The Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, has advised his subjects and Nigerians to respect all government directives and health guidelines against coronavirus pandemic to curtail its spread.
The Etsu Nupe, who is the Chairman, Council of Traditional Rulers in Niger State, gave the advice in his Sallah message at the Etsu Usman Zaki Juma’at Mosque on Sunday in Bida, Niger state.
The royal father appealed for intensifying of prayers by the Muslim Ummah and religious faithful in the country for God’s intervention on the dreaded disease.
Abubakar, who emphasised that COVID-19 is real, stressed the need for Muslims to pray and adhere strictly to the preventive measures as they celebrate Eid El-Fitr.
The monarch, while congratulating Muslims on the successful completion of the Ramadan Fast and the Sallah celebration, emphasised the need for love among one another and support for the less privileged in society.
He enjoined Muslims to reflect on the lessons of Ramadan and continue to pray fervently for the nation to overcome Covid 19 and other challenges.
According to Etsu Nupe, “I enjoin Nigerians to adhere striclty to all the safety measures against COVID-19 as advised by government and health experts such as frequent washing of hands, social distancing and environmental hygiene at all times.
“If this is done by all of us, it will go a long way in curtailing the spread of the virus in our communities and the country at large”.
He explained that Muslims should use the occasion to rebuild the fabric of national unity and reaffirm Nigeria’s common destiny as an indivisible entity.
The traditional ruler expressed optimism that Nigeria would be the ultimate beneficiary of the spiritual lessons from the celebration.
He added that with prayers and fear of Allah, peaceful coexistence, mutual respect and love, Nigerians would work together and harness the abundant resources as a progressive nation.
The royal father called on the citizens to build bridges of brotherhood to harness the benefits of earthly life and the ultimate purpose of the nation’s unity.
Abubakar appealed to wealthy individuals in the country to assist the less privileged to enable all and sundry to celebrate Eid el-Fitr with ease.
He said, “God has endowed wealth on people not for themselves and their immediate family, but for the benefit of entire society.
“The present socio-economic predicament we are facing requires assistance from well to do individuals in the country”.
The monarch urged Muslim faithful to continue to pray to God, to assist President Buhari and other elected and appointed leaders to overcome the current challenges bedeviling the nation.
The monarch also charged the people of his domain to send their children to school, to acquire both western and Islamic knowledge.
“It is through education that they can learn how to live a good and displined life.”
