President Bola Tinubu, state governors, and some eminent leaders have urged Muslims to emulate the virtues of Prophet Muhammad. They also called for prayers for peace and unity in the country, and empathy and compassion toward one another. These calls were made in celebration of Maulud Nabiy, the birthday of Prophet Muhammad. The Federal Government declared Monday (today) a public holiday to mark the celebration.

Tinubu, in his message of goodwill and congratulations to Muslims, as contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, said, “As we mark the Maulud, we should all reflect on the life lived by Prophet Muhammad, exemplified by purity, selflessness, perseverance, kindness and compassion. We must endeavour to imbibe those virtues.”

He urged Muslims to use the period for deep reflection and remembrance of the exemplary conduct and noble teachings of the prophet and also pray for the country. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, charged Muslim faithful in the country and in the diaspora to be inspired by Prophet Muhammad’s virtues of harmony, love, and service to humanity as they celebrate his birthday.

In a message signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, he said, “As you celebrate this important Muslim feast, I pray that this auspicious day brings peace, joy, and blessings to our great nation and the world at large.

“I enjoin you to imbibe the teachings of the Holy Prophet and be inspired to live in harmony, love and service to humanity.”

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, urged Muslims to pray for the peace and prosperity of the country.

“The Speaker calls for prayers for Nigeria and its political, religious, and traditional leaders, especially by Islamic faithful,” the statement noted.

It added, “The country needs divine intervention in its affairs at this critical stage of our national life.”

Describing Prophet Muhammad as an embodiment of peace and unity, Abbas urged Muslims to imbibe his teachings, which are about godliness, obedience to authorities, and sacrifice.

Leaders Advocate for Unity and Compassion

The Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, in a statement on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, urged Muslims to embrace the Prophet’s teachings of compassion, peace, and support for one another. He said, “As we celebrate the birthday of our noble Prophet Muhammad (SAW), let us reflect on his virtues and teachings and follow his example in our daily activities.”

He also reiterated the National Assembly’s commitment to enacting legislation that supported Tinubu’s administration in addressing the nation’s pressing challenges. Barau, who also serves as the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, stressed the need for continuous prayers for peace, stability, and prosperity in the country.

State Governors Echo Calls for Peace

The Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, tasked the Muslim faithful in the state to promote peace as they celebrated the birthday of Prophet Muhammad. As compiled and released by the office of the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Mukhtar Gidado, on Sunday, the governor reminded the faithful that, “The Holy Prophet had during his lifetime preached peace, honesty, patience, generosity, humility, sincerity, love for one another and fear of God.

“It is these virtues that people, irrespective of their religious inclinations, are enjoined to imbibe and practice.”

He added, “I would also like to call on the good people of Bauchi State to continue to live in peace and harmony with one another despite their ethnic, religious or political differences.

“We should use the occasion of the Eid-el-Maulud to pray for sustained peace in our state and for peace to be restored to states that currently face security challenges.”

The governor also called for prayer against the flood disaster ravaging some parts of the country. The Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, called on the Muslim Ummah to draw inspiration and lessons from the virtues of Prophet Muhammad as they celebrated this year’s Eid-el-Maulud.

The governor, who is also the Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, in a press statement signed by Director-General of Press Affairs, Ismaila Misilli, encouraged Muslims to imbibe the Prophet’s qualities of tolerance, humility, modesty, and honesty in their daily lives. The statement read, “As we commemorate this great and epochal day, I enjoin us to continue to demonstrate in our lives what the noble messenger of Allah bequeathed to humanity in ethos, manners, and relationships for the good of society.”

He urged that the celebration of the Prophet’s birth should serve as a moment for spiritual rejuvenation and a reminder for Nigerians to come together in prayer for unity, stability, and progress, particularly during these challenging times.

Reflecting on Prophet Muhammad's Teachings

Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State, in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Baba Dantiye, noted that “Eid Maulud is a special occasion for Muslims to reflect on the exemplary life, teachings, and virtues of the Prophet, who embodied peace, compassion, humility, and love for humanity.”

The governor urged Muslims to use the period for prayers, seeking divine intervention for peace, stability, and prosperity in the face of the current persistent security and economic challenges in the state and the entire country. He also called on the people, particularly the well-to-do, to help their neighbours and the needy as the economic hardship bit harder and deeper.

The Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, called on Muslims across the globe to unite in peace and to pray for Tinubu and the country as a whole. In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Abdullahi Zuru, and made available to newsmen on Sunday, the governor admonished Muslims to promote peace and unity in the country.

“The celebration has allowed us to pray hard for the country and to reflect on our actions, good or bad, to repent and switch to good things that please Allah,” the statement read.

The Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, in a statement issued by the Special Adviser (Media), Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, congratulated all Muslims on witnessing the Maulud and called on them to pray for Oyo State, Nigeria and the leadership at both levels. He described the birth anniversary of the Prophet as an important festival for all Muslims which should be used as an avenue to seek God’s face over the state of affairs in the country.

“While felicitating my Muslim brothers and sisters, I want to charge them to use the opportunity to pray more for our state and nation.

“As an administration, we have enjoyed the support and prayers of the Muslim Ummah in the last five years. But just as efforts cannot be too much, prayers cannot be too much. So, please pray more for things to turn around for the better in our nation,” the statement read.

