Date: 2016-09-13

Unlike last year when missiles were hauled at some dignitaries at the Muslim Central Praying Ground in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital during Sallah, this year's event was peaceful.

Present at the Eid prayers amidst tight security were the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Dr. Ali Ahmad, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari and the former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Kawu Baraje, among others.

The Chief Imam of Ilorin, Alhaji Muhammed Bashir led the prayers. The situation was also peaceful at Oro, Irepodun local council of the state where Information, Culture and Tourism Minister Alhaji Lai Mohammed led a group of Muslim faithful to observe the traditional prayers.

Saraki described the event as glorious, while urging the people to be patient and patriotic despite the economic recession. He said the hardship would soon become a thing of the past, urging the masses to believe in the government of President Muhammadu Buhari. Governor Ahmed admonished Muslim faithful to continually live in peace and harmony with people of other religions, adding that no tangible development could be achieved in a volatile atmosphere.

Mohammed congratulated all Muslims for witnessing another Sallah. He predicted a brighter future for Nigerians despite the current economic recession. He assured that the government has put in place measures to revive the economy.

The Emir of Ilorin in a message said: "Those who celebrated last year's Sallah with us but have now passed to the great beyond, we pray that God grant them rest and take good care of all who survived them.

"I enjoin Muslim faithful to sustain their religious obligations of living in peace and harmony with fellow human beings. They should abstain from any action that can cause disunity among members of the society.

He added: "I appeal to government at all levels to make the welfare of the masses a priority."