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By Iheanyi Chukwudi
As Muslim faithful celebrate Eid-el-Fitr, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, Maj.-Gen. Hassan Dada, has called on Nigerians to live peaceful life, devoid of trouble-making, terrorism and insurgency.
Dada stated that a peaceful and accommodating life was a divine injunction by Almighty Allah as exemplified by the teachings of the Holy month of Ramadan.
The GOC who made the call on Wednesday, in his Eid-el-Fitr message to Nigerians shortly after observing the sallah prayers with thousands of other Muslim faithful at the Eid Prayer Ground, Abakpa Military Cantonment, Enugu, stressed that peace, accommodation and inclusion were necessary for a progressive and success-focused nation.
Urging Nigerians strive to make the nation the best in the world, Dada said, “I want every Nigerian to use the teachings of the Holy month of Ramadan to turn a new leaf and refrain from all manners of evil, trouble-making, terrorism and insurgency; so that we see ourselves as one under Almighty Allah (God).
“I want to facilitate with Nigerians in this season of love, peace, blessings and forgiveness of Almighty Allah. As the Almighty Allah has forgiven us our shortcomings this season; we should extend such forgiveness to others that may have hurt us and build a peaceful and prosperous nation devoid of bitterness."
Dada used the opportunity to appreciate the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Tinubu and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, for their support to the Division, just as he
commended the officers and men of the Nigerian Army for their sacrifices to protect the countries territorial boundaries and their internal security duties that had kept the country as one.
The GOC said, “I want to use this avenue to thank the hard working officers and men of the Division for their sacrifice and commitment to rid the Division’s Area of Responsibility (AOR) of renegade and terrorist groups as well as armed criminals.
“I believe with the hit turn on them, soon peace, which is known in Igbo language as “Udo”, will return permanent in our AOR."
Earlier, the Chief Imam of 82 Division, Lt.-Col. Husein Eleje, urged Muslim faithful to put to practice all they had learnt through teachings and holy observance during the month of Ramadan.
Eleje said that the lessons learnt in Ramadan should guide one to maintain a good relationship with Almighty Allah and his fellow men within his neighbourhood or community.
He said: “We should learn to forgive, accommodate others and show love to those who can never pay us back and this is what the Almighty Allah demands from us.
“For the celebration, no one around us should be left out; there is need to spread the love of this great seasoning of blessing and forgiveness to everyone around us especially to the needy and less privileged.”
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