President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigerians to discard their selfish interests and promote harmony and tolerance. He gave the charge this week in a Sallah message to the nation through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu. He urged Muslims to use the occasion for sober reflection on their conduct. The Nigerian helmsman also asked them to be good ambassadors of their religion by upholding high moral values.
Buhari described the festival of Eid-ul-Adha as a remembrance of the submission of Prophet Ibrahim Allaihis-Salam to Allah, his Creator, by which he taught the world the value of sacrifice in relating with one another. The President said that in terms of nation-building, the people should sacrifice for others and remember always those who are less fortunate than themselves.
The President pointed out that religion remains a major factor in influencing human behaviour towards good conduct, regretting how selfishness and greed have pushed people to abandon their beliefs. Buhar referred to his government’s campaign against corruption as “a task that must be done to protect the larger interests of ordinary Nigerians, who are the worst victims of diseases, poverty, malnutrition and other afflictions”.
He continued, “Even if some people hate you for fighting corruption, you should not chicken out from the task as a leader because doing so is a betrayal of public trust.” Buhari reassured Nigerians that the country’s economic problems would soon be history because of his administration’s unwavering commitment to people’s welfare. He cited the Social Investment Program (SIP) and his administration’s decision to distribute stolen funds to the poor as clear examples of the efforts of the regime to assist the people.
Some reports said President Buhari used the occasion of the two-day Sallah public holidays – Tuesday and Wednesday – to visit some Displaced Peoples Camp in Katsina state.
