FG Declares Friday As Public Holiday; Pray For Nigeria, Jonathan Tells Muslims At Prophet Mohammed's Birthday

Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro

The Federal Government has declared Friday, January 2, 2015 as public holiday for the observance of Eid-el-Maulud.

The Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro disclosed this on behalf of the government. In a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Engr. Magaji Abubakar, Moro urged Muslim faithful and indeed, all Nigerians to pray for the peace and unity of the country.

Moro further asked Nigerians to engage in violent free activity in the run off to the 2015 general election and to support President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda to move Nigeria to the next level of development.

He also wished all Muslim faithful and Nigerians a very peaceful celebration.

Meanwhile President Jonathan has enjoined Muslims in the country to use the occasion of the commemoration of the birth of Prophet Mohammed to pray for peaceful elections in the country.

In a message to Muslims on the occasion of Eid-el-Maulud, President Jonathan underscored the determination of his administration to ensuring that the elections were not only free and fair but violence-free.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati said "the President reassures Muslims and all other Nigerians that the Federal Government will do all within its powers to ensure that the general elections in February are free, fair, credible and violence-free.

"President Jonathan believes that this is essential to guarantee that Nigeria remains politically stable and continues on a steady path to the fulfilment of its peoples' collective vision of a strong, united and prosperous nation.

"The President also calls on all adherents of Islam in the country to seize the opportunity of the New Year and Eid-el-Maulud holidays to reflect deeply on the need for a greater application of the Prophet Mohammed's teachings of piety, charity, tolerance, justice and peaceful co-existence with others in the collective effort to overcome current national challenges."

President Jonathan further assured the Islamic faithful and other Nigerians that his administration will continue to be guided by the ideals of fairness, equity and justice for all in its leadership of the country and that on his watch as President, no Nigerian will ever be discriminated against on the basis of religion, ethnicity or social standing.

"He reaffirms his personal commitment to working diligently and tirelessly to ensure the successful implementation of the Federal Government's agenda for national transformation, and urges Muslims and all other Nigerians to support the continuation of the present administration's efforts to build a better nation," the statement concluded.