The President of the Nigerian Senate, Bukola Saraki, has urged Muslims in Nigeria to use the month of Ramadan to pray for a positive turn around in the fortunes of Nigeria as they join their counterparts across the world to observe this year’s Ramadan fasting.
Naija News reports that Saraki made this call in his Ramadan message to the Muslim Ummah to mark the commencement of Ramadan fast. The message was signed Yusuph Olaniyonu, the Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to the President of the Senate.
This online news had reported earlier that the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, declared Monday, May 6, as the 1st Ramadan, 1440H, signifying the commencement of the annual long-month fast by Muslims after sighting the moon. 
Naija News reports that Abubakar announced the sighting of the new moon in Sokoto, northern Nigeria, on Sunday evening, May 5, in a broadcast monitored by this reporter.
During the broadcast, the Sultan urged all Muslims in Nigeria to: “Pray fervently for the blessings of Almighty Allah to lead us at all levels to succeed in steering the affairs of our dear country and for the sustenance of peace and stability,” the Sultan said during the broadcast.
In the same vein, Saraki noted that since fasting symbolizes internal cleansing and spiritual renewal, the country can benefit tremendously from the prayers of the faithful during the period.
His words: “It is my prayer that Allah accepts the earnest prayers and sacrifices of the Muslim Ummah. during this Holy Month. May we emerge better, both at the individual and national levels, after this spiritual exercise.
“Let’s us seek an end to recurring killings, kidnapping and all forms of insecurity in our country. As community leaders and members of the Islamic faith, we have a responsibility to work for peace in our communities in particular, and the country in general.
“We cannot afford to gloss over the present level of insecurity and harsh economic realities in our country. Therefore, let us pray earnestly for Allah’s intervention in the socio-economic life of our people,” he stated.
The Senate President also called on all leaders both at the national and state levels to put in place policies and programmes that would directly benefit the people and gainfully engage the nation’s growing youth population.
Saraki added that the high youth population in the country is a blessing as the young people can hasten the development process if positively engaged but that the advantage can also become a time bomb if they are not well managed and deployed for good causes.
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