The traditional ruler of Ekperi Kingdom in Etsako Central Local Government Area, HRH Alhaji D.Y. Kanoba, the Eghiegba II of Ekperi has urged Muslims to embrace the virtues of forgiveness and common understanding as they join their counterparts across the globe to celebrate the end of Ramadan fast.
Alhaji Kanoba stated this in his Sallah message to Muslims as they mark the end of Ramadan fast (Eid-el-Fitri). According to him, when God forgives our sins, it becomes imperative for us as humans to extend the grace of forgiveness and common understanding to other human beings.
HRH Eghiegba, while congratulating the Muslims for the successful completion of Ramadan fast urged them to allow the lessons of the season to guide their daily endeavours and to intensify prayers even as the month of Ramadan ends for their leaders as they have been enjoined by the Almighty Allah in the Holy Book.
The traditional ruler advised Muslims to see the Eid-el-Fitri not only as a period for festivity, but as one for deep spiritual devotion and re-dedication to the values of humility and respect for the dignity of human life. “I urge you to continue to uphold the Islamic doctrines as stipulated in the Holy Quran and not to neglect the doctrines and lessons you had and obeyed throughout the period of the fasting”.
He said that Ramadan was a season of abundant grace from God, especially at a time such as now, when Nigeria was at the threshold of a new beginning. He urged them to embrace the tenets of love, tolerance, forgiveness and brotherhood, which characterized the period of the holy month.
“As Muslims, we must live our lives by the examples of Prophet Muhammed in ensuring that we build peace and common understanding in our families and communities and “As citizens of Nigeria, we must come together to close old gaps and create new understanding that will ensure that the political leadership succeeds in the objective of giving us a new beginning as a country.
“At this point in our national life, unity among all the different ethnic and religious groups will usher in peace and peace can only engender progress and development.
“We, therefore, need to learn to live together in peace, tolerate one another and eschew actions which can threaten the peace of the nation.
“Muslims, in particular, should continue to demonstrate the fact that the meaning of Islam is peace, and therefore, we should learn to live in peace with people of other faith and tolerate each other. “We should also remember our fellow citizens in the North-Eastern part of the country who are being assailed by insurgents who call themselves Boko Haram,’’.
The royal father however urged Muslims to always intercede for the country and the leaders in their prayers.
