President of the Senate, David Mark, Governor of Bayelsa State, Henry Dickson, and a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar have challenged Nigerians to use the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir to make the country a better place.
The trioka made the plea in separate goodwill messages.
In a statement by Mark’s media adviser, Kola Ologbodiyan, the Senate President reminded that “we have more to gain by being together than otherwise.”
He urged clergymen of all faith to preach the good news of oneness , peaceful coexistence, trust and love for fellow citizens.
Mark lamented what he described as “unabating security challenges facing the nation,” but “pleaded with all Nigerians of goodwill to rise up to the occasion to tackle the menace headlong.”
“I believe that our size and diversity is our strength . God did not make mistake in putting us together in one country. We should therefore use our strength and God given potentials for good”, the Senate President sued.
Governor Dickson tasked Nigerians to seize the opportunity of the religious festival to “right the wrongs of the past and return the country to that enviable position it has always occupied in the African continent and beyond”.
A statement by Dickson’s Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, quoted the governor as advising “Muslims to eschew all forms of acrimonious and divisive tendencies and see other Nigerians , no matter their religious inclinations, as close relatives and work collectively for the overall growth and development of every section of the country.”
Dickson reminded on how Nigeria had drawn strength from her diversity to become the giant of Africa. He urged Nigerians to be wary of the selfish motives of a few individuals bent on derailing the deep-rooted love, unity and peaceful coexistence that have made Nigeria the envy of all.
The governor implored Nigerians to remain supportive of the state and federal governments and their “efforts at enthroning lasting peace and unity in parts of the country affected by the Boko Haram insurgency and other negative tendencies.
On his part, former Vice President Abubakar urged Nigerians to cherish love and be accountable.
According to Atiku, “accountability would ensure the freeing of government resources for development to end joblessness, insecurity and pervasive economic hardship facing Nigerians.”
“It is thus important for each and every one of us to evaluate our relationships and ensure that it complies with the values of accountability and love to one another; this is essentially what the celebration of Ed-il-Kabir festival entails,” Atiku said in a statement by his media office.