Muslim faithful  across the world, including those in Nigeria are currently observing Ramadan season, an important religious event in Islamic calendar. The 30-day Ramadan fasting period  is a season of introspection, forgiveness,  brotherliness, fellow-feeling, love, sacrifice and sharing.
During  this period, the Muslim faithful fast and pray to Almighty Allah for forgiveness of sins and abundant blessings.
It is also a period of abstinence from food and drinks and other worldly things in preference for high spirituality. Apart from being regarded by the Muslim faithful as a holy month of fasting, the symbolism of the season is  to be  generous to the poor, since Allah is ever generous and faithful.
In that regard, the ongoing Ramadan behooves on the faithful to be close to Allah and abstain from pleasures and culinary indulgences.
It is significant that this year’s Ramadan period has come at a grave time in our national political history where  insecurity, caused by insurgents, has brought untold grief and anguish to so many families across the country, especially in the three North-East states of the country, namely Borno , Yobe and Adamawa, creating so many orphans, widows and widowers.
Therefore, the Ramadan fast provides a platform for sober reflection on the state of our nation, and as such, we urge the Muslim faithful to use this auspicious period to pray fervently for peace to reign in the country, in particular, in all the troubled spots across the country. There is no doubt that Islam is a religion that promotes peace, and as such, its adherents ought to be messengers of peace and love in their conducts. The opportunity that this season provides, we believe, is designed by Allah to open the doors of mercy, favours and forgiveness. In that respect, it is vital that this season be seized with both hands to offer prayers  for our dear country to overcome all the prevalent socio-political upheavals and insecurity that have caused horrifying deaths, wanton destruction of property and abductions of  women and schoolgirls.
At this period of unprecedented challenge in the country, inter-communal peace must take the centre-stage  away from the present inter-communal strife ravaging some parts of the country. Nigeria will be a better place if the adherents of the various religious faiths close ranks and work towards issues that unite the country and the people rather than on issues that polarise our different ethnic groups.
We use this occasion to call on all Muslim faithful, especially those in Nigeria, to pray for peace and speedy resolution of the problems and general insecurity plaguing the nation. Let our Muslim faithful  use the Ramadan to rededicate themselves to the service of Allah by showing more love and tolerance to one another. This should reflect in their character and utterances. It is a matter of regret that the insurgents’ attacks are still festering in Bauchi, Kaduna, Maiduguri and Chibok, the scene of the  abduction of over 200 schoolgirls.
As we wish our Muslim compatriots Happy Ramadan Season, we enjoin them to reflect deeply on how to live with the abiding attributes that define the season These include love, forgiveness, selflessness and sacrifice.

The essence of Ramadan