Eid-el-Fitr: Gabam felicitates Muslim Ummah, calls for steadfastness in nation building

Eid-el-Fitr: Gabam felicitates Muslim Ummah, calls for steadfastness in nation building

Joel Oladele, Abuja 

As Nigerian Muslims join their counterparts across the world to celebrate this year Eid-el-Fitr, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, has admonished them to emulate the virtues and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) by being steadfast, honest, sincere and corrupt-free. 

In a statement personally signed by him on Wednesday, he  tasked Muslim faithfuls to imbibe the spirit of the Holy Month and spread love to their neighbours and fellow countrymen irrespective of their faith, culture and ethnicity.

Gabam further admonished Muslim Ummah to contribute their quota in national development and “eschew acts detrimental to peace, unity and progress of our dear nation.” 

He reminded the citizens that they are Constitutionally responsible to hold their representatives/leaders at all levels of government accountable. 

Alhaji Gabam commended Nigerians for their patients, doggedness and resilience in the face of the prevailing hardship in the country occasioned by the removal of Petroleum Subsidy; the pains of which he said they still bear the brunt. He emphasized the need for the citizens not to give up on Nigeria as it’s the only country we can truly call ours.

He however called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu NOT to take the goodwill of Nigerian voters for granted “by inflicting unbearable pain on them through anti-people policies.”

On removal of electricity tariff, he noted that “the President was ill-advised in taking the unpopular decision to raise electricity tariffs from N68 to N255 per kilowatts-hour, effective April 1, 2024, at this critical time of mounting economic challenges, his advisers who sold the idea to him neither love him  nor desire the stability of his government. It is the height of insensitivity to contemplate on the part of any government.”

The SDP National Chairman advised the President Bola Tinubu to reciprocate Nigerian people by putting smiles on their faces with good policies and programmes and not the other way round. He urged Tinubu to direct the Minister of Power to rescind the reckless decision on the Electricity Tariff Hike as well as the planned removal of its subsidy; as this will only exacerbate the economic hardships of Nigerias and further increase the poverty level.

He also called on the State Governors and Local Council Authorities to be responsive to the plight of Nigerians.

“Failure to adhere to the above, the SDP, as a viable opposition political party will not hesitate to mobilise Nigerians for a peaceful mass Protest against this inhumane decision by the government,” he said.

The National Chairman  however, prayed Almighty Allah to grant Nigeria a sustained peace and stable economy; while wishing Muslim faithfuls a joyful and peaceful celebration across the world.

Eid-el-Fitr is an occasion that marks the end of a tedious but meticulous religious activity of Muslims