Senate leaders have urged Nigerians to use the Eid-El-Kabir celebration to pray for peace, security, and national unity, while reflecting on the values of sacrifice and tolerance exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, in a message through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, felicitated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and Muslims across Nigeria and globally. He described the festival as a reminder of “devotion, selflessness, and submission to divine will,” values he said Nigeria urgently needs.
Akpabio called on citizens to pray for troops on the frontlines, farmers returning to their fields, and for unity to prevail over division. He added that the Renewed Hope Agenda, backed by the National Assembly, rests on the principle that meaningful progress often requires collective sacrifice.
Deputy Senate President Barau I. Jibrin, in a separate Sallah message signed by his Special Adviser Malam Ismail Mudashir, congratulated Muslims and Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. He urged sustained prayers for peace, stability, and prosperity, and called on Nigerians to support President Tinubu’s efforts to address the country’s challenges.
Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, warned political actors against inciting violence ahead of the 2027 elections, citing Armed Conflict Location and Event Data that recorded 1,639 deaths from electoral violence between 1999 and 2023. He said no Nigerian should lose their life because of political ambitions and urged adherence to the rule of law during campaigns.
Bamidele also called for prayers for children, parents, and teachers still held in captivity by bandits, particularly the 87 victims recently kidnapped in Borno and Oyo states. He reiterated the National Assembly’s commitment to strengthening security and social protection systems to safeguard lives and property.
Former Senate President Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan said Eid-El-Kabir should inspire a national rebirth anchored on personal sacrifice, unity, and empathy. He challenged leaders to place national interest above personal gain and urged Nigerians to remain steadfast in prayers for President Tinubu and other leaders.
Senator Solomon Adeola, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and APC governorship candidate for Ogun State in 2027, asked Muslims to pray for peace and the consolidation of gains under the Renewed Hope Agenda. He said adherence to Islamic teachings on sacrifice, love, and peaceful coexistence would help Nigeria overcome systemic challenges.
All the leaders concluded their messages with wishes for a peaceful and memorable Eid, urging citizens to extend support to the less privileged and to recommit to building a united and prosperous Nigeria.
