By Suleiman Yakubu

Niger State Deputy Governor, Comrade Yakubu Garba, has joined the Emir of Lapai, Alhaji Umaru Bago Tafida II, to perform the two raka'at Eid-el Fitr prayers in Lapai town, Lapai Local Government Area of the state.
While felicitating with Muslim Ummah on the occasion of the Eid-el Fitr celebration shortly after the Eid prayer, Comrade Yakubu Garba appreciated Allah SWT for the successful completion of the Ramadan fasting and enjoined Muslims to uphold the lessons learned during the Ramadan beyond the period.
He said Islam simply means peace, which requires that Muslims should always live in peace and harmony with one another and co-exist with people of other faiths, as exemplified by the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad SAW.
The Deputy Governor also urged Nigerlites to keep faith with the present administration in the state and the country at large, saying both President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago were doing their best to bring succour to the citizens of the country and the state over the present hardship faced in the country.
The Deputy Governor urged Nigerlites to continue to pray for the leadership of the state and support the programmes and policies of the government, as he enjoined the Muslim Ummah to celebrate Eid-el Fitr in a peaceful and orderly manner.
In his remarks, the Emir of Lapai, Alhaji Umar Bago Tafida II, appreciated the Deputy Governor for coming to perform the Eid prayer and celebration with them and also appreciated the efforts of the Farmer Governor, Umar Bago, to develop the state, including the Ramadan feeding programme.
Similarly, the Deputy Governor was in Agaie to pay Sallah homage to the Emir of Agaie, Alhaji Yusuf Nuhu, where he told the Emir that he was in his Emirate to perform one of the Sunnahs of Prophet Muhammad SAW during festive periods, which was paying visits to friends and relatives.
He appreciated the support and prayers of the Emir and his people to the government of Farmer Governor Umar Bago and reassured that the government will continue to focus on people-oriented programmes.
Responding, the Emir of Agaie, Alhaji Yusuf Nuhu, appreciated the visit and all that the government was doing to give the traditional institutions in the state positive recognition and respect, pledging their support and prayers to the government.
Comrade Yakubu Garba also used the opportunity to pay condolences to the family of the late Deputy Governor of the State, who was also the Sallawu of Agaie, Alhaji Muhammadu Sallawu Agaie.
On his return to Minna, the Deputy Governor and his entourage went to the palace of the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Farouk Bahago, where he informed the Emir that he could not perform the Eid prayer with him as a son of the Emirate but with the Emir of Lapai and also proceeded to pay homage to that of Agaie on the directive of his principal.
He told the Emir that he cannot go home after returning from the journey without coming to see him, adding that he was in the palace as a son of the Emirate to pay Sallah homage and to condole the Emir over the loss of two prominent members of his council, Dallatun Minna and Ubandoma, as well as to appreciate him for the support and fatherly role he is playing for them.
The Emir, Alhaji Umar Farouk Bahago, in his response, appreciated the Deputy Governor for the visit and said that, as a prominent son of Minna Emirate, his visit to Lapai and Agaie will further strengthen the good relationship between Minna Emirate and the other two Emirates he visited.
Special prayers were offered for Allah's guidance to the leaders of the state and Nigeria as a whole, as well as peace and security for all the troubled areas in the Emirate and the state at large.    

By Suleiman Yakubu

As Muslims all over the world celebrate the Ed El Fitr festival, signifying the end of the holy month of Ramadan, they have been admonished to imbibe the virtues and lessons learned during the period.
In his sermon during the Eid prayers at the Day Secondary School Tunga field, the Iman, Mallam Mohammad Alhaji Ibrahim, who led the prayers, said the fasting has come and gone and encouraged all Muslims to continue with the moral behaviours they acquired during the Ramadan period.
Mallam Mohammad Alhaji went on by asking the youths in particular to continue to be morally upright even in their places of work and that they should exempt themselves from all sorts of immoral acts such as drugs, stealing, and other criminal activities.
Mallam Mohammad also said Muslims should not show differences even to non-Muslims and should assist the less privileged in society because that was the essence of fasting.
He prayed to Allah for the protection of the people from bandits and other criminal elements, stressing that "if they are willing to change, God should guide them, but if they are not willing to change, God should destroy them."
Mallam Ibrahim said we should stop abusing our leaders, and instead we should always pray for them for God to guide them to lead the country to the promised land.
He also appreciated Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago for the wonderful things he was doing for the state and prayed that Allah should protect and guide him.