Lessons Of Eid el Kabir

When the founding fathers of the Nige
rian state, opted for the insulation of
religion from politics and public policy, they did so, not to undervalue the import and potency of faith in the character moulding of the human person all over the world. It was instead to give vent to the beauty of our plurality and diversity, and allow every Nigerian the space and right to worship and embrace any religion, of his choosing.
Even so, successive Federal and State governments have continued to encourage the positive growth of faith-based religions in view of the undeniable value they add to human life and developments. It is in the same vein that successive governments have continued to invest reasonably in the spiritual capacity- building of the citizenry through sponsorship of pilgrimages to both Christian and Moslem Holy Lands.
It is also in appreciation of the role the two dominant religions in Nigeria play that they are accorded ample space in the nation’s celebrated epochs as national public holidays.
Yesterday and today mark one of such Moslem landmarks, the Eid el Kabir,  a date in the Islamic calender to celebrate the uncommon willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his only child in obedience to Allah, after many years of expectation, disillusionment, anxiety but hope in his maker for the gift of a child. It highlights the values of sacrifice, obedience, patience, love, piety and  indeed selflessness.
These virtues, without doubt, symbolise the true and undeniable worth of human life and civilization without which public order, rule of law and tolerance would be a mirage.
Therefore, as Moslems and Christians alike join the rest of the Islamic world to celebrate the Eid el Kabir, it is only instructive for all Nigerians to reflect deeply on the true meaning and importance of sacrifice, patience, obedience and indeed love which the festival epitomises.
Infact, at no time are these virtues in more urgent demand than now, that the Nigerian state is facing various national challenges ranging from a protracted Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike, poor electric power supply, fearful decline in oil production, increasing political intolerance, inter-ethnic suspision, disturbing infrastructural deficit, education, economic, and health-based concerns and most importantly the seeming absence of compromise and failure of the political class to strike a middle-course on key national issues in public conversations.
With proper assimilation of the virtues of patience, sacrifice and obedience to existing rules and public order which Eid el Kabir emphasises, Nigerians would, without a doubt, be able to demonstrate true patriotism and respect for one another’s religion and always embrace dialogue, rather than the now familiar recourse to the near frequent heating-up of the polity or resort to violence.
More than any thing  else, Nigerians should leverage on the Sallah, to fully appreciate the similarity in the lessons which Eid el Kabir teaches, as does Christianity and together work towards a better Nigeria that all shall be proud of.
The citizenry should by now accept as a fact that it is not a mistake or accident of creation that Nigeria be peopled by men, women and children of various ethnic, religious and cultural persuasions. They must appreciate the inevitability of protecting and preserving their common destiny through mutual sacrifice, tolerance, patience and above all love.
It is only in so doing that we will together eliminate  hatred, faith-based violence, terrorism, hunger, disease, suspicion and indeed, backwardness. What makes a stronger government is a patriotic citizenry that unconditionally demonstrates faith in the country.
But it behoves governments at all levels to reciprocate a good citizenry through programmes, projects and policies that address, in a lasting manner, the fluctuating fortunes of the state. That is the true bond of nationhood, which once compromised, results in endless challenges like those Nigeria today faces.
Now therefore, is another auspicious opportunity for all to reflect on the true import of the Eid el Kabir and imbibe the virtues that add the most meaning to this all important Islamic observance.
The Tide wishes the Islamic faithful Happy Eid el Kabir, Eid Mubarak. Bark de Sallah.