Former Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, has called on Nigerians to use the Eid-al-Adha celebration as a period for intense prayer, national reflection, and peaceful coexistence.
The former governor congratulated the Muslim community and all Nigerians for witnessing another celebration, stressing that the core lessons of the festival should guide citizens to foster deeper empathy and support for one another.
Makarfi made the call in a goodwill message issued on Tuesday to commemorate Eid-el-Adha 1447 AH.
“We must not lose sight of the lessons of sacrifice and obedience to the dictates of Allah, which form part of the essence of the Eid el Adha as exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to the command of Allah,” he stated.
He urged Nigerians to maintain faith in God and continue praying for guidance, peace and protection for the country.
The former governor also called for sober reflection on Nigeria’s challenges and appealed to citizens to work towards national unity and development.
“We should strive to consciously and deliberately work towards realizing our God-given potentials by, among others looking at and exploiting the positive aspects of our diversity as a people,” he said.
Markafi posited that Nigeria’s diversity should be harnessed positively to promote peace and national growth.
“The best way to express our gratitude to Him is to continue to live in peace and keep on harnessing our diversity in order to explore and exploit the numerous opportunities He has endowed our nation with, in so many positive ways.”
He prayed that the spirit of sacrifice, love and obedience associated with Eid-el-Adha would strengthen national unity and bring hope, security and prosperity to Nigerians.
He also congratulated Nigerian pilgrims performing the 2026 Hajj and urged them to pray for the country during the pilgrimage.
“I also wish to congratulate our pilgrims for the God-given opportunity to perform this year’s Hajj and also urge them to, as part of their rituals, pray for the continued peace, security, development and prosperity of our dear country,” he said.
The former governor wished the pilgrims a successful Hajj exercise and safe return home.
He concluded the message with “Eid Mubarak.”
