PRESS STATEMENT OF PROFESSOR TUNDE ADENIRAN, NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY (SDP) TO NIGERIANS ON THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN
27 April 2020
*RAMADAN KAREEM*
_The National Chairman of Social Democratic Party (SDP) has issued a public Statement on behalf of all members of the Social Democratic Party greeting Muslims across the nation and urging them to be pious, devoted and be kind to the less privileged, sick and afflicted during this holy month. Professor Adeniran also urged Nigerians and all Muslims, in particular, to pray for the healing of the land, those afflicted the by rapacious Coronavirus and all frontline operators involved in providing health care and virus containment._
_The full test of the Statement is reproduced below:_
May this holy month of Ramadan be most fulfilling to all Nigerians, especially compatriots of the Muslim faith. Being the month in which Allah sent the holy book, Al Quran, to all Muslims through prophet Muhammad, the month of Ramadan is the month when Muslims should be pious, when gifts are to be freely given to the needy by those who have and, above all, when prayers and fasting are to be observed with total devotion. I enjoin all to do as commanded by Allah in this holy month so that all the rewards that will accrue from his worship will be theirs.
May I also say you should use the opportunity of this holy month to pray for the remission of our individual and collective sins and the healing of our nation from the scourge of COVID-19, the coronavirus now ravaging the world! As we pray for the intervention of the Almighty Allah to stop the spread of the contagious deadly disease in Nigeria, let us observe all the protocols and regulations proclaimed by the government and health authorities. In specific terms, I enjoin all Nigerians to observe personal and respiratory hygiene measures with particular reference to frequent washing of hands; to adhere to social distancing measures and wearing of face masks and be kind and humane to one another.
I urge the Federal and State Governments and their agencies to ensure that relief materials and palliative measures being distributed to the masses are properly supervised to reduce or stop unscrupulous malpractices and that they get to the right people who mostly need them and to areas where these are badly required. I enjoin all security agencies to act with human face during these difficult times so as not to compound the problems. And above all, I enjoin all Nigerians to pray for all health care workers, including nurses, doctors, technicians as well as essential services providers and law enforcement officers who have put their lives on the line for the sake of the afflicted and to control the spread of the vicious virus in the land.
Once more, Ramadan Kareem to you all.
Prof. Tunde Adeniran, OFR
National Chairman,
*Social Democratic Party (SDP)*
27 April 2020