Date: 2020-05-24

The Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has felicitated with the Muslim community over the completion of the Ramadan fast, and prayed God to reward and grant the supplications of the faithful.

The Governor, however, called on Muslims to observe their Eid prayers at home as the ban on large social and religious gatherings - as is typical of the end of Ramadan prayers - remains in place as part of the measures to curtail the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

"We congratulate our Muslim brethren on the successful completion of Ramadan fasting, and pray the Almighty Allah to accept it as an act of worship, forgive our excesses, grant all our supplications during and after the holy month, and gift us long life and good health to observe several Ramadan in the best state of faith in God," the Governor said.

"Ramadan was a time of complete and sincere submission to the will of God. It served to purify our souls and train us to be discipline, selfless, and conscious of our creator. We beseech Kwarans and indeed Nigerians to internalise the takeaways and let them guide our daily existence for the sake of humanity", the governor added.

According to the Governor, "as fast ends on Saturday, we repeat that the 2020 Ramadan came at an extraordinary time of human existence during which we are to temper certain rights and privileges to preserve the human race against the ravaging deadly Corona Virus (COVID-19). To that extent, there shall be no large gathering for congregational Eid prayer or other large social gatherings in Kwara State this year. For emphasis, all religious places remain shut until further notice. All malls and related places are to prevent such conditions or interactions that can spread the virus. All of these are in line with the COVID-19 safety protocols which have been designed solely to flatten the curve of transmission and protect the people".

Similarly, a Stalwart of the All Progressives Congress, Mallam Saliu Mustapha also felicitated with Muslims on the successful completion of this year's Ramadan fast, urging them to allow the lessons of the period to continue to reflect in their dealings.

In a statement issued by his media aide in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, Mallam Mustapha who called for total submission to Almighty Allah to end global challenges, also stressed the need for Muslims not to return to sinful acts and other wrongdoings.

The founder of Saliu Mustapha Foundation, a Non Governmental Organisation, prayed Allah to save Muslims from devil's way and admonished them to continue giving charity to the poor in their neighbourhood to alleviate their sufferings.

The APC National Chieftain maintained his call on the rich to deploy their wealth for the purpose of providing succour for the poor, especially at this critical period when the world economy is in recession as a result of global novel Covid-19 pandemic.

Mallam Mustapha explained that "the deployment of such wealth on the divine path was necessary in view of the hardship many citizens, especially Muslims are grappling with amid the ravaging coronavirus pandemic".

"Let me also call on Muslim Ummah to strengthen their worship in Allah, repent from sins and sustain the lessons of piety, patriotism and generosity learnt during Ramadan period"

"We thank Almighty Allah for sparing our lives, especially Muslims to be counted among the living souls that completed this year's Ramadan. This is a challenging time for all of us, let us assist the needy around us, pray for our leaders and be patriotic Nigerians"

"I congratulate Muslims in Nigeria, particularly those in Kwara state, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, the Council of Ulamas in Kwara state, our islamic teachers that provided insightful sermons for us during the period and the entire people of Ilorin Emirate on the successful conclusion of the Ramadan fast", Mallam Mustapha said.