at all levels.
In a statement signed by his Private Secretary, Toyin Ajamu, Oba Oyewumi acknowledged the peaceful coexistence among people of the different faiths, stressing that the heterogeneous nature of the country is good for development.
While urging the Muslim Ummah to sustain the tenets of Ramadan beyond the holy month, the traditional ruler urged the political class to provide genuine leadership.
The monarch called for peace and unity across the country, saying: “We are grateful to Allah for giving us the opportunity to witness yet another Ramadan. This special season should be seen as a period of spiritual re-birth and dedication to the service of Allah and humanity.”
MSSN felicitates with Muslims
The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) has felicitated with the Muslim world in general and Nigerian Muslim Ummah in particular for witnessing the beginning of the month of Ramadan.
The period, it said, is described by the Qur’an as the springboard for mercy, guidance and forgiveness.
In a statement on Thursday, signed by its National President (Amir), Muhammad Jameel Muhammad, the MSSN urged the Ummah to take advantage of the rare opportunity of the month of abstinence to pray for security, moral rectitude, peace, unity and development of the country.
The body commended the Federal Government for “restoring and maintaining peace and security in the diverse parts of the land, diversifying the economy, fighting corruption among other laudable but daunting undertakings.”
It, however, stressed the need for the government to accord religion due recognition if its efforts are to be successful.
Pray for peaceful 2019 elections –Femi Babalola
A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Engineer Femi Babalola (Jogor), implored Muslims in the country to use this year’s Ramadan to pray for a peaceful general election in 2019.
Babalola, in a statement in Ibadan, enjoined the faithful to use the holy month to help the country avert doom predicted by a section of the international community as the nation’s democracy attains a remarkable milestone of 20 years next year.
“Ramadan offers Nigerians the opportunity to bring our nation into focus in the holy month that is devoted to fasting, prayer and complete abstinence”, he said, adding that nations and peoples had drawn benefits from such recompense overtime and that ”ours cannot be different,” he said.
Pray for Nigeria, Ogun State –Akinlade
The Baba Adinni of Yewaland in Ogun State, Honourable Abiodun Akinlade, enjoined Nigerians, particularly Muslims, to pray for the state and the country during this month of Ramadan.
Akinlade, a former member of the House of Representatives and a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, in a statement, noted that the holy month should be seen as an opportunity to learn self-restraint, love, piety and sacrifice.
He urged Muslims in the state to continue to pray for the progress and unity of the state and the governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
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