The President-elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu has called on Muslims to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice, self-discipline, goodwill, justice, tolerance, mercy, compassion and generousity as they commence Ramadan.

He made the call in a statement on Thursday in Abuja while congratulating Muslims on the commencement of Ramadan, saying the period should be seen as more than a month of fasting.

“As we begin this year’s Ramadan, I bring warm greetings and congratulations to all Muslims who have received the grace of Almighty Allah to witness this holy month,” Tinubu said.

He explained that Ramadan was more than a month of fasting, saying, we fast to strengthen our relationship and appreciation of Allah.

He added that fasting should be observed to make ourselves better servants of both Allah and our fellow man.

He said Ramadan was more than abstention from food and drink from dawn to dusk, stressing that it must entail imbibing the spirit and true meaning behind the holy month.

“We must keep hold of the excellent and wonderful things the holy month of Ramadan signifies.

“As we embark on fasting and spiritual reflection, let us proceed, imbued with the spirit of sacrifice, self-discipline, goodwill, justice, tolerance, mercy, compassion and generousity that lie at the heart of Islam.

“Let us strive to emulate Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) example of humility, forgiveness, and service to others.

“Let us move in this way that we may make of ourselves a better people and nation in which all people, Muslim and non-Muslim, may live in trust, peace and justice as Allah would have it be,” he said.

He charged Muslims to remember the country and its leaders in their prayers as they engaged in supplications to Allah during the fasting period.

“Let us remember our diversity is for a purpose and pray that we all work to strengthen it,” the former two-term governor of Lagos State said.

He added that we must all join hands to bring progress in Nigeria by praying for unity and progress.

He noted that the lessons of the holy month of Ramadan pointed to the success of unity, not the failure of division and prayed that the 2023 Ramadan brought us closer to Allah.

“May our fasting and prayers be accepted. May this holy month be a time of peace, unity, and harmony in Nigeria and for all humanity,” Tinubu said.

Newsatlarge reports that Tinubu travelled out of the country on Tuesday enroute Paris to London, preparatory to going to Saudi Arabia for Umrah (Lesser Hajj).

According to an earlier statement by Mr Tunde Rahman, his Media Aide, Tinubu will be back to the country soon.

Rahman said contrary to reports that Tinubu travelled for medical reasons, he would use the opportunity of his stay abroad to rest and plan his transition programme ahead of May 29 inauguration

(https://newsatlarge.ng)