Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, has urged Nigerians to build peace among themselves as a way to ensure that the nation becomes enviable.
Hamzat gave this charge at the Lagos Island Central Mosque after the Eid-el-Kabir prayer.
He cautioned that violence would only drag the country back to unpleasant periods, adding that it is only peace that can develop Nigeria because no one benefits from violence.
The deputy governor added: “Nobody gains anything from violence. What God desires from us all is to live in peace and accord ourselves respect, irrespective of our religion.
“Nobody can fight on behalf of God, as only God can fight for Himself. The Quran is very clear about that; when you kill a soul, the Almighty Allah said it is regarded as if you destroyed the whole city.”
Speaking further, he charged Nigerians to always report crimes and do their best to prevent calamity from occurring by constantly policing their communities, stressing that the menace of insecurity in Nigeria is getting out of hand.
Earlier in his message, the Chief Imam of Lagos, Sulaiman Oluwatoyin Abou-Nolla, implored Muslims to live a life of sacrifice by giving and being good to one andther. “This is the significance of the Eid-El-Kabir celebration.”
He noted that Islam is a religion of peace and totally against violence, saying “It is against the tenet of Islam to kill or kidnap, killing one person is like wiping out a generation, Islam makes us brothers and sisters”.
While charging the government at all levels to make the country a haven for all, the Chief Imam urged them to equip the security agencies with more tools to tackle the various security challenges facing the nation.
