Today, Nigerians join other Muslims worldwide to observe and celebrate the Eid-el-Fitri, an occasion to formally close the month-long Ramadan fasting. On the one hand, the occasion offers a platform for physical, spiritual and psychological fulfillment of having performed one of the five key injunctions of Islam. That ordinarily calls for celebration.
On the other hand, this year’s Eid-el-Fitri comes when the entire nation is at a crossroads politically, economically and socially; having been heated up with only a few months to the general elections. The international raising of the country’s economic indices notwithstanding, most Nigerians are still living below the poverty level. And socially, the country appears terminally afflicted, with Boko Haram insurgence in parts of the North, and robbery, kidnapping and murder in other parts of the country.
The scenario thus presented is hardly an atmosphere for religious felicitation, especially for a religion synonymous with peace; yet being used as platform to launch some of the heinous crimes, thereby occasioning several tragic incidents in the country. In the past month for instance, hundreds of innocent and law-abiding Nigerians have been killed by acts of terrorism, perpetrated, sadly, by people who professed to be acting in the name of Islam. One of the latest of such incidents happened in Kaduna on July 23, with more than 70 people reportedly killed; and Damboa in Borno State, where no fewer than 60 people were killed in attacks that also witnessed the burning of half of the town, including its central market and dozens of houses.
At about the same time, the insurgents also attacked Dille Village in Askira/Uba Local Government, again killing people and razing down houses. Like in all such incidents, hundreds of people mainly women and children, got missing; believed to have been abducted and taken into slavery. Many of them may never be seen again. Indeed, some family and community members had lamented that their fellow members abducted by the group since January this year were yet to be traced. This leaves no cause for celebration.
It is unfortunate that the Ramadan tafsirs held in various parts of the country as part of the observation of the holy month dwelt largely on the activities of the Boko Haram sect, with the preachers denouncing their principles and tactics as going against the tenets of Islam. The Muslim clerics emphasised the peaceful and tolerant nature of Islam; and decried that anyone who called himself a Muslim could engage in killing innocent citizens and destroying property.
It is a contradiction in terms that amidst this tragic situation, people who consider themselves as leaders of the country have learnt no lessons. They carry on with business as usual, intent only in protecting and expanding their selfish interest, squandering public fund on grandiose projects with no benefit to the teeming Nigerians; and flagrantly displaying insensitivity to the worsening plight of the common man in terms of their welfare and their wellbeing. Sadly too, many of these so-called leaders are Muslims who know that the religion abhors the promotion of self-interest above public interest.
The Eid-el-Fitri should be an occasion to address the challenges posed to the unity and progress of this country at this time. The abiding lessons in the month-long Ramadan fasting and the Eid-el-Fitri include those of forgiveness, love, discipline and self-control, honesty and the need to live a pious life always. Nigerians need to imbibe them.
The act of denying oneself of food, drinks and worldly pleasures from dawn to dusk is a lesson in nation-building; a sacrifice to uplift the undertaker spiritually and to inspire him to impact positively on his neighbours. Sharing, as an act of ibadah in Ramadan, is also a significant attribute in being a keeper of one’s brother. The prayers and supplication enjoined throughout the holy month are ultimately intended to achieve divine peace and development for the nation; while the injunction to give alms to the poor, and to perform the Zakatul-Fitri is a clarion call to empower the poor masses of Nigerians.
It is important that these are preserved in celebrating the Eid-el-Fitri. If anything, the challenge is to replicate continually, all the acts enjoined in the Ramadan; and to avoid all those deeds that are forbidden. Indeed, the Ramadan is nothing other than a special reminder to all Muslims, and all God-fearing persons, of Allah’s commands on his subjects; to be kept sacrosanct all year round, rather than be confined to the Ramadan.
The lesson of moderation advertised in the past month is crucial to the survival of this country. Medical findings have confirmed that the less the consumption, the healthier the person. If moderation is imbibed beyond Ramadan, the entire country will be healthier for it. Moderation is key to tolerance, understanding and appreciation of individual and groups’ differences manifest in Nigeria. Once this understanding is knitted, the country can achieve strength in diversity.
Similarly, Muslims should be moderate in their marking the Eid-el-Fitri. Alcohol consumption remains forbidden; and caution is required in moving from one part of the country. All Nigerians should bear in mind the heavy burden of hundreds of thousands of fellow Nigerians displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency in parts of the country. The misery of those whose relations have been killed or abducted suddenly in the confrontation should be shared by all, just as all citizens must empathize with the security personnel (and their relations) who are daily laying down their lives to defend the country’s territorial integrity.
To ensure that Nigerians have the full benefit of democracy and the constitutional provision to lawfully practise their religion anywhere in the country without molestation, government should intensity efforts at curtailing criminality in whatever guise. It should also take urgent, practical and sincere measures to close the wide gap between the very rich and the very poor in the polity.
We wish all Nigerians a happy celebration. Eid-el-Mubarak!
