Muslims in Nigeria, today, joined other faithful around the world to celebrate Eid-el-Fitri which mark the end of the Ramandan fast, as a result, the Federal Government declared today and Monday public holidays nationwide to enable Muslim faithful celebrate with loved ones and show love to others.
Well-meaning Nigerians share the joy of the season and felicitate with Muslims this Sallah festival.
The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, yesterday enjoined Muslim faithful to pray for the unity, peace and progress of the nation ahead of the Eid el-Fitri.
In a statement, signed by Special Adviser (Media) to Saraki, in Abuja, Yusuph Olamiyonu, urged them to intensify prayers even as the month of Ramadan ends for their leaders as they have been enjoined by the Almighty Allah in the Holy Book.
“At this point in our national life, unity among all the different ethnic and religious groups will usher in peace and peace can only engender progress and development.
“We, therefore, need to learn to live together in peace, tolerate one another and eschew actions which can threaten the peace of the nation.
“Muslims, in particular, should continue to demonstrate the fact that the meaning of Islam is peace, and therefore, we should learn to live in peace with people of other faith and tolerate each other.
“We should also remember our fellow citizens in the North-Eastern part of the country who are being assailed by insurgents who call themselves Boko Haram,” Saraki said.
He also called on all Nigerians to continue to pray for our military who were engaged in the war against the insurgents to enable them restore total peace in the nation.
“Good followership is sine-qua-non for good leadership. Nigerians should always display patriotism, pay their taxes as and when due, eschew corrupt practices and protect public facilities.”
A former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has told Muslims to embrace the virtues of forgiveness and common understanding as they join their counterparts across the globe to celebrate the end of Ramadan.
A spokesman for Atiku said in a statement in Abuja quoted the APC stalwart as saying that one of the basic components of Ramadan was to seek mercy of God.
According to the statement, when God forgives our sins, it becomes imperative for us as humans to extend the grace of forgiveness and common understanding to other human beings.
The statement congratulated Muslims for the successful completion of Ramadan fasting.
It said that Ramadan was a season of abundant grace from God, especially at a time such as now, when Nigeria was at the threshold of a new beginning.
The statement advised that all hands must be on deck to close “old gaps” in order to support the new political leadership.
“As Muslims, we must live our lives by the examples of Prophet Muhammed in ensuring that we build peace and common understanding in our families and communities.”
The Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Yussuff Lasun, also called for unity and understanding among Nigerians.
This is contained in his Sallah message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Oyewole Oladimeji in Abuja.
The statement said that Eid-el-Fitr should promote unity between Muslims and their Christian brothers.
According to the statement, it is only unity that can bring about growth and development to the nation.
The statement appealed to Nigerians to be patient and allow the present government to unfold its plans on how to move the nation forward.
It called on Nigerians to reflect on the spirit of Ramadan and always tread on the path of peace and unity.

Also, National Publicity Secretary of the United Progressive Party, (UPP)Chief Ogbuehi Dike also congratulated all Muslims in the country for the successful observance of the Ramadan fast.
In a statement in Abuja, Dike urged all Muslims to imbibe the virtues and lessons of Ramadan.
“We congratulate millions of our Muslim brothers and sisters for the successful observance of the Ramadan fast.
“We urge the Muslim faithful to imbibe the virtues and lessons of Ramadan, which include sacrifice, love, peace and patriotism in our collective quest at building a great nation,” he said.
He expressed UPP’s support to ongoing war on corruption and urged security agencies to investigate and prosecute all public office holders accused of embezzlement.
“We support ongoing war on corruption and urge security agencies, particularly the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate and prosecute all public office holders who embezzled our common patrimony.
“This will serve as a deterrent to others and is in consonance with UPP principled stand on zero tolerance for corruption that has retarded the nation’s development,” Dike stated.
Similarly, All Progressives Congress (APC) leader, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, has urged all Muslim faithful to re-dedicate themselves to the enduring attributes of love for one another.
Onu said, “at all times, it should be borne in mind that as a people, regardless of differences in either religious beliefs or ethnic origin, we must remain bound together in the pursuit of a common resolve.
“We should build a better and a more united nation, where `though tribe and tongue may differ’, in brotherhood we should continue to stand.
“A house divided against itself can hardly stand; as a nation, our strength lies in our diversity. Nigeria is a nation whose sun is about to rise.
“We should work together as members of one family to realize our collective desire for a new Nigeria of limitless opportunities for all and boundless prosperity for many.
“ The challenge we face is to be determined in our resolve to work together, especially with the inspiring commitment of the APC-led Federal Government of President Muhammadu Buhari,” Onu said in a statement in Abuja.
In its own reaction, the Democratic People’s Congress (DPC) urged Muslims in the country to be great arsenal of democracy, especially in this era of change.
The political party gave the charge in a statement in Abuja yesterday to congratulate Muslims on the occasion of 2015 Eid-el-fitr.
In the statement signed by its National Chairman, Mr Olusegun Peters, the party commended the Islamic faithful for the successful completion of the month-long Ramadan fast.
It said that that it was without doubt that the fasting period was used for soul searching, rededication in service to God and the nation, as well as prayers for peace, unity and progress of the country.
The DPC urged Nigerians to renew their confidence and faith in the fatherland with a view to building a strong, virile and prosperous society.
”It is imperative for Nigerians to be more patriotic and to consider the interest of the nation and set aside mundane partisan politics and self-aggrandizement.
“We commend President Muhammadu Buhari for the appointments of the new service chiefs and National Security Adviser and hope that they will inject fresh air and passion in the fight against Boko Haram.
“Nigerians, and indeed, the whole world, expect total elimination of Boko Haram insurgency in the country.
“It is a task that must be done for the unity and territorial integrity of Nigeria,” it said.
It said that it remained expedient that the girls abducted by insurgents in the North-East were rescued and be re-united with their families ”after over 400 days in captivity”.
“We urge politicians to imbibe issue-based politics and eschew politics of bitterness and violence that has impeded our emerging democracy.
“It is time for action. It is time to build a new Nigeria and provide dividends of democracy to long-suffering compatriots; we are all in it together,” the party added.