Ramadan: Gov. Ambode urges Muslims to pray for Nigeria

Oluranti Adebule, Lagos State Deputy Governor

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has urged Muslims to pray fervently for the country to overcome its current challenges as they observe the holy month of Ramadan.

He made the call at a pre-Ramadan lecture held in Ikeja on Sunday.

Ambode, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Idiat Adebule, said Ramadan was a period of sober reflection which offered Muslims ample opportunity to be united and pursue a common cause.

He said peaceful coexistence of Nigerians was a pre-requisite to any step the country might want to take to tackle all the socio-economic challenges presently facing it.

Ambode congratulated Muslims and urged them to imbibe the lessons inherent in the blessed month.

He charged Muslims in the state to continue to live peacefully with other non-Muslim residents as mandated by the teachings of the Holy Qur’an.

‎The governor explained that Ramadan was about piety and frequent remembrance of Allah, where the rich and the poor would have to fast irrespective of their financial status as long they were healthy.

He urged Muslims to pray fervently for themselves, Lagos State and the nation‎ at large.

The state’s Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef, urged Muslims and non-Muslims to be patient about the
current challenges in the country and to intensify prayers.

According‎ to him, Ramadan is about endurance and sacrifice, where everyone will have to abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, sexual relationship from dawn to sunset in the service of Allah.

He added that the Pre-Ramadan Lecture was to usher in the blessed month but not meant to declare the commencement of the fasting month.