The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) on Sunday congratulated Muslims on this year’s Eid El Fitr celebration.
IPAC in a statement by its National Chairman, Yabagi Sani, appealed to stakeholders in the nation’s democracy project to close ranks and work assiduously towards unfettered success of the forthcoming elections.
The council said that all narrow, self-centered and transient partisan goals must be subjugated to the long-term, superior objectives of promoting national peace, security, stability and integration built on the solid ground of democracy.
It also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to strive to ensure credible, transparent, free and fair elections leading to a rancour free and smooth transition in 2023.
IPAC also called on the National Independent Electoral Commission to remain undeterred and focused in its handling of the electoral process as it has performed commendably well.
“This is just as IPAC is asking the security agencies, the judiciary and the other relevant institutions and NGOs among others, to be awake to their roles in the electoral process.”
IPAC reminded its members, the leadership and members of registered political parties that they have the greatest stake in the fortunes or otherwise of democracy more than any other groups or interests in the country.
“It is therefore imperative for the political gladiators to do all within them to play according to the rules and regulations of the game.
“We must be above unbridled and potentially dangerous pursuit of our parochial political goals in the superior interest of the nation and the democracy project which confers on us the legitimacy and relevance we are presently savouring.”
IPAC while felicitating with Muslims on Sallah celebrations prayed that the mercies and blessings of the glorious month of Ramadan linger over the land in a long while from now.
The council prayed that the divine blessings of the season would envelope every facet of the national life.
It also prayed that all the prayers and supplications by individuals for people and the country in general be accepted and granted by God.
“May some of the fallouts of the special divine season imply a turning point in the fortunes of our now beleaguered fatherland, the restoration of peace, love and amity among the divergent components and communities.
“May we begin to experience a reprieve and a shift away from the dark shadows of the harbingers of insecurity, fear, death and destruction that have been inflicting pain, poverty and despondency in the lives of the majority of citizens in recent times.”
IPAC prayed that the luminous spirit and light of Ramadan would radiantly shine the path and guide actions of compatriots of the Islamic faith towards achieving the goal and yearning for the peaceful and successful conduct of the general elections a couple of months away in 2023.
“Very certainly, the nation is in pressing requirements for a recourse.
“Recourse to the ways and injunctions of the Almighty God in our search for salvation and panacea to the myriad of challenges threatening our collective well-being and, indeed continued existence as one corporate, united and virile entity,” he said.