‘Exercise Patience and Pray for Peace’: Nigerian Leaders Unite in Sallah Calls Amid Economic Hardship

Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting

AS the Muslim faithful marked Eid-el-Kabir 2026, a chorus of voices from the nation’s political and religious leadership urged restraint, unity and prayer – even as millions grapple with soaring living costs and deepening insecurity.

MAIDUGURI/ABUJA — At the Ramat Square in Maiduguri, the heart of Borno State, tens of thousands of worshippers bowed in solemn prayer on Wednesday morning. The two-rakat Eid-el-Kabir prayer, led by Imam Idaini of Borno, Imam Adam Asil, concluded with a heartfelt supplication: for peace to return to the troubled state, for Nigeria to heal, and for the wider Sahel and the world to emerge from turmoil.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who observed the prayer in his home state, used the platform to issue a measured but pointed appeal to the nation. Speaking shortly after the service, he called on Nigerians to “exercise patience”, insisting that governments at all levels were poised to alleviate the suffering of the people.

“I want to call on Nigerians to exercise patience,” the Vice President said, standing alongside Borno’s Deputy Governor, Dr Umar Kadafur, the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Zibn Garbai Elkanemi, and thousands of the faithful. “Let there be peace in the land, and let us pray for peace – not only in Borno but in all nooks and crannies of this country, the Sahel zone of West Africa, and the world at large.”

His message carried a particular urgency. Nigeria is navigating a bitter cost-of-living crisis, with inflation and food prices hitting record highs.

The Vice President acknowledged the strain, adding: “The world itself is in turmoil. There is war in the Middle East, and the cost of living indices have risen.”

But Shettima also looked ahead to the coming political season. “As we enter the political phase, there is need for maturity, providence and a generous spirit in all our political interactions,” he warned. “What binds us together supersedes whatever divides us.”

A Festival of Sacrifice – and Solidarity

Eid-el-Kabir, the “festival of sacrifice”, commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to offer his son in obedience to God. Across Nigeria, governors, religious leaders and political figures seized on the symbolism – urging citizens to embrace patience, charity and tolerance even in the face of grinding hardship.

In Enugu State, Governor Peter Mbah called on Nigerians to rise in solidarity with the less privileged. “Eid-el-Kabir reminds us that sacrifice lies at the very heart of true service to God and humanity,” he said in a goodwill message. “At a time when our nation continues to navigate important political and economic transitions, the significance of this celebration becomes even more profound. Let us be reminded that we all belong to one shared humanity.”

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, meanwhile, emphasised the virtues of obedience, sacrifice and “untiring commitment to divine will”. He urged Muslims to use the spiritual essence of the period to pray for enduring peace, unity and accelerated progress in Nigeria, adding: “I wish all Muslims happy Barka de Sallah celebrations.”

From Benin City, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo – represented by his deputy, Hon Dennis Idahosa – reiterated his administration’s commitment to fairness and inclusivity, noting that qualified Muslims hold key positions in his government. “Nigeria needs our collective prayers, unity and support as we strive to overcome our challenges,” Okpebholo said.

In Plateau State, Governor Caleb Mutfwang described Eid-el-Kabir as a “sacred season that symbolises faith, sacrifice, obedience and complete submission to the will of Almighty God”. He called on citizens to embrace “the spirit of sacrifice, love and collective responsibility” to strengthen unity and development across the state.

A Christian Leader’s Sallah Message

In an unusual but warmly received gesture, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Bishop Professor Stephen Adegbite, extended his own felicitations to the Muslim faithful. Noting the story of Prophet Ibrahim, he said the festival exemplifies “total submission, trust and obedience to the Almighty”.

Bishop Adegbite urged Nigerians to have faith in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and to support the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’. He also called for prayers as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections. “With prayers and with God, all things are possible,” the bishop said.

‘Pray for the President’: Umahi’s Plea

The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, went a step further. Receiving Muslim community leaders at his residence in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, he appealed passionately for prayers for President Tinubu – including for his re-election.

“We need to pray for the President for health, strength, and his re-election, because the President means well for Nigeria,” Umahi said. “I do not see any other person with the kind of commitment he has towards the daunting challenges we have in Nigeria.”

The Minister also distributed cash, rice and groundnut oil to Muslim families, enabling them to buy rams and celebrate “happily with their families”. He noted that Muslims of Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba extraction in Ebonyi had been part of the annual Sallah gathering at his home for years. “I strongly believe that we are worshipping one God,” he said.

An Opposition Voice: ‘Do Not Surrender to Despair’

But not all messages were purely consolatory. The African Democratic Congress (ADC), in a sharply worded Sallah statement, acknowledged that “this year’s Sallah is coming at an exceptionally difficult period for many Nigerians”, with rising food prices, unemployment and growing insecurity.

“Millions of families are struggling,” the party said. “Yet, even in moments like this, we believe Nigerians must not lose hope in the future of our country.” The ADC urged citizens not to “surrender to the despair that is widespread under this government”, while calling on leaders to “reflect seriously on the deeper meaning of responsibility”.

In the Holy Cities: Zulum’s Gift to Indigent Pilgrims

While the faithful gathered in Nigeria, nearly two thousand Borno pilgrims in Saudi Arabia received an unexpected act of generosity. Governor Babagana Zulum approved the provision of Hadaya (sacrificial rams) for 1,725 indigent pilgrims from the state performing the 2026 Hajj.

The Hadaya – a mandatory sacrifice for those performing Hajj al-Tamattu or Hajj al-Qiran – commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s obedience. Each ram will be slaughtered during the days of Tashreeq, with meat distributed to needy pilgrims and residents of the holy cities. The Governor also provided free Ihram garments for male pilgrims and head coverings for female pilgrims, and paid hotel differentials to secure more comfortable accommodation for the Borno contingent.

“Pray for peace and prosperity for Borno and the country at large,” Governor Zulum charged the pilgrims.

A Shared Plea

From the dusty square in Maiduguri to the marble corridors of Government Houses, one refrain echoed across Nigeria this Sallah: patience, prayer, and the urgent need for peace. Whether from Vice President Shettima’s call for “maturity” in politics, Governor Mutfwang’s appeal for “harmonious coexistence”, or the ADC’s insistence that “Nigeria can still rise again”, the message was clear.

As the Imam of Borno led the final prayer for peace – in Borno, in Nigeria, and in a world “in turmoil” – millions of Muslims returned to their homes, many carrying the quiet hope that sacrifice, whether of a ram or of patience, might yet yield a brighter dawn.