Maj.-Gen. Hassan Dada, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, has urged Nigerians to continue to make sacrifices for peace, security and development of the nation.
Dada gave the charge on Sunday after the Eid-el Kabir prayer at Eid prayer ground of Abakpa Military Cantonment, Enugu.
He noted that Nigerians must learn from the exemplary lifestyle of Prophet Ibrahim, who have to give his only son for sacrifice but Almighty Allah instructed him to use a ram instead.
According to him, for things to go right and for peace and security to prevail, we must as individuals and collectively as organisations, make due sacrifices.
The GOC advised that people must always abide and respect constituted authorities enshrined by God and the nation’s authorities.
“If all of us submit to the will of the Almighty Allah and constituted authorities that is ordained by Almighty Allah, there is so much to benefit because Almighty Allah will also reward us bountifully.
“And for the government, what they are asking from us is to be law abiding and when we are law abiding, definitely there will be progress in the land and peace as well.
“The insecurity in the land is because people are not ready to make sacrifices,” he said.
Dada noted that the South-East Zone and the Cross River were abundantly blessed with natural endowments and human resources, but noted that insecurity caused by very few had hindered their great potentials.
“We are appealing to all those living in South-East and Cross River State to continue to partner and assist the Division with prompt and actionable information to check all forms of criminal activities.
“I sincerely believe that with security and peace in the entire South-East and Cross River State, progress and development will blossom in the areas,” Dada said.
In a sermon after the prayer, Chief Imam of 82 Division, Lt.-Col. Husein Eleje, urged all to live in peace with their neighbours as instructed by the Almighty Allah.
He said that one way to ensure that peace reigned was through sacrifice and commitment to the welfare of others.
“I will want Muslim faithful and Nigerians to look out for ways to sacrifice and invest in the welfare, well-being and progress of others to build a peaceful and prosperous neighourhood, community and society,” he said.
The chief imam prayed for the peace and progress of the nation as well as for the success of the President Bola Tinubu led administration.
Highlight of the special sallah prayer was the symbolic slaughtering of ram done by the chief imam. (NAN)
By Stanley Nwanosike
 the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, has urged Nigerians to continue){kind=link}