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, in his goodwill message to the Muslim faithful on Sunday, called for peaceful co-existence, unity, and love, to move the nation forward. He said, “Maulud-al-Nabi, being an occasion for the commemoration of the birth of Prophet Mohammed, presents an opportunity to reflect on the life and times of the Holy Prophet, especially the virtues of empathy, love, peaceful coexistence, selfless service to humanity, among others, which he preached and was also noted for.

“Again, in times like these especially, it behoves us as Nigerians to be our brother’s keeper and join our hands in faith to wade through the present challenges confronting us as a nation.

“Indeed, it is only by doing so that we can move our country forward on the path of peace and prosperity to realise its full greatness.”

The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, in a message in Port Harcourt, urged Muslims to show love, tolerance, perseverance, patriotism and commitment to the growth and development of the state. He urged the Muslim Ummah to use the lessons of the 12th day of the third month of Rabi’ al-Awwal to reflect on the core teachings of the Holy Prophet and intercede for one another as exemplified by the sacrifices made for humanity.

“The occasion, yet again, provides an opportunity to reflect deeply on the need for greater application of the Prophet’s teachings bordering on piety, charity, patience, resilience, justice and peaceful coexistence,” he said.

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Festus Ahon, urged Muslims to use the occasion to pray for the peace and prosperity of the state and the country at large.

“Nigeria is presently in the dire strait that required the sincere prayers of all citizens to overcome the economic and security challenges currently bedevilling it,” the statement read.

The governor urged Muslims in the state and other parts of the country to emulate the exemplary leadership of the Holy Prophet by promoting peaceful existence anywhere they lived.

“My hope and prayer is that, as we celebrate, we will internalise the spiritual lessons inherent in the teachings of the Holy Prophet regarding piety, love, justice, fairness, equity, peaceful coexistence, tolerance, honesty, and duty-drivenness. If these teachings are well applied, they will serve our beloved country and bring it greater glory,” it added.

A Call for Reconciliation

The immediate-past Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, in his message, urged Nigerians to reflect on Prophet Muhammad’s message of love, mercy, and forgiveness and work together towards reconciliation. “Eid-ul-Mawlid is a reminder of the common values that unite us as a people. Let us use this celebration to bridge our differences and build a brighter future for our nation,” he said.

The former Senate Chief Whip, Orji Kalu, congratulated the Muslim community and called on religious leaders to promote peace and unity. He stressed the importance of Nigeria’s diversity as a tool for national growth and development.

“I call on the Muslim Ummah to sustain the teachings of the Holy Qu’ran and the exemplary qualities of Prophet Muhammad in their daily endeavours. They should also pray for leaders at all levels of government,”

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party has urged the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government to reassess all policies that negatively affected the people and focus more on citizens’ welfare. In a statement on Sunday to celebrate Maulud, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, urged the Federal Government to address wasteful spending, tackle corruption, and focus resources on projects that would directly benefit Nigerians.

“The Peoples Democratic Party celebrates with Nigerians, especially the Muslim Ummah on the occasion of the Eid-el Maulud, charging them to strengthen their resolve for a national rebirth to overcome the biting economic hardship and worsening insecurity fuelled by the anti-people policies of the All Progressives Congress administration.

“The party urges Nigerians to use the occasion to reinforce their hope in the Almighty Allah for direction as well as care for one another, especially at this critical time when millions of citizens have been subjected to misery, hopelessness and utter destitution as a result of bad governance by the APC,” the statement read.

The opposition party encouraged Nigerians to stay calm and hopeful and to use Eid-el Maulud as a time to show love to one another while earnestly praying for divine guidance in the nation’s affairs.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D, has congratulated Muslims as they celebrate Eid-el-Maulud, which marks the birth of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The Speaker called for prayers for Nigeria and its political, religious, and traditional leaders, especially by Islamic faithful, noting that the country needs divine intervention in its affairs at this critical stage of national life. Describing Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as an embodiment of peace and unity, Speaker Abbas urged the Muslims to imbibe his teachings, which are about godliness, obedience to authorities, and sacrifice. He urged the Muslims to be their brother’s keepers at all times as exemplified by the Holy Prophet. While calling on Nigerians to use the occasion to re-dedicate themselves to nation-building, Speaker Abbas also charged them with supporting the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. He noted that the 10th National Assembly, especially the House under his leadership, is committed to aiding projects, programmes, and policies that will bring peace and prosperity to the nation. Speaker Abbas wished the Muslim Ummah happy celebrations.

A Call for Divine Intervention

The calls for peace and unity come at a time when Nigeria is facing significant challenges, including insecurity, economic hardship, and political instability. Many Nigerians are hoping that the celebration of Eid-el-Maulud will serve as a moment of reflection and a renewed commitment to building a better future for the country.

The lessons of Prophet Muhammad’s life and teachings remain relevant today, particularly in a world grappling with division and conflict. His emphasis on peace, compassion, and justice continues to inspire people across cultures and faiths. As Nigerians celebrate Eid-el-Maulud, it is important to remember the prophet’s message and work towards building a more united and prosperous nation.