The Federal Government has announced Monday as Public Holiday to mark this year’s Eid-ul-Mawlid Celebration.
The celebration is in commemoration of the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad.
Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government.
Aregbesola, in a statement signed by by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, congratulated all Muslims both at home and outside the shores of the country for witnessing this year’s occasion.
“He admonishes all Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of love, patience, tolerance and perseverance which are deep spiritual virtues and which the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) exemplified, adding that doing so would guarantee peace, security and harmony in the country,” the statement reads.
“Ogbeni Aregbesola enjoins Nigerians, particularly Muslims, to refrain from violence, lawlessness and other acts of criminality.”
“As the indisputable leader of our race, we must demonstrate responsible leadership in Africa”, the Minister stated, as quoted in the statement.
The Minister called for a stop to all forms of disunity as the elections draw near.
He urged all Nigerians, “and the youth in particular, to embrace the virtues of hard work and peaceful disposition to fellow humans, irrespective of faith, ideology, social class and ethnicity and join hands with the President Muhammadu Buhari led-Administration in its effort to build a progressive and enviable nation that all citizens would be proud of.”