Again- Nigeria Bomb free on Sallah Day

For the second time in two months, Nigerians,
especially Muslims in the country, yesterday
celebrated a Sallah free of bomb attacks.
This is even as President Muhammadu Buhari,
who is in his hometown, Daura, Katsina State,
for the Sallah celebration, expressed
appreciation to Nigerians for supporting the
federal government’s policies, programmes and
actions aimed at improving security, revamping
the economy and combating corruption.
Unlike in the past when occasions such as
yesterday’s Sallah celebration witnessed
movement restriction especially in states in the
North Eastern part of the country, residents
particularly in Borno State, which was the
epicentre of Boko Haram activities for over six
years, trooped to worship centres for Eid-el-
Kabir prayers, and later retired to different
spots in the metropolis for celebrations.
The Eid prayer ground located at Ramat Square
in Maiduguri, the state capital, was filled to
capacity as worshipers moved in without
restriction to observe the annual rite.
Unlike previous years when there used to be
restriction of vehicular movement in and outside
the city because of the activities of Boko Haram,
this year’s Sallah was marked with Muslim
faithful going about celebrating without fear
because of emerging peace in the state.
Demonstrating the return of peace to the state,
the governor, Kashim Shettima, alongside the
senator representing Northern Borno senatorial
district, Habu Kyari and the director-general,
National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr Garba
Abari, were in Konduga local government area
of the state yesterday, where they prayed with
returnee Internally Displaced Persons (IDPS)
from the area.
Governor Shettima who expressed excitement
over the emerging peace in the state, explained
that his decision to mark the Eid prayers outside
the state capital for the first time in six years,
was to take the message of peace in Borno to
the world.
“Konduga is not more important to us than
Askira Uba where two Emirs have returned, it is
not more important to us than Gwoza which is
bigger and more populated, Konduga is also not
more important to us than Monguno, Kukawa,
Damboa, Ngala, Dikwa or any other part of the
state where our citizens have returned.




So, Konduga is a mere symbol in this instance
which represents all the communities where our
people have returned. We are here in solidarity
with them, to celebrate the Sallah with them, to
strengthen the fact that they are no less
important than those who were not affected by
the insurgency, to reaffirm our commitment to
resettlement of IDPS.
“We came to share this moment with them and
to also reassure them that we wouldn’t have
allowed them to return to Konduga if it was
classified unsafe, this is why we are here with
them. We are determined to restore the dignity
of our people, to reinstall civil authority, to
rebuild their schools, hospitals, markets and
homes so they can return to safe homes and I
want to reiterate that we will not allow our
citizens to return to unsafe communities,” the
governor stated.
Also, the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn
Garbai Elkanemi, who observed the two Rakatt
prayers with the faithful in Maiduguri, told
Governor Shettima when he visited, that he was
full of gratitude to Allah for the restoration of
peace in his domain.
He attributed the peace in the state to the
handiwork of Allah and efforts of President
Mohammadu Buhari and the Nigerian military,
who did everything possible to save lives and
properties of the citizens from Boko Haram
terrorists who almost overran the state.
The royal father said his visit to the governor
was established tradition on occasions such as
the Sallah celebration.
In Katsina, President Buhari who joined Muslim
faithful to pray at the Central Eid Ground in
Daura, in an interview with newsmen at his
residence shortly after observing the Eid prayer,
appealed to Nigerians to show support and
understanding with the current federal
administration as it works towards national
economic recovery.
The president affirmed that the significant
successes recorded in the fight against
insurgency would serve as an impetus for
investment, economic recovery and growth.
He said government was also working on policies
that would facilitate youth employment and
empowerment through private sector
engagement and other efforts to boost the
capacity of small and medium scale enterprises
to create jobs.
The president also declared that patriotic
Nigerians had nothing to fear in the fight against
corruption as his administration will ensure
justice and fairness to all.
According to him, those who abuse public trust
will face justice in addition to returning their
stolen assets to the nation’s coffers.
A statement by the senior special assistant to
the president, Media, Garba Shehu, quoted the
president as having said: ‘‘We should thank God
this year. The report I’m getting, which is very
pleasing, is that we will have a bumper harvest
this year.
‘‘I want Nigerians to realise that what this
government inherited after 16 years of the PDP
government was no savings, no infrastructure, no
power, no rail, no road and no security.
‘‘Nigerians can see what we have done on Boko
Haram and what we are doing to resolve the
problem in the Niger Delta.
‘‘Before the elections, we identified three major
problems confronting our country. The first is
security; we need to sufficiently secure our
country to manage it well. The second is
economy, especially job for the youths and
fighting corruption, which are continuous.
‘‘For the youths, graduates and non-graduates
who are interested in agriculture, the Federal
Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the
CBN, is doing something to provide employment
for them.’’
LEADERSHIP reports that President Buhari will
return to Abuja after the two-day public holiday
declared for the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
Meanwhile, the emir of Katsina, Abdulmumini
Kabir Usman, yesterday urged the federal
government to ban the export of staple foods in
order to make them readily affordable for
average citizens in the country.
Speaking at his palace in Katsina metropolis
shortly after observing the Eid prayer alongside
Governor Aminu Bello Masari, the traditional
ruler observed that the exportation of farm
produce was fuelling the skyrocketing prices of
staple foods due to the government’s ban on
rice importation.


