Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on Nigerians to continue to pray for the leadership of President Bola Tinubu and for peace, stability, and progress in Nigeria.
At the close of the Ramadan period, Shettima specifically sought prayers for God to continue to give Tinubu wisdom and strength to pilot the affairs of the country toward peace, unity, and prosperity.
Shettima, who made the call during the closing ceremony of Tafsir (reading of the Quran) for the month of Ramadan at the State House Mosque at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, noted that prayer remains the fortress of the believer, the sanctuary where hopes are nurtured and destinies are shaped.
“It is our greatest weapon against despair and the most powerful armour for those entrusted with leadership. In this spirit, I urge us all to continue praying for our beloved nation and the leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“May Almighty Allah grant him the wisdom, strength, and resolve to continue steering the ship of our great nation toward peace, unity, and prosperity. May He protect him from harm, fortify his heart with courage, and guide his every effort in service to the Nigerian people,” he said.
Shettima reminded the gathering that governance is a collective responsibility of all, and not the burden of the government alone, maintaining that “our religious leaders, whose voices echo the moral conscience of our society, play an indispensable role in shaping our values and guiding our hearts.
“Their service reminds us of the ideals that must define us: integrity, justice, and an unyielding commitment to the welfare of others. To them, we owe our deepest gratitude.”
He enjoined Muslim faithful to always embody the values of Ramadan, including sacrifice, discipline, and love in their daily lives, maintaining that as they prepare to bid farewell to the holy month, they must not forget its essence.
He continued: “The days of devotion, self-restraint, and reflection must not be confined to Ramadan alone; rather, they must illuminate the path we walk every day. Fasting has not only taught us sacrifice and discipline; it has also awakened in us a profound sense of empathy. It has reminded us of the struggles of the less privileged, the hunger of the destitute, and the responsibilities we bear toward those in need.
“But as Ramadan draws to a close, we must ask ourselves: What have we truly gained if we revert to old habits of neglect, indifference, and discord? The true test of faith is not how we worship during Ramadan, but how we embody its values after it.
“Let us, therefore, carry the spirit of this sacred month into our daily lives. Let us extend kindness where there is cruelty, offer generosity where there is want, and radiate love where there is division. Let us be ambassadors of Islam not only in public but also in our most private moments, embodying the goodness that defines our faith.
The Vice President also prayed to Almighty Allah to deepen the citizens’ sense of duty to the nation and to one another, saying, “May He make Nigeria a land of peace, unity, and enduring prosperity. May He grant us the fortitude to serve with sincerity and the wisdom to lead with compassion.”
He thanked the leadership of the State House Mosque for working tirelessly to make this year’s Tafsir and Iftar a reality, just as he expressed what he described as Tinubu’s heartfelt appreciation to the Mosque team for a job well done.
“May Allah’s infinite mercy and blessings descend upon us all. May He accept our fasts, strengthen our faith, and grant us the reward of the righteous. May He bless our beloved nation, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and guide us toward a future of peace, justice, and boundless progress,” he prayed.
In his closing supplications, the Chief Imam of the State House Mosque, Sheikh Abdulwahid Sulaiman Abubakar, offered prayers for Tinubu’s administration, asking Almighty Allah to give President Tinubu the wisdom, courage, and political will to steer the country toward the path of prosperity, abundance, unity, and peaceful co-existence.
