By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun on Friday, tasked Muslims to prayerfully intercede for the country to succeed in her current war against insurgency and other challenges as well as free and fair general elections in 2023 during this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
The royal father who stated this in his congratulatory message to Muslims across the country on this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, signed on his behalf by his Media Aide, Oladele Ogunsola, pointed out that that the next year election is capable of making or marring this country.
Oba Lekan Balogun emphasized that the occasion of this year’s Eid-El-Kabir should be used to prayerfully intercede for the country
and be seen as a time for sober reflection on the practice of Islam in the country.
” As we join our compatriots across the globe to celebrate the all important religious festival, we should be mindful of the purpose of what we are celebrating. We must be conscious of the eternal love of the Almighty Allah for mankind, the undiluted faith in Him as well as total submission to His will which all manifested when the event that culminated into this celebration was originally held”, he said.
Oba Lekan Balogun added, ” it is also a time for sober reflection on the practice of Islam in the country. How loving are we to our fellow Muslims? How loving are we to our fellow citizens that do not share our religious belief? Are we worthy of people that others would want to follow and seek our Allah for the purpose of worshipping Him? All these are what we should also ponder on as we celebrate this year’s Eid-el-Kabir”
He stressed that the time has come for Muslims to deeply reflect on the historical and religious background of the annual celebration by not allowing themselves to be carried away by wining and dinning that the slaughtering of rams would naturally attract, but the essence of the revered and significant event.
Urging Islamic faithful to let the spirit of sacrifice occasioned by total submission to the will of the Almighty Allah as demonstrated by the patriarch of the religion, Ibrahim (PBUH) be their guide, Oba Lekan Balogun stated that it is only by that the purpose of the celebration would not be lost.
The Olubadan tasked Muslims to take note of the mood of the nation as they celebrate which is of serious concern and notice must be taken of this very important aspect of the nation’s life in the course of the celebration, saying, “It is very important that we do everything with moderation and shun anything that can trigger violence”,
