Eid el Kabir: Aregbesola preaches selflessness; felicitates with Muslims

Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has charged Muslims and Nigerians at large to imbibe the culture and character of service to humanity and selflessness as they discharge their various duties.

According to Aregbesola, nation building and national development could be achieved through selflessness of both the leaders and the followers.

L-R: Asiwaju Muslumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Khamiz Olatunde Badmus, Chief of staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, Aregbesola and Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun at the Osogbo prayer ground.

Aregbesola stated that when the welfare of the people is most paramount, it leads to the emergence of a society with peace, equality and growth.

The governor stated this a press statement signed by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, on Monday.

Aregbesola said commitment, perseverance and prayer are the key ingredients needed as the country passes through its worst trial moments. The Governor urged Muslims to pray for the peace and stability in the country.

He said the country will make progress towards the fulfillment of its great potentials as a nation if Nigerians promote peace, security and stability, which are very essential for development by showing greater respect for national safety and public order laws.

Quoting the Holy Qura’n chapter 22:37 thus: “It is not their meat Nor their blood, that reaches Allah: it is your piety that reaches Him: He Has thus made them subject To you, that ye may glorify Allah for His guidance to you: And proclaim the Good News To all who do right,” Aregbesola said the sacrifice of rams is in commemoration of Abraham and Isma’il’s great self sacrifice, trust, obedience and belief in Allah.

The slaughtering of animal is a personal sacrifice by sharing their limited means of survival with the poorer members of their communities.

He tasked adherents of Islam to imbibe the lessons of commitment, dedication and obedience to higher authorities as inherently demonstrated by Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to the will of God which the Eid-El-Kabir commemorates.

Aregbesola restated his administration’s commitment to the people of the state, adding that the president Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government will continue to do all it can to improve the living conditions of Nigerians.

The Governor said the emerging new Osun with better infrastructure, security of lives and property emanate from the readiness of the leadership in the state to remain selfless.

The statement said in part: “I wish our fellow Muslim brothers and sisters in Osun, Nigeria and beyond, a most blessed Eid.

“Adherents of the faith should leverage this festive moment to foster unity and continue to live up to the tenets through the acts of charity, peaceful co-existence with our neighbours, obedience to the injunctions of the Holy Qura’n and sacrifice as exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim whose spirit of obedience was demonstrated through his submission to the will of Allah even in very difficult situation.

“We should also use the occasion to offer prayers to God for peaceful co-existence among different ethno-religious groups in the country.

“The celebration of this year’s Eid-el-Kabir therefore must draw us closer to God than ever before as well as spur us to avoid negative tendencies which could further compound our tenuous socio-political and economic conditions.

“We should equally avoid negative comments and actions, which seriously run counter to values that promote the common good of our dear nation.”