Nigerian Muslims are joining their counterparts around the world to celebrate Eld-El-Adha today.

The festival also known as Eid-el-Kabir is the most important celebrated in the Islamic Calendar.

It falls on the 10th Dhul-Hijjah a day after pilgrims offer prayers at Mount Arafat during the yearly holy pilgrimage to Mecca.It is marked with prayers and sacrifice of animals such as sheep, cattle and camels.

Presidential address

In a special message to the nation, President Jonathan also congratulated all Nigerians who are on pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, wishing them Allah’s mercies as they travel back home.

The President urged Nigerians to seize the opportunity of the Eid-El-Kabir holiday to reflect on how the ideals and virtues of peace, harmony, brotherly love, selflessness, tolerance, honesty, fairness, justice and equity taught by Islam and other religions can be more extensively harnessed and deployed in addressing the developmental challenges confronting the nation.

Noting that Eid-El-Kabir is a festival of sacrifice that commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son, Ismail, in obedience to the will of Allah, President Jonathan appealed for the continued support and understanding of Nigerians, saying that his administration’s efforts to transform the country may require that they make more sacrifices to build a better nation for present and future generations.

Jonathan, however, assured Nigerians that such sacrifices would not be in vain as government’s efforts to positively transform the nation will soon begin to yield fruits.

He noted that the anticipated progress would be more readily achieved with peace and security in all parts of the country and enjoined Nigerians to continue to work for the peace and stability of the nation.

The President also wished all Nigerians happy Sallah celebrations.

Goodwill messages

Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, urged leaders, at all levels, to embrace the fear of God in the discharge of public responsibilities and in the task of making the lives of the ordinary people worth living.

The Aare musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdulazeez Arisekola Alao, called on Nigerians to use the festive season to reflect on the state of the nation and pray for peace and stability in the country.

Former governor of Lagos State and the Action Congress of Nigeria’s (ACN) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu called for equity, fairness and justice in “Nigerians’ dealings with themselves, even as urged those in authority to rededicate themselves to these universal principles.