BREAKING: Tinubu To Nigerians At Eid-el-Fitr: Show Brotherly Love And Charity To The Vulnerable�

President Bola Tinubu has urged all Nigerians to embrace the spirit of Eid-el-Fitr by demonstrating greater love and compassion, particularly toward the vulnerable, and extending acts of charity to all.

Addressing newsmen on Sunday after the Eid-el-Fitr prayers marking the end of Ramadan at the National Eid Prayer Ground in Abuja, the President urged Nigerians not to return to the old and unacceptable paths but to remain steadfast in practising the righteous virtues they had learned during Ramadan.

He said: “We should give thanks to the Almighty Allah. We saw the beginning; we started together and ended together in good health and happiness, in prayers for our country and all our people.

“We should continue the good deeds as taught during the Holy month of Ramadan: care for the vulnerable, the orphans and the less privileged.

“Everything that we have observed, we should not revert to the path that is not acceptable to the teachings of this month”.

Earlier in his sermon, the Chief Imam of National Mosque, Abuja, Dr Abdulkadir Salman Sholagberu, who led the prayers, reiterated the need for Muslims to continue in the spirit of Ramadan, which included exhibiting a life of love, cooperation in righteousness, and care for the poor and the vulnerable.

He stressed that it was imperative to continue in the life of worship, holiness, and obedience to Allah even after Ramadan.

According to him: “You worshipped and followed His rules during Ramadan; you contained the Satan (temptations) within you, the Satan from outside, then after Ramadan, immediately, you go back to what you were, sinful servants.

“Allah says in the Quran: ‘Your example is like someone who was given paradise, then he got old, became helpless, feeble, weak  and turned back against Allah.’

“If you do this, your servitude is like someone who had built for himself a mansion and, unfortunately, by his own hands, he pulled it down.

“We must continue to cooperate in righteousness. During the Fast, we showed love to one another; we cared for people in need, we extended charity, and our country was peaceful. Why should we return to rancour after Ramadan”.

Dr Salman urged the Muslim faithful to live in peace, harmony, and love of the country, devoid of discrimination.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, members of the Federal Executive Council, and other senior government officials were also in attendance.

Also on Sunday, President Tinubu reiterated

his commitment to national unity and collective progress, declaring that “nobody is bigger than Nigeria, including myself as President.”

The President, who made the declaration while receiving a Sallah homage from a delegation of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) residents, led by FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike at the State House, Abuja emphasised  that power is a temporary trust from God, showing the importance of humility and service to the people.

His words: “I’m just a custodian of your trust. It is only Almighty Allah that gives power. He says, ‘If I give it to you, you must use it in the righteous way. You must be humane. You must follow my teachings.”

President Tinubu, while reflecting on the just-concluded Ramadan fasting and ongoing Lenten season, emphasised the values of discipline, tolerance, and shared responsibility in building a prosperous nation.

According to him: “We started with prayers. We end with prayers. We committed ourselves with discipline and faithful supplication, learning the teachings of Allah. Such discipline instills understanding, sharing, and partaking in family values that bring us together as one family.”

President Tinubu urged the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration to ensure that the rapid infrastructural development being undertaken under his leadership translates into political success for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.

The President reminded Wike that his position depended on ensuring the political dividends of his administration’s efforts were fully realised.

“I remember the day Nyesom Wike came to me and said, ‘Please, take us out of this problem of TSA so that I can do more work and achieve more.’ Then I said, ‘Okay, tell me what you’re about to do.’ And he presented it. And I threw in my own political guide, ‘Would that give me any opportunity for my party to win the election in FCT?”, President Tinubu revealed.

“I said, ‘I know where you are coming from, your own party or my party. If this thing goes too much in your own favour, you will lose your job.’ Then he said, ‘Okay, we settle that, Oga,” President Tinubu added.

The President eulogised Wike for his transformational leadership in the FCT, acknowledging his efforts in infrastructure development, civil service reforms, and urban renewal projects.

“I must thank the Minister of the FCT. When we started, he came up with a lot of good ideas to liberate the bureaucracy and bring forward-looking, progressive thinking to the administration”.

He specifically highlighted Wike’s role in resolving long-standing issues related to property rights, revitalising abandoned projects, and improving public services such as healthcare and education.

“The health centers are being rehabilitated. The health facilities of the residents of the FCT are being upgraded. Our teachers at school are being rehabilitated, and buildings are furnished. Thank you, Wike,” he added.

President Tinubu urged Nigerians to prioritise national unity over personal ambitions, calling on citizens to embrace peace, harmony, and inclusivity regardless of ethnic or religious differences.

“We must continue to abide by the lessons of Ramadan. We must continue to share and remember the less privileged, the widows, and the have-nots, believing that we can share both in joy and in times of need. And we can believe that Nigeria is greater than any one of us – including myself as President,” he declared.

The President also highlighted Wike’s ability to work effectively in the heart of northern Nigeria despite being from the South, calling it a testament to the strength of Nigeria’s diversity.

He said: “Surprisingly, Nyesom Wike is not from the North. He’s from the southern part of Nigeria. And his ability to work in the center of the northern part of Nigeria is bearing fruit. That is a very good reflection of our diversity that we must use for our prosperity”.

Earlier in his remarks, the FCT Minister noted that removing the Federal Capital Territory Administration from the Treasury Single Account, establishing the FCT Civil Service Commission, creating two new Mandate Secretariats for Women and Youths, and appointing Permanent Secretaries have all bolstered the FCTA’s governance structure and enhanced service delivery.

According to him, these reforms lead to a better quality of life for everyday residents.

In anticipation of President Tinubu’s second anniversary, Wike invited the President to the inauguration of projects completed in the past 12 months.

Wike said: “As we approach the second anniversary of your administration, we are excited about the array of impactful projects that we have lined up for commissioning.

“These projects, designed to improve infrastructure, economic opportunities, and the overall quality of life, stand as evidence to your administration’s commitment to national development.

“We look forward to hosting Your Excellency in the FCT to witness firsthand the tangible progress that has been made under your leadership over the last 12 months”.

The FCT Minister of the Federal Capital Territory pledged the administration’s “unwavering loyalty and support for the Renewed Hope Agenda” and promised to continue cooperating to ensure the success of the economic reforms of President Tinubu.

Speaking with reporters after the visit, Wike

expressed gratitude for the President’s recognition of his work.

Asked how he felt about being called “Mr. Infrastructure” by President Tinubu, the FCT Minister responded: “I feel very happy that my boss has confidence in me. If your boss, in public, says that you are doing well, that is an encouragement for you to continue doing the job you’ve been assigned.”

He assured FCT residents that his administration would continue executing transformative projects, promising that the next phase of development would be even more ambitious.

“The committee is working, and you can be assured it can’t be less than what we did last time,” he stated.