The Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, has called on Nigerians to embrace the virtues of faith, sacrifice and hope as Muslims across the country celebrate the 2026 Eid-el-Kabir festival.
Rt. Hon. Ogundoyin made the call in his Sallah message to Nigerians, the people of Oyo State and his constituents in Ibarapa East State Constituency, stressing that the occasion presents an opportunity for reflection on the values of obedience to Allah, selflessness and perseverance as exemplified in Islamic teachings.
The Speaker urged Nigerians not to allow prevailing economic and security challenges to dampen their spirit, expressing confidence that the country would overcome its difficulties and emerge stronger.
According to him, despite the current realities confronting the nation, citizens must continue to believe in the future of Nigeria and remain united in pursuing peace, development and national progress.
He said, “As we celebrate Eid-el-Kabir, I urge Nigerians not to lose hope in our country. We may be passing through difficult times, but our challenges are temporary. Nigeria will be great again if we remain united, prayerful and committed to building a better society.”
Rt. Hon. Ogundoyin noted that the lessons of Eid-el-Kabir should inspire citizens to uphold the values of sacrifice and total submission to the will of Allah as demonstrated by Prophet Ibrahim, who displayed unwavering faith and obedience through his willingness to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, in obedience to Allah’s command.
He explained that the significance of the celebration extends beyond the rituals of the season, stressing that the lessons of compassion, commitment and sacrifice remain essential for strengthening unity and promoting peaceful coexistence among Nigerians.
The Speaker also urged residents of Oyo State to remember school children and teachers recently kidnapped in Oriire Local Government Area during the period of celebration, describing the incident as painful and deeply concerning.
He appealed to residents to offer special prayers for the safe return of the victims and comfort for their families, while calling for divine intervention in addressing insecurity in the state and across the country.
Rt. Hon. Ogundoyin said, “As we celebrate and share in the joy of this season, let us remember our children and teachers who are currently in captivity following the unfortunate incident in Oriire Local Government. Let us pray that Almighty Allah grants them safe and speedy return.”
He further urged residents across Oyo State and Nigeria to pray for lasting peace and improved security, saying the nation requires collective efforts, sincere leadership and continuous support for measures aimed at restoring stability.
