The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, has urged Nigerians to be patient with one another, respect the rule of law, and live in harmony, as Muslims celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir.
Dr. Hamzat made the appeal shortly on Wednesday after observing the Eid prayer at Dodan Barracks in Lagos State.
According to the deputy governor, the essence of the celebration was rooted in obedience to God, sacrifice, compassion, and peaceful coexistence among citizens.
He admonished Nigerians to imbibe the fear of God in their daily activities, stressing that genuine reverence for God would discourage violence, hatred, and injustice in society.
“We should be patient with each other, be obedient to the rule of law, and fear God,” he said.
According to Hamzat, fearing God entails respecting the sanctity of human life and refraining from actions capable of causing harm to others.
He said: “To fear God means you do not kill another human being and you do not hurt another human being.
“Therefore, we must live in peace and harmony.”
The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 governorship election in Lagos State noted that the Eid-el-Kabir celebration offered another opportunity for Nigerians to reflect on the virtues of love, tolerance and sacrifice exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim.
The deputy governor prayed for divine guidance, protection, and prosperity for the nation and its people.
“We pray that God will continue to be with all of us as we celebrate the coming of the Lord,” he added.
Delivering the Eid-el-Kabir message, the Grand Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Suleiman Abou-Nolla, urged Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice, patriotism, and compassion.
Abou-Nolla reflected on the significance of the festival and the lessons it held for national development and peaceful coexistence.
He said Eid-el-Kabir is deeply rooted in sacrifice, which he described as the foundation of the celebration.
He said: “One thing that we need to take away from Eid-el-Kabir festival is, if you look at the historical background, it is all about sacrifice.
“As citizens, we need to sacrifice and be more passionate about our nation, because east or west, home is still the best.
“So we need to pray for our nation too, for the next dispensation to be an easy one, and for Allah to ease our fears.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the dignitaries at the prayer ground included a former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State.
Others were the Lagos Council of Traditional White Cap Chiefs; Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa; former Minister and member of the Lagos State Governance Advisory Council, Senator Musliu Obanikoro; Tinubu’s Private Secretary, Hakeem Muri-Okunola; and Lagos State Head of Service, Olabode Agoro among others.
NAN reports that the Eid-el-Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, is celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s unwavering obedience to God.
