Ramadan: Muslim faithful urged to draw closer to Allah

By Steve Oni, Ilorin

The National Chairman, Bola Ahmed Tinubu Solidarity Vanguard (BATSV), Dr. Dare Owotomobi, has admonished Muslim faithful all over the world to use the month of Ramadan and commencement of 1441AH fasting to spiritually draw closer to Allah so that their prayers and supplications would be answered.

Dr. Owotomobi, in a statement by the Vanguard’s Director of Media and Publicity, Dr. Babatunde Salami, congratulating Muslim faithful in Nigeria and the world at large on the commencement of the 2020 Ramadan fast, lamented that this year’s Ramadan is being observed globally under the ravaging coronavirus pandemic, necessitating the lockdown across the country.

The National Chairman, while admonishing all and sundry to stay home and stay safe, stressed the need for all to continue to adhere to the government and medical directives during this trying period in the nation’s history and beyond by constant washing of hands with soap, using hand sanitiser and keeping reasonable social distance, particularly during the Ramadan, to avoid unnecessary spread of the deadly virus, more so that it has no cure yet.

He said: “We need concerted and fervent prayers of all Muslim faithful and Nigerians as a whole to seek God’s face for His mercy and intervention to wipe out the deadly virus that has claimed thousands of lives across the globe and not a few from Nigeria.

“In particular, all Muslim faithful are implored to use this sober and solemn fasting period to pray for the future of Nigeria as prices of oil have abysmally dropped and our economic fortunes dwindle.

“I also urge our Muslim faithful to pray for the success of our Principal, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his quest of becoming the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come 2023.

“I also appeal to those who are financially endowed to assist the less privileged in the society, particularly at this lockdown period when several people can hardly afford two square meals, not to talk of three. It is, therefore imperative for us all to always remember to be our brother’s keeper.”