Usman enjoined Muslim faithful to intensify
prayers so that the country can overcome its
present challenges, and challenged Nigerians to
embrace farming so as to reduce the over-
dependence of the economy on the oil sector.
He expressed confidence that the bumper
harvest expected across the North would
guarantee food security if the nation’s food
exportation is controlled.
In his Sallah message, Governor Masari also
expressed optimism that Nigeria would soon
overcome its economic challenges as it had done
in the past.
The governor called on Nigerians to continue to
exercise patience with the efforts of the
country’s leadership to surmount the diverse
challenges facing the nation, and noted that the
economic recession facing the country is a
phenomenon affecting several nations of the
world.
The high point of the prayer led by Sheik
Sufuyan Yusuf was the slaughtering of a ram
each by the president and the Emir of Daura,
Umaru Farouk Umaru, amidst cheers from a
huge gathering of Daura residents who thronged
the Kofar Arewa Eid ground.
Without Sacrifice, We’ll Never See The Nigeria
Of Our Dream – Jonathan
Former President Goodluck Jonathan in his
Sallah message, yesterday advised Nigerians to
put the love of the country above personal
interests, saying that is the only way to achieve
the “Nigeria of our dreams.”
Jonathan cited the example of Ibrahim who was
willing to sacrifice his son, saying: “Let us imbibe
Ibrahim’s ideals and put Nigeria first in all we
do. I salute the Muslim Ummah this Sallah.
Happy Eid-el-Kabir. Without self-sacrifice, we
will never see the Nigeria of our dreams. And
we always think, ‘what about me’ instead of
‘what about Nigeria’.
“On Eid-el-Kabir, we honour Ibrahim’s
willingness to sacrifice his son. This must teach
us that we must all sacrifice for Nigeria’s
greatness,” he wrote on Twitter.
Abuja residents blame low-key celebration to
economic recession
In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja,
residents blamed the low-key 2016 Eid-el-Kabir
celebration on the current economic recession in
the country.
A correspondent of the News Agency of
Nigerian (NAN) who went round some parks in
the FCT reports that the usual hustle and bustle
associated with the celebration was lacking.
The residents told NAN in separate interviews
that the low-key celebration and low turnouts to
the parks by fun seekers was because of the
current economic recession.
At Water Fountain Park, Kado, Mr Dauda
Ibrahim, a resident who was there with his
children, said the economy was not favourable
for elaborate celebration.
“It is no longer news that the country is in
recession; therefore, I do not expect people to
have elaborate celebration in this year’s Eid-el
Kabir celebration,” he stated.
Another fun seeker at the park, Suleiman
Mohammed, a civil servant, said he was there
with his children to make them feel the joy of
Sallah.
Mohammed, however, lamented that inflation
was on a steady rise and said it had forced
people to have a low-key celebration.
“The money is not even there; what my salary
can afford some years ago, it can no longer
afford. It’s just unfortunate that things are like
this,” he said.
At the children’s playground at Transcorp Hilton
Hotel, Maitama, Malam Yahaya Iliya, who came
there with his children, affirmed that there is
suffering in the land and thus most people could
not afford to buy rams; rather they bought beef
for their families.
He, however, noted that the most important
thing in the Eid-el-Kabir celebration was the act
of sacrifice and tolerance.
“We should not allow the hardship in the country
to take away our willingness to sacrifice for one
another and to live in peace with one another.
The current economic situation is unfortunate,
but we should be optimistic that it shall be well,
and that the country will be great again,’’ Iliya
said.
At River Plate Garden in Wuse II, few fun
seekers were seen sitting on mats, playing board
games.
One of the fun seekers, John Oche, a trader at
Wuse Market, corroborated Ibrahim and
Mohammed’s position; that the celebration was
low-key.
“I can count the people in this park; no money,
dollar is out of reach and the market is a no-go
area because of the daily increase in the price
of goods,” he said.
The situation was not different at Magic Land
Amusement Park located near the City Gate.
Mr Peter Okoh, the manager of the park,
confirmed that the turnout of fun seekers to the
park was low.
“During last year’ festivities, a lot of people
came here to have fun, but this year, especially
this Eid-el-Kabir celebration, the turnout is low.
“Though, I am not surprised because the
economic situation is biting hard on the people.
Nevertheless, we thank God for everything; we
only pray that things get better for all
Nigerians,’’ Okah said.