PRESIDENT, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, His Eminence Anthony Cardinal Okogie have called on Muslims in the country to use the occasion of this year’s Ramadan fast to rededicate themselves to the service of Allah and humanity.

In separate goodwill messages to the Muslims, the two Christian clerics urged Muslims in the country to use to occasion of the 30-day fast as a period for reflection and serious prayers for the peace and progress of the nation, especially as we approach another election year.

Taking a swipe at the spate of insecurity in the land, particularly kidnapping and incessant religious crises as being witnessed in Jos and some other parts of the country, the two Christian leaders appealed to Muslims to shun violence and allow peace to be their watchword in this period of Ramadan.

They also urged the Muslims to take advantage of the 30-day fasting and prayer sessions to intercede on behalf of the nation for free, fair and credible elections next year.

Pastor Oritsejafor enjoined the Muslims to take advantage of the season of self denial and sober  reflection to pray for peaceful co-existence, stating that Ramadan is generally regarded as a period of purification and geared towards closer relationship with the Creator.

According to the CAN president, God in His infinite mercy had created over 150 million Nigerians for a purpose and the purpose, he said, will be fulfilled. “I therefore enjoined our Muslim brothers and sisters all over the country to use this period to offer prayers to the Almighty God especially in this year when Nigeria is marking its golden jubilee,” he emphasised, urging them to pray against ethno-religious crises in any part of the country.

In his own goodwill message signed by the Director of Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Very Rev. Gabriel Osu, the prelate also urged the Muslims to use the holy month of Ramadan to pray for our nation in distress for peace and unity in line with the tenets of Islam.

According to him, the enormous problems confronting Nigeria such as corruption can only be solved through divine intercession as they appeared to have defied all human remedy.

He called on our Muslim brothers and sisters to pray for smooth conduct of the forthcoming elections so that the nation can remain united.