By Our Reporters

LAGOS—Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Mr Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, among others, yesterday, urged Muslims not to discard messages of love, perseverance, self-denial, almsgiving and others learned during the holy month of Ramadan should not be discarded.

Muslim faithfuls

Other governors who congratulated Muslims for successful completion of the Ramadan were Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, urging Muslims to extend love, peace and justice and other spiritual benefits of Ramadan to their neighbours.

Oshiomhole
Governor Oshiomhole in his Eid-el-Fitr message through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Peter Okhiria, said: “While I congratulate the Muslim faithful for the successful completion of the Ramadan, I urge them to sustain the spirit of godliness, charity, perseverance and spiritual intercession for the nation which were some of the lessons learned during the Holy Month.

“Having observed strictly the injunctions of Almighty Allah through fasting and prayers and by offering Zakat, the lessons learnt during the Holy month should not be lost, rather they should be part of the daily lives of the true Muslim in his dealings with fellow Muslims and people of other faith.

“The spiritual intercession offered by the faithful during Ramadan for peace, progress and stability in Edo State and the nation should be sustained, especially as the state goes into another phase of its political life.”

Okowa
In Asaba, Delta State, Festus Ahon reports that Governor Okowa in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Aniagwu, said: “As we celebrate Eid-el-Fitri, it is my hope and prayer that Ramadan’s spiritual lessons and the Holy Prophet’s teachings of piety, love, justice, fairness, equity, peaceful co-existence with others, tolerance, honesty and dedication to duty will remain with us all for the benefit and greater glory of our dear nation.
“On behalf of my family, the government and people of Delta State, I extend our warmest wishes to Muslims in Delta State, Nigeria and around the world celebrating Eid-el-Fitr. As Muslims celebrate Eid across Nigeria, it is important to remind Nigerians of the importance of respecting those of all faiths and beliefs.

Ikpeazu
According to Anayo Okoli from Umuahia, Abia State, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in a release by his spokesman, Enyinnaya Appolos, assured the Muslim community of continued support.

The Governor recalled that he went to Maiduguri at the age of 16 and spent about 7 years at the University of Maiduguri for his education, saying he was very conversant with the tenets of Islam and had a lot of respect for the Muslim faith.

He urged the Muslim faithful to continue to practice the good deeds they imbibed during the period of Ramadan and continue to pray for the peace of the state and nation.

Ajimobi
Ola Ajayi reports from Ibadan, that Governor Ajimobi of Oyo State through his Special Adviser to on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka, said: “I want to enjoin Islam faithful to maintain their piety beyond the fasting period and rededicate themselves to the worship of Allah and obedience to His injunctions, especially at this period when our country needs the prayers of the saints. They should not be tempted to go back to the various vices that they jettisoned during the holy month. I pray that Allah should grant the requests and prayers offered for themselves and families, Oyo State, and the country at large.”

Aregbesola 
According to Gbenga Olarinoye in Osogbo, Osun State, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, in a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said: “It is a known fact that this is not a good time for the country. The economy is in doldrums.

There is palpable air of insecurity all over the country. As we wade through these economic and security turbulence, all we need, leaders and the led; Muslims and Christians and adherents of other faiths, is to come together as one and cooperate with President Muhammad Buhari to jointly pursue our common destiny.

“This is the time that we must either come together to jointly take our country to the height it deserves among comity of nations or most assuredly ruin it by hanging separately. All hands must be on deck for us to move forward.”

Dickson
In Yenegoa, Bayelsa State, Governor Seriake Dickson, called on Muslims across the country to preach love for one another, peace and uphold the tenets of Islam as well as the teachings of Holy Prophet Mohammed.

The governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, renewed his call for “religious tolerance among Muslims because for the nation to develop and make meaningful progress, both Muslims and Christians must appreciate each other as well as live together as brothers and sisters.”

Dickson, who described Nigeria as a blessed nation, called on Muslims and Nigerians in general to “pray fervently for the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, the States and Local Governments to overcome the difficult times and put smiles back on the faces of Nigerians.”

Bello
According to Boluwaji Obahopo, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, appealed to workers in the state to remained calm, saying he could feel the pains they were going through, promising that better days were ahead.

The governor in his message by his Chief Press Secretary, Kingsley Fanwo also urged Muslim faithful to pray for Nigeria to recover from its economic challenges.

His words: “I thank the civil servants in the state for their steadfastness and sacrifice throughout the period of the staff verification exercise, which crept into the Ramadan fasting. I feel your pains. I urge you to consider it the sacrifice that will set our payrolls free from the stranglehold of ghost workers who have made it impossible for our state to move forward.”

Lalong

According to Marie-Therese Nanlong, Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, appealed to Muslims to reflect on the significance of the religious obligation and put to use the spiritual lessons learned during the period of the 30-days Ramadan fast.
In a statement by the Governor’s Director of Press and Publicity, Emmanuel Nanle, the governor, felicitated with the entire Muslim Ummah in the state, Nigeria and the world at large, on the successful completion of the Ramadan fast and celebration of Eid-el-Fitri.

Fayose
Rotimi Ojomoyela, reports from Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State that Governor Ayodele Fayose, urged the nation’s leaders to empathize with the poor and remember them in their policies and actions, as everybody would one day give account of stewardship to their Creator.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, the governor said, “with the hardship that Nigerians are currently going through, this is not the period to turn a deaf ear to their crying for the amelioration of their situation.”

NLC
The Comrade Ayuba Wabba-led faction of NLC in a Sallah message to workers said “The importance of Eid-el-Fitr therefore should not be lost on us. More than ever before, these lessons are relevant in our personal and public lives if we are to make progress as a nation.

“I therefore urge all Nigerians, Muslims and non- Muslims alike to use the celebration of Eid-el-Fitr to reflect on the state of the nation with a view to confronting the numerous challenges that beset us.

“I have no doubt that with discipline, piety, humility, scholarship, good neighbourliness or a sense of consideration for others and renewal of our faith in God, that we shall prevail.”

TUC
Ehi Eweka reports from Lagos that TUC in a statement its Bobboi Bala Kaigama and Simeso Amachree, President and Acting Secretary General, said : “This is the time, as a country, that we need to submit ourselves to the will of Allah in the belief that only Him can help to overcome the prevailing challenges in the country no matter how difficult they may appear at the moment. The crux of the lessons in Ramadan celebration include: the readiness to make sacrifices in the interest of others, willingness to fulfill promises and to implement agreements.

Fayemi
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, said witnessing another  Eid-el-Fitri  was a special privilege from the Almighty Allah who had control over the destiny of man.

The minister said the 30-day Ramadan fast had drawn the faithful closer to Allah.

He urged them to keep on practising the lessons learned from the holy month in their relationship with their Maker and fellow human beings.

Specifically, he charged Muslims to allow the lessons of humility, sacrifice, love and selfless service learned during the Ramadan season to continue to guide their private and public conducts.