The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) on Saturday urged Nigerians to be patient with the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration and give it the needed support to achieve its mandate.
The Director of MURIC, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, said in his Easter message to Christians that the essence of Easter revolved around patience, fortitude and tolerance.
“We invite Nigerians to compare President Muhammadu Buhari’s character, frugality and pedigree to the greed, recklessness and selfishness of past leaders.
“ It is important that we are patient.
“Let us all imbibe and exude the lessons of Easter which are patience, fortitude and tolerance,’’ he said.
Akintola urged Christians to use the period to reflect on the current situation in the country.
“Nigeria is blessed with abundant human and material resources; the `numero uno’ producer of crude oil in Africa that cannot supply enough for its citizens.`
“Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa with about 180 million people; with vast arable land, yet it cannot feed its population.
“Nigeria, the ‘giant’ of Africa and a country which has helped other nations in Africa to quell disturbances, is today ravaged by a five year insurgency which has claimed thousands of lives,’’ he said.
Akintola urged religious leaders to preach love and avoid flamboyant lifestyle in order to teach followers simplicity and the need to avoid greed.
“These are issues we must reflect on; we must seek to build this country, we must not destroy it.
“Religious leaders must preach love; we must be models in tolerance and forgiveness.
“We must also shun hate speeches and all acts capable of inciting our followers.
“We must avoid extravagant and flamboyant life in order to teach our followers simplicity and the need to avoid greed and avarice; these are the things we must do to get out of the doldrums.’’
The cleric said that there was need to have hope in spite of all the travails on the country.
He said that all hope was not lost as stolen funds were being recovered and transparency, probity and accountability were on the front burner once again.
“The price of oil has started rising and governments at both federal and state levels are tightening their belts; this gives cause to believe that Nigeria will rise again.
“Therefore, we all must rise to our responsibilities and stir positive changes around us,’’ the MURIC director said.