President Bola Tinubu and his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, at their separate praying grounds on Wednesday in Lagos and Katsina states respectively, rejoiced with the Muslim faithful on the celebration of the Eid El-Fitri.
Tinubu and his predecessor called on Nigerians to love the country and support leaders.
Tinubu, who was present at the Dodan Barracks in Ikoyi, Lagos, to observe the Eid prayer, urged Nigerians to defend the integrity of the country.
“The kind of resilience, sacrifice, endurance that we have, we should preserve that for the country. Be a kind and cheerful giver, love our country better than any other country – that is the only one that we have.
“And we must continue to protect the integrity of our government and leadership. The new hope is alive, well and fine and Nigerians should continue to be very hopeful. Without hope there is no salvation, without hope, there is no development, without hope, there is no life,” Tinubu told journalists on his way out of the prayer ground.
Also, speaking to journalists in Daura shortly after observing the Eid prayer, Buhari congratulated fellow Muslims on the successful completion of the 30-day Ramadan fasting, urging “all citizens to support our leaders from the local government level to the highest level, in their efforts to transform and develop the landscape of the nation.”
He urged “Support for our leaders,” saying, “(It) is a vote for a better tomorrow.”
Buhari further said, “It is imperative that we stand united in safeguarding the sovereignty and integrity of our nation.”
He called on contestants of political offices “to always ensure a smooth succession from one administration to another without stoking communal tensions and obstructing development, irrespective of political party affiliation.”
Earlier, while leading the prayer session at the Dodan barracks praying ground, the Grand Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheik Sulaiman Nolla, said fasting had great blessings.