By Halimah Olamide
As Muslims celebrate the New Islamic calendar year, President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday called for prayers as his government battles the various difficulties confronting Nigeria.
This was just as Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun state had on Tuesday declared that Wednesday (today) would be a public holiday for Muslims to celebrate the new year.
Other states such as Kano, Oyo, Sokoto, Zamfara, Bauchi, Kebbi and Jigawa also announce today as public holiday.
In a statement congratulating Muslims on the occasion of Hijrah, he said the Nigerian situation called for prayers.
“As we persevere and struggle to confront our present challenges, and the temporary pains we experience, I enjoin you to remain hopeful that there is light at the end of the tunnel,” Tinubu told Nigerians.
Assuring them that his team is leaving no stone unturned, he said that he is very much aware of the promises he made to Nigerians to deliver on good governance.
He urged Muslims to respect the values of patience and faithfulness.
According to Wikipedia, :”the Hijrah or Hijra was the journey of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina. The year in which the Hijrah took place is also identified as the epoch of the Lunar Hijri and Solar Hijri calendars; its date equates to 16 July 622 in the Julian calendar.”