Amid the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed thousands of lives worldwide, crippled businesses, and caused massive disruption to daily living, including religious worship, with the closure of mosques and churches, the Islamic faithful will quietly offer prayers and supplications today to celebrate this year’s Eid-el-fitr. Also called the “Festival of Breaking the Fast”, Eid-el-fitr marks the top of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting within the holy month of Ramadan.

Today’s celebration would be barren of the fanfare, fellowship, and ceremonial visits usually related to Eid-el-fitr. this is often thanks to the social/physical distancing and other containment measures introduced by governments to tackle the spread of the coronavirus.


It was against this new normal that President Muhammadu Buhari, Saturday, called on Muslims across the country to ascertain this year’s Eid event as “an occasion for sober reflection instead of celebration due to the long shadows of gloom that the coronavirus has sew people’s lives.”

Also yesterday, NCDC announce 265 new cases raising the tally to 7526 with 2174 discharges and 221 deaths thus far .

Lagos as was common top the tally with 133, followed by Oyo with 34, Edo 28, Ogun 23, FCT 22, amongst others.


In his Eid-el-fitr message signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari admitted that the COVID-19 challenge had taken an enormous toll on people’s spiritual, social and economic lives. He assured Nigerians that the present lockdown wouldn't be longer than necessary.

Equally within the spirit of the season, Senate President Ahmed Lawan, Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila, Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, former vice chairman Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, and other prominent Nigerians felicitated with Muslims everywhere the country for the completion of the Ramadan fasting period. They urged the citizens to still pray for the country because it battles the challenge of COVID-19.


Buhari told Muslims to stay their spirits up in spite of the coronavirus pandemic. He said the virus, “which caught the planet off-guard, has put a damper on what would otherwise are a time of celebration for the Muslim faithful to mark the top of the Ramadan fasting period.”

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The president said, “For the primary time in recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken an important toll on the people’s spiritual, social and economic lives.” He added, “This year’s fasting period was particularly challenging for Muslims, because that they had to forgo many important aspects of their daily worship, including the routine congregations for prayer and therefore the recitation and interpretation of the Holy Qur’an also as traveling for the lesser pilgrimage to Makkah.


“It isn't easy to offer up many of those important duties and activities, but it became imperative to try to to so so as to regulate or limit the spread of this deadly disease. Let me use this chance to commend the sacrifices of both Muslims and Christians for his or her cooperation within the enforcement of the social distancing guidelines.

“I am cognizant of the inconveniences these tough measures have brought on the lives of Nigerians, including limiting religious activities and gatherings in large numbers.” The president said, “No government would intentionally impose these tough and demanding measures on its citizens if it had a choice.”


The president appreciated Nigerians “whose businesses and means of livelihood were badly suffering from the prolonged lockdown measures for his or her understanding and cooperation.” He assured that the lockdown measures wouldn't continue longer than necessary, saying they might be reviewed from time to time to ease the hardship on the people.

While exhorting people with means to assist their neighbours and people in need “so that we will all begin of this pandemic stronger and more united,” Buhari told the Muslim faithful, “This year’s Eid event is an event for sober reflection instead of celebration due to the long shadows of gloom that the coronavirus has sew people’s lives.”


He prayed Allah to ease the hardship among the people as they struggle to flatten the curve of COVID-19 infections. He wished all Nigerians “Eid Mubarak.”

Felicitating with Nigerians and, especially , the Ummah , President of the Senate, Lawan, enjoined all to still observe the health precautions and sustain the acts of purity, charity, perseverance and tolerance in their daily lives and general conduct.

He said, “We should also still pray for Nigeria, our dear country, for God’s intervention against all the challenges that confront our nation and our world. I assure you on behalf of my colleagues that the National Assembly will still provide the initiatives and responses expected of a responsible legislature during a vibrant democracy and as an arm of a caring government.


“I wish to specially commend all our healthcare and other essential services providers, who are at the battlefront of the fight against COVID-19 and assure them of full support of their lawmakers and representatives for victory against the vicious enemy.”

Gbajabiamila also congratulated Nigerian Muslims on the successful conclusion of this year’s Ramadan fast and marking of a peaceful Eid-el-Fitr. He urged them to wish for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gbajabiamila’s message was contained during a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi. He urged Muslims to imbibe virtues, like feeding the needy, being their brother’s keepers, and praying for peaceful coexistence that sometimes came with the month of Ramadan.


Gbajabiamila stated, “I bring back Nigerian Muslims warm greetings at this season of Eid-el-Fitr. it's a season of remembrance of the great things that the Almighty Allah has wiped out our lives.

