Senator Kola Balogun has called for sustained peace, love, unity and harmony among Nigerians as Muslim faithful around the world celebrate Eid-el-Adha.
Balogun, who represented Oyo South Senatorial District in the ninth National Assembly, made the call in a statement to congratulate the Muslim Ummah on the Islamic festival celebration.
He particularly called on Muslim faithful to look beyond the Eid-el-Adha celebration and imbibe its inherent lessons, including love, peace, unity and harmony.
Senator Balogun stated that, as preached and practised by Prophet Mohammed (pbuh), the Muslim Ummah should always seek to promote peace and love with and among their fellow humans.
“It is yet another momentous occasion to celebrate the Eid-el-Adha. It is another opportunity granted to the living to celebrate a great Islamic festival.
“My wife, Mrs Gbonjubola Kola-Balogun and I join all Muslim faithful in Oyo State, Nigeria and other Nigerians around the world to celebrate this year’s Eid-el-Adha and which you Barka da Sallah.
“It is another celebration that require us to take a moment of deep reflection on the state of our nation and renew our love and support for our country, in spite of its inherent problems.
“The celebration of the great Islamic festival should be seen beyond the merriment attached to it. Let us look beyond the food and drinks and think deeply about Nigeria and Nigerians.
“As the great Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) taught us, we should, more than ever before, embrace peace, love unity and harmony.
“Beyond the merriment, we should reflect deeply about our essence as humans. We should spread love to our fellow Nigerians and make peace and harmony the essence of our humanity.
“As we celebrate Eid-el-Adha, let us deliberately seek to embrace the deeper message of sacrifice, compassion and unity as embedded in the lessons of the festival.
“As we navigate through the various national socio-economic challenges, we should seek to promote friendship and national unity among our fellow Nigerians in the spirit of the season.
“There is the need for us to uplift the less privileged within our various communities. Let us support one another and rekindle a sense of patriotism among us as a people and as a country.
“We must unite across religious and ethnic lines to collectively build a better future for ourselves, both as individuals and as a country.
“I pray that Almighty Allah accept the sacrifices of the Muslim faithful during the Eid-el-Adha celebration and beyond and also grant us the grace to live to witness more of it,” Senator Balogun stated in the statement.
