President Bola Tinubu on Friday called for more prayers for the military, particularly those confronting terrorists and bandits, and security agencies, making sacrifices to keep the nation safe.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement on X.
The President, who observed the Eid-al-Adha prayers at the Eid Ground in Dodan Barracks, Lagos, was quoted as saying, “We should remember to pray and give to those who are very vulnerable in the spirit of the season, which is sacrifice. We must unite, remain our brothers’ keeper, and give to our neighbours. We should show love to everyone.
“We must also pray hard for our troops to keep us safe. They are making sacrifices in the challenges that we face from terrorism and banditry today. We must pray for them specifically, remember their sacrifices, and continue to behave well as citizens.”
According to the statement, the Chief Imam of Lagos State, Suleiman Oluwatoyin Abu-Nola, at the prayer ground, urged the Muslim faithful to remember and “reflect on Abraham’s sacrificial life”.
“The whole essence of today is sacrifice. We must learn to make sacrifices for our family, nation, and community. We must render our service to Allah, not men,” he said.
He also called on worshipers to live in peace and consider the needs of their neighbours, the poor and vulnerable.
“If we are to see the Nigeria of our dreams, we must be ready to make sacrifices. We must unite as Nigerians to make progress. We must rise above tribal sentiments. Whether you are Igbo, Yoruba, or Hausa, we must live above ethnic sentiments,” the Chief Imam added.