Etsu Nupe urges Muslims to move closer to God
By Mohammed Baba Busu
Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, the Etsu Nupe and Chairman, Niger Council of Traditional Rulers, has called on Muslims in the country to move closer to God.
Etsu Nupe, who spoke in Bida on Thursday at the closing of 2025 (1446AH) Ramadan Tafsir in Usman Zaki Central Mosque, said that solutions to Nigerians’ challenges lie in fervent prayers.
He said that there was nothing that could not be solved through prayers and utmost piety.
Abubakar said that the Ramadan period was a time for the Almighty Allah to accept all prayers, and provide divine solutions to the myriad of problems facing the country.
The traditional ruler said it was only with the fear of Allah that Muslims could meet their needs and enjoy their possessions on earth.
The Etsu Nupe also urged Muslims to sustain the noble lessons learned during the Holy Month of Ramadan.
“We should always remember and value God in whatever we do at all times.
‘This, we should sustain beyond the current Ramadan period as moving closer to God always is the key to solving Nigeria’s formidable challenges,”he said.
Abubakar admonished the Muslim Ummah in the country to sustain the virtues learnt during the ongoing Ramadan fast even after the passage of the month.
“We must maintain our God-fearing acts which we exhibited during the fasting period.
“Muslims should strive to maintain all their good deeds during the fasting period and shun all the evils and devilish acts they have abstained from during the holy month,” he said.
According to him, “these noble virtues include patience, piety, philanthropy and love for one another.
They also include abstaining from adultery, cheating, stealing, alcoholism, devilish acts and drug abuse
“Fasting is not only for abstaining from drinking and eating but also a time to emulate what Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was sent by Almighty Allah to come and do, as well as preach,“he said.
He appealed to well-to-do Muslims to assist the less privileged with food items and other basic needs.
The traditional ruler urged the faithful to use the remaining few days of fasting period to pray fervently for national peace and progress.
The Etsu Nupe further enjoined Muslims to tolerate one another and pray for sustained unity of the country.
He said that the two major religions in the country preach peace, unity and love for one another, saying we should always strive to maintain these at all times.
Abubakar said without peace and unity, socio-economic development will continue to elude any society.
The royal father, however, called on the leaders at all levels to lead the people with the fear of God.
He enjoined the ummah to always remember that they would all account for their deeds on the Day of Reckoning.
Also speaking, the Chief Imam of Bida, Sheikh Adamu Liman-Yakatun, urged Muslims to fear God.
He enjoined them to stop accumulating unnecessary wealth, adding that we will all account for how we acquire every kobo before Almighty Allah on the day of resurrection. (NAN)
