Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong; his successor, governor-elect, Caleb Mutfwang; Senator representing Plateau Southern Zone, Prof. Nora Daduut and the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator-elect for Plateau Central, Mr. Diket Plang, all felicitated Muslim Umma on the Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
    
Their goodwill messages came yesterday immediately after the peaceful Eid-el-Prayers where Muslims thronged to the prayer grounds to observe the optional two Rakat prayers.
    
Lalong, who is the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, was happy for their successful completion of the Ramadan fast and for being alive to witness another Eid-el-Fitr.
    
The governor, in a message through his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr. Makut Macham, said the period provided the Muslims an opportunity to carry out spiritual rejuvenation and acts of charity that are in tandem with the message of Prophet Muhammad.

He said the celebration is not only significant to Muslims alone but provides an opportunity for people of other faiths to share in the joy and essence of the moment.
    
Lalong added that the event should help Nigerians to reflect on love, tolerance, peace and good neighbourliness, which are virtues that are enshrined in the teachings of the two major religions in the country.
   
He urged Nigerians to celebrate with vigilance and report any suspicious activity to the security agencies, which have been fully mobilised to respond to any threat to peace and security.

    
The governor-elect, Mutfwang, congratulated the Muslims on the unique festival of breaking the fast particularly their perseverance, self-discipline and piety all through the Ramadan.
     
“The 2023 Ramadan and Eid el-Fitr are particularly of great significance because they have come within our nation’s political transition period. In just about a month away, a new President, state governors, national assembly as well as state legislators will be sworn into office in Nigeria’s 24 years of unbroken democratic journey.
    
“We, therefore, make this passionate plea to you: heighten your prayers for our country and Plateau State so that all may go well across the entire nation on May 29, 2023 and hereafter,” he stressed.
    
Mutfwang pleaded with all citizens to re-commit themselves to peaceful neighbourliness as Nigerian communities need peace and secure environments to concentrate on their farming and business activities.
     
He reasoned that without peace and security, the communities might be driven into poverty and every form of deprivation. He said, “As the incoming administration, we commit ourselves to offering quality leadership that would unite the people and work hand in hand with them, security agencies as well as people and institutions of goodwill to secure Plateau.”
     
On her part, Daduut urged the Muslims to ensure that the great virtues of peace, love, forgiveness, sacrifice and patriotism imbibed during the Ramadan fast are felt in every aspect of the national life beyond the holy month.
    
The senator added that what the leaders need from Nigerians is their prayers so that they would continue to provide the much-needed dividends of the democracy for them.
    
The first female Senator from Plateau State also enjoined Nigerians to embrace religious tolerance, which would promote peace across the country and enhance national development.
    
An APC Senator, she averred that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu-led administration would transform the country to where there would be economic prosperity, social harmony and political tolerance where everyone will be willing to live.
    
Diket Plang, the Senator-elect said Nigerians should continue to pray for leaders rather than cursing them in the interest of development and growth of the country.