By Olasunkanmi Akoni

As Nigerians join Muslims across the world to commence the 30-day fasting in the Holy Month of Ramadan, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, have stressed the need for strict adherence to the dictates of Islam throughout the period.

They also urged Muslim faithful in particular and Nigerians in general to use the Ramadan period to pray for peace and unity to reign in Nigeria.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Habib Aruna, Ambode said Ramadan signifies a month of piety and total abstinence from food and all vices for all believers.

He urged all Muslims to ensure that the abstinence from all vices which is embraced during the period should become an everyday affair because in doing so each person would be at peace with him or herself.

The governor, who also used the occasion to preach peaceful coexistence among all residents of the state, added that it is only in a peaceful atmosphere that all plans and programmes of the present government can be actualized.

“At this critical period of nation building, the lessons of the Holy month of Ramadan must permeate all actions and deeds of the people in such a way that each person serve as his brother’s keeper always”, the governor said.

He said it should also be a period of rededication to the ideals of nation building by the entire citizenry, especially at this period when majority of Nigerians have expressed their choice at the polls for a Change which must be total and all encompassing.

Also, the Speaker, in his Ramadan message through his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Musbau Rasak, described the fasting period as a period of sober reflection which gives Muslims opportunity to move closer to Almighty Allah and seek His face in supplication and prayers..

“It is a period of sober reflection, a period we move closer to Almighty Allah in supplication and prayers and a period prayers are answered by Almighty Allah, so it is not only for Muslims alone who should make positive use of this spiritual period but also Nigerians in general irrespective of their religious belief,” the Speaker said.