The Nigerian Labour Congress NLC has extended felicitations to Nigerian Muslims on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir marking the end of a 30-day fasting of the month of Ramadan.
In a statement titled: Sallah; A Sacrifice for Peace, Let’s Build a Nation Fit for Living, the NLC President Joe Ajaero extends warm felicitations to the Muslim community, and to all Nigerian workers and citizens who are once again bearing the heavy burden of a nation that still operates far below its potentials.
According to the statement released in Abuja on Thursday, “This season of sacrifice commemorates the profound submission to the will of Allah and the supreme value of life.
“Yet, as we celebrate, our nation bleeds. The increasing bloodletting occasioned by rampaging insecurity is a stain on our collective conscience.”
Ajaero recalled Monday’s suicide bombings which killed over 26 persons, saying the associated deaths remind of the quantum of evil that has taken over our nation.
He said “as the sword of Ibrahim (AS) was stayed, we demand that the swords raised against our citizens be stayed as well.
“We call on all leaders and gatekeepers of our nation; from the corridors of Aso Rock to the local government secretariats; to use this sacred period for deep and sincere soul-searching.
“There is no cause, no political ambition, no religious dogma, and no economic gain that is worth the shedding of a single drop of Nigerian blood.
“The essence of Sallah is not in the opulent feasts of the powerful while the masses go hungry, but in the reaffirmation of our duty to one another. The working class and the poor have been sacrificed on the altars of primitive accumulation.
“We must rescue our nation from the clutches of destruction. The blood of the farmer, the trader, the butcher, and the civil servant is not a commodity to be traded for political points.”
The statement told the political class that as they sharpen knives and draw battle lines for the 2027 general elections, they should remember that they cannot govern ghosts.
Ajaero said “the incessant drumbeats of conflicts and the desperation for power at all costs are a distraction from the real task at hand.
“The highest gift you can bequeath to the citizenry is a peaceful nation. It is only citizens that are alive and free from fear that can be governed, can vote, and can hold you accountable to build a sustainable nation.
“Let this Sallah be a turning point. Let us reject the politics of blood and embrace the politics of bread, butter, and peace. Let us use this period to build bridges, not barricades; to foster understanding, not fan the embers of hate.
“The unity of the working people and the masses, across all divides, is the only force that can counter the forces of destruction. It is time to build a democracy that benefits our people! It is time to let workers and masses win! It is time to let Nigeria win!”
He prayed that Sallah brings not just feasting, but a lasting feast of peace, justice, and security for all Nigerians.
