Muslims all over the country have been urged to persevere and seek God’s face as the novel coronavirus pandemic continues to ravage the world.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Professor Adeolu Akande, who made this plea in his Sallah message, advised against going against COVID-19 guidelines during the celebration period.
According to Akande, “Sallah day is one when Muslims have the opportunity of praying together, with old friends, near and far. It is a day for sharing love and happiness. It is unfortunate that the opportunity is lacking this year. Nobody would have envisaged a time like this. It has come and we have to live with it.
“Though Eid praying grounds have been allowed to open for prayer in Oyo State, I would like to advise that those who would be going should adhere strictly to the guidelines. Those with underlying health challenges should stay at home. Presently, our state is third on the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, Covid-19 log. It is worrisome. To stem it, there is need for us to continue to adhere to the guidelines and take precautionary actions.
“I also like to ask our Muslim brethren to pray to God to help us counter the ravaging pandemic. This is not the best of times. It has not only affected us religiously, our economy is in shambles. So, we should use this occasion to pray to God. This pandemic has got to stop. With God and adherence to the guidelines, we can overcome this.”
Akande also urged Muslims to celebrate with modesty, “remember your needy neighbors. Eid-l-Kabir is about sharing and assisting the needy. Those who are well-to-do should find ways of assisting the needy. By doing so, the world would be peaceful for all,” he added.
Packaged by Alice Egbedele