“Unfortunately, this year’s Eid-el-Fitr are going to be celebrated low-key, not for our own making, but that's how our Creator wills it. that's why we all must return to Him in prayers to bring an end to the present COVID-19 pandemic.

“I enjoin every Nigerian Muslim to be of excellent character and remain the simplest of examples, taking after the Holy Prophet (SAW). Let’s also pray for an end to insecurity and other challenges that we face as a nation.”


Omo-Agege, while calling on Nigerians to be fervent in prayers for a fast end to the COVID-19 pandemic, also sued for prayers for the country to beat its other challenges.

The deputy senate president said, “I join all Muslims in praying that the planet will get over the prevailing pandemic, that the injuries of division become healed in Nigeria which all citizens can enjoy the realisation of the Buhari administration’s goal of achieving better standards of living.”


Former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu urged the Ummah to not relent in their prayers against COVID-19. Ekweremadu enjoined Muslims to continue within the virtues of affection , forgiveness, and unity imbibed during the Ramadan fast.

In the message by his media adviser, Uche Anichukwu, the previous deputy senate president stated, “I felicitate with our Muslim brothers and sisters on this occasion of Eid-Fitr. It is, however, important to notice that this may be an unusual Sallah without the traditional fanfare and exchange of goodwill visits across the country thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. I, therefore, enjoin the Ummah to celebrate safely, bearing in mind that this pandemic will pass and there'll be more Sallah celebrations ahead.”


The Minority Caucus within the House of Representatives also congratulated Nigerians on the successful completion of the Ramadan fast and called on Muslims to use the Eid-el-fitr celebration to activate the much-needed national rebirth.

The legislator , Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, during a statement, urged Nigerians to make sure that they adhere strictly to all or any health and safety protocols on COVID-19 as they observe the Eid-el-fitr.

Elumelu stated, “As a nation, we must use this era for deep introspection and rekindle the virtues of forgiveness, tolerance, love for each other and commitment to the steadiness and progress of our dear nation and humanity at large.”


Atiku said the time involved sacrifice for national development. He stated, “This time involves sacrifice in leadership. this is often no time for extravagance and living in luxury.

“I wish all Nigerian Muslims and their counterparts across the planet a more special celebration, crammed with pleasant moments as we pray together and luxuriate in the day with our families. even as it had been a Ramadan like none other, the Eid-il-fitr celebrations marking the top of the fasting this year too would be epochal.


“I am sure there would be only a few Muslims alive today – if any – who had witnessed a Ramadan fasting just like the one we just had, and Eid celebration like we might have this year without the mandatory congressional prayers.”

Sanwo-Olu Urges Muslims to Continue on Path of Spirituality, Peaceful Coexistence

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, urged Muslims to still demonstrate the virtues of peaceful coexistence imbibed during the month-long fasting preceding Eid-el-Fitri.


In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, Sanwo-Olu, said Eid-el-Fitri was significant because it marked the top of the month of abstinence from worldly pleasures with fasting and prayers.

The governor said, “Today, I join many people round the world, to wish our Muslim brothers and sisters in Lagos State and in Nigeria happy Eid-el-fitri. For Muslims, today’s celebration is extremely unique. it's a feast to mark the top of a month-long spiritual renewal following 30 days of fasting and other religious acts.


“Ramadan was a period that you simply denied yourselves the worldly pleasures, turned to your Creator for total cleansing, and upheld other religious values. Such values because the reaffirmation of your duty to serve each other , helping the poor and therefore the vulnerable within the society, offering gratitude, showing compassion and generosity among other good deeds that guide your faith.

“As Muslims celebrate this year’s Eid-el-Fitri, we must remind ourselves of the necessity to further reflect spiritually and build communally.”


He added, “As we celebrate, i would like us to recollect that our fight against the COVID-19 isn't over.

“Let us reflect on the last two to 3 months of our lives as individuals, as a state and as a nation. we should always also remember our health care workers, and thousands of COVID-19 patients who would have loved to be reception to celebrate with us at this moment.”

Ugwuanyi involves Prayers, Abiding Faith in God


Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi charged Muslims and, indeed, all Nigerians to stay resolute in their abiding faith in God, through prayers and sacrifice, because the country battles COVID-19. Ugwuanyi congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari and other Muslim faithful on the successful completion of Ramadan. He said the religious exercise was an excellent boost to the country’s war against COVID-19 also as efforts to sustain peace, unity and progress of the country.

Source: http://skipogist.com/buhari-it-is-time-for-sober-reflection-not-celebration/

Since I was born...every Xmas,Easter and Ramadan.government will be like "use this period for sober reflection"..nigerians are tired of sobering.

He is trying to deceive some gullible Christian not me