First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday hosted a special prayer session for the nation at the old Banquet Hall of State House, Abuja.
A statement by the Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity) (office of the First Lady), Aliyu Abdullahi, said the event reviewed the importance of supplication for the nation’s guidance and development and was attended by Islamic Scholars from across the nation.
Mrs. Buhari, in her address, harped on the importance of worship, which she said “is the highway through which our requests and innermost desires are achieved”.
She reminded participants that “Islam has outlined responsibilities to our creator, our societies, our close and extended families and our neighbours and we must carry out these responsibilities to the best of our abilities.”
Speaking on the responsibilities of heads of households, she charged men to adhere to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad and be responsible to their families through love, care and provision.
She said this will spread horizontally across the society and vertically across generations, insisting that this can address the multiple societal ills that are bedeviling the nation; such includes rampant drug abuse particularly amongst women and youth, corruption in high and small places both in public and private sectors, and violent crimes.
She also called for the Muslim Ummah to promote the spirit of tolerance, love, harmony, and peaceful coexistence among the people of different faiths in the nation.
Chairman of the occasion and Secretary General of Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, said Nigeria has been caught at crossroads.
He said the tradition of corruption has nearly brought the nation to its knees, but for the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari.
He called on Nigerians to be better people in all spheres of life if the country was to attain its expected greatness.
Scholars delivered speeches on issues of faith & practice, corruption, drug abuse, security, entrepreneurship and the emerging trend of child abduction.
Highlight of the occasion was a session of special prayers for the nation and its leaders conducted by a team of renowned Islamic Scholars present at the event.
The event was attended by the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari; Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu; former Governor of Nasarawa state, Sen. Tanko Almakura, other distinguished Senators, Wives of Governors & former Governors and other dignitaries.