President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians to show more concern for their neighbours and spread charity to all in the spirit of Eid-el-Kabir.
Speaking to journalists after Eid-el-Kabir prayers in Lagos on Sunday, the president stated that some level of sacrifice will be required to propel the country ahead.
According to a statement issued by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Tinubu asked Nigerians to sacrifice their time for the country’s prosperity and well-being following Eid prayers.
“We have been told by the Chief Imam how we can follow the path of sacrifice. The sacrifice required of a good citizen. Citizenship comes with responsibilities.
“As citizens, what do we need to do to be committed members of our society? Yes, that is sacrifice—loving your country.
“Loving your neighbours. Sharing what you have with each other. And to always be thankful to Almighty God,” the President said.
In his sermon, Lagos State’s Chief Imam, Sheikh Suleiman Oluwatoyin, who led the prayers, emphasised the importance of more love, sacrifice, and care for the poor and vulnerable.
“Our leaders, like the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, and Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, to mention a few, sacrificed their knowledge, wealth, sweat, and even life to the growth and development of the country we call ours today. All their activities and actions were geared towards nation-building.
“We must therefore ensure that their sacrifices are not in vain. It is incumbent on us to follow in their footsteps to ensure that this nation, Nigeria, continues to grow by leaps and bounds,” he said.
The Chief Imam of Lagos urged citizens to pray that God Almighty grant Tinubu the strength and wisdom to deliver on his vision for a better and more prosperous nation.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
