SALLAH: JONATHAN SALUTES MUSLIMS, URGES SUPPORT, UNDERSTANDING

President Goodluck Jonathan has extended his felicitations to all Nigerians, especially the Islamic faithful on the occasion of this year's Eid-El-Kabir celebrations.

He has also appealed for the continued support and understanding of Nigerians, saying that his administration's efforts to transform the country may require that they make more sacrifices to build a better nation for present and future generations.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati in a statement conveying President Jonathan's special message to the nation, also congratulated all Nigerians who have undertaken the Holy Pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina this year and wished them Allah's mercies as they travel back home.

The President urged Nigerians to seize the opportunity of the Eid-El-Kabir holiday to reflect on how the ideals and virtues of peace, harmony, brotherly love, selflessness, tolerance, honesty, fairness, justice and equity taught by Islam and other religions can be more extensively harnessed and deployed in addressing the developmental challenges confronting the nation.

He noted that Eid-El-Kabir is a festival of sacrifice that commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son, Ismail, in obedience to the will of Allah.