Muslims in major state capitals and towns in the northern part of the country, on Saturday, held marathon prayers for a quick recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Correspondents in Nasarawa, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and Kwara States reported that the special prayers were held at the various Eid prayer grounds across the states.
Muslim faithful across the 13 local councils and the 18 development areas of Nasarawa State converged on the states’ central prayer ground and held a special prayer session for Buhari.
The President is currently spending his longest vacation, since his inauguration in 2015, in London.
The special prayer session for the President, which began at exactly 9:20 am, lasted for four hours.
Sunday Punch correspondent, who was at the prayer session, observed that men of Nigeria Army, Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other agencies were stationed at the strategic positions to ensure a hitch-free prayer in the state.
Presiding over the prayer session, the Chief Imam, Lafia Central Mosque, Mallam Dalhatu Dahiru, said the special prayer was organised to pray for the quick recovery of President Buhari and for peace in the state and the country.
He said, “This gathering is very important because the current administration under the leadership of Buhari has brought peace to this country. The relative peace that we have not been enjoying has finally come.
“Our president is sick. The nation is unhealthy. Please, both Muslim and Christians faithful should include him in their daily prayers so that our President can get a quick recovery.”
Also, at least 50,000 youths in Duara, in Daura Local Government Area of Katsina State, on Saturday, organised a solidarity rally for the administration of President Buhari.
The youths did the rally under the auspices of a non-governmental organisation, Buhari Youth Congress for Change.
Our correspondent also gathered that special prayers were offered for the quick recovery of the President in the various mosques across the state on Friday.
Chief Imam of Pyramid Radio Mosque, Kano, Mallam Dauda Lokon Makera, where over 200 Muslim faithful converged for a similar programme on Saturday, confirmed that special prayers were offered for the quick recovery of Buhari.
He added that other mosques across the city of Kano pray daily for the speedy recovery of Buhari to enable him return and take over the leadership of the country from the vice president whom he transmitted power to in his absence.
During the prayers, the chief imam emphasised the need to offer prayers for the good health of leaders, adding that if a leader is indisposed, it will negatively impact on the subjects.
Similarly, Muslims in Kwara State held prayers for the recovery of the President during the Jumat’ (Muslim prayers) on Friday.
Our correspondent in Ilorin gathered that the prayers were offered in many moques in Ilorin as well as across the state.
There were similar prayers at Issa-Elelu Central Mosque, Muritala Muhammed in Ilorin as well as at Ratibi mosque.
Chief Imam of Issa-Elelu Central Mosque, Ustaz Abubabakar Aliy-Kamal, enjoined the muslim faithfuls to pray for Buhari’s quick recovery so that he could return to Nigeria and continue actively in the governance of the nation.
He stated that Buhari’s recovery would remove apprehension in the minds of both Nigerians and the international community.
In Kaduna, Chairman of the state chapter of the Jama’atu Nasil Islam, Alhaji Jafaru Makarfi, said all mosques in the state had been directed to offer special prayers for the well-being of the President.
Makarfi told one of our correspondents on phone on Saturday that the Muslim body had directed all mosques, based on instructions from the national body led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, to offer prayers for the President.
He said he participated in the prayers offered at the Angwan-Rimi Mosque on Friday.
Punch
