By Ummi Ismaeel,
Minna
Nigeria’s former military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubarkar; Niger State ex-Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, yesterday joined thousands of Muslims in the state at the city’s main Eid prayer ground behind Ungwan-daji, Minna to observe the two raka’at prayers for this year’s Eid-el-fitr, at the completion of the 30 days fasting in the preceding month of Ramadan.
After the prayers, Gen. Abdulsalami (rtd) asked Nigerians to keep hope alive in the indivisibility of Nigeria as security agencies were working to end the current insecurity bedeviling the country.
General Abdulsalami also enjoined Nigerians to keep praying and hoping that solution to the insecurity was underway, stressing that he was optimistic that the situation was not beyond what the Nigerian Army with support of other security agencies could handle.
“What is expected of Nigerians in this trial moment is fervent prayers,” the former head of state said, while condemning saborage against efforts by the security forces to nip in the bud infiltrations by armed bandits and Boko-Haram.
While calling for collective efforts in the fight against crime and all forms of criminalities, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubarkar however applauded security agencie as well as other stakeholders for their efforts at restoring peace in Nigeria.
Among other notable Nigerlites that attended the eid prayers included; former Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu; Niger State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Muhammad Ketso; and Mohammed Babangida, (eldest son to Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida).
Also, former Governor Babangida Aliyu expressed gratitude to Allah for the successful completion of this year’s Ramadan fast and asked for Allah’s reward for all Muslims and also prayed for Allah’s intervention to the security challenges besetting Niger State and the country at large.
While calling for peaceful coexistence among the diverse ethnic nationalities in Nigeria, Niger state in particular, Aliyu tasked citizens of the state to continue to remain steadfast in prayers for those in leadership positions at states and the national level. The two raka’at prayers led by the Chief Imam of the Minna Central Mosque, Alhaji Ibrahim Fari who also expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah for the completion of the Ramadan fast and the coming of the Eid-el-fitr.