Jonathan Urges Muslims To Promote Peace And Unity

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has felicitated with all Muslims in the country, who joined the rest of the faithful around the world for the observance of the holy month of Ramadan fasting, enjoining them to utilise the period to pray for peace, stability and progress in their fatherland.

A Presidency statement signed Dr Reuben Abati, Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) in Abuja, on Friday, noted that the Ramadan fast, which is one of the five pillars of Islam, teaches Muslims to practise piety, self-discipline, self-control, sacrifice, tolerance, justice, fairness and empathy for the less fortunate in society.

He, therefore, called on all Nigerian adherents of the Islamic faith to reflect on these edifying lessons as they fast and make them a greater part of their daily lives to promote peaceful co-existence and greater unity among the diverse groups in Nigeria.

Against the background of recent security challen-ges in parts of the country, President Jonathan assured the Islamic faithful in the affected areas that every possible effort would be made to ensure that they observe the Ramadan rites of spiritual reflection, supplication, good deeds, charity and worship without hindrance.

...Babangida Aliyu Calls For Prayers

The Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum (NGSF) and Governor of Niger State, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, has called on Muslim faithful to use the holy month of Ramadan to pray to Almighty Allah for the quick resolution of the security challenges currently confronting the nation.

Governor Aliyu made the call on Friday in a Ramadan message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo.

In the release, a copy of which was obtained by the Saturday Tribune, Aliyu enjoined Muslims to conduct themselves very well during the holy month, in order to maximise the spiritual and physical benefits inherent in the month.

He identified good intention, prayers and firmness of purpose in the pursuit of good deeds as conditions for reaping the benefits of the holy month.

The statement further reminded Muslims that Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and urged the faithful to accord it all the necessary attention by being proactive in decisions and actions that will ensure their full participation in the fast.

It also called on prea-chers to guard their utterances during the fasting period.

Wada Congratulates Muslims

THE Kogi State governor, Captain Idris Wada, has congra-tulated Muslims in the state for witnessing the holy month of Ramadan.

The governor, who spoke through his deputy, Mr. Yomi Awoniyi, in a message to mark the commencement of Ramadan for Muslims in the state, on Friday, described the month of Ramadan as very important in the life of Muslims. He also urged them to em-brace the fasting period with utmost dedication, abstinence and suppli-cation to the will of Allah.

Captain Wada, who called for increased co-operation among Muslims as well as with adherents of other religions, solicited the highest level of discipline and decorum in conduct from all Muslims during this period.

The governor charged Muslims to use this period to pray for Allah’s intervention, especially in the security challenges facing the nation.
He equally asked for prayers for the success of the present administration in the state.

...Governor Amosun Too

Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has sent his heartfelt greetings to the Muslim community in Ogun State and Nigeria in general on the commencement of Ramadan.

In a press release signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communi-cations, Mrs Funmi Waka-ma, Senator Amosun des-cribed Ramadan as a period for all adherents of Islam to move close to Allah through fasting and prayers, reading of the Holy Koran and giving of alms to the under-privileged in the society, among others.

He enjoined all Muslims to accord the holy month the respect it deserved by shunning all forms of vices and obeying all the teachings of Prophet Muhammed (SAW).

Amosun urged the faith-ful to use the holy month to pray fervently for peace in Nigeria.

He wished them a fulfilled and highly-reward-ing Ramadan.

Flood: Oyo Govt Urged To Provide Expert Divers

AN appeal has gone to the Oyo State government to help in providing expert divers among other logistics in the search for the remaining two bodies of the victims of a heavy rain that wreaked havoc in the city of Ibadan last Saturday.

A man, Mr Kehinde Ayoola told Saturday Tribune that the state government should help the families of the victims in the search for the remaining two bodies of the five victims, three of which have been discovered at the Dandaru area of Mokola, Ibadan, on Tuesday last week.

Ayoola, who said one of the missing victims, Opeyemi Ogungbemi, is an in-law to him, disclosed that for the remaining two bodies to be located, expert divers must be brought in. He disclosed further that following the discovery of three out of the five victims on Tuesday, another search was arranged between Thursday and Friday.

He said the families of the victims could not afford the cost of the search as it cost a lot to organise for the two days which they spent in the search that produced no result.

According to him, it was the desire of the families to discover the two remaining bodies. He therefore urged the government to come to the aid of the families by bringing in expert divers to search for the victims.

It is recalled that the flood which resulted from the heavy downpour on Saturday, last week drowned five occupants of a Jeep at Tewogbade in Bodija area of Ibadan. Three of the victims’ bodies — Wole and Sunkanmi Iyiola and a police officer, Adelusi had been found, but Opeyemi Ogungbemi and another police officer, Ijebor Sunday are still missing.

Owo Community Gives Cash Support To Mimiko’s Gov Bid

The people of Owo community, on Thursday, express-ed their support for the second term ambition of Governor Olusegun Mimiko, just as the people gave the governor N1 million to purchase his nomination form.

The chairman of the Labour Party (LP) in Owo Local Government, Mr. Tayo Akinrogbe, who made this known at the defection of some opposi-tion members to the LP, said the community was ready to mobilise for the re-election of the gover-nor.

According to him, the people of the community decided to pay for the nomination form of the governor, because the town had always served as the base of the pro-gressives.

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