Nigeria: Bishop Badejo’s goodwill message as Muslims celebrate Eid-el-Kabir.

Paul Samasumo – Vatican City.

In a message of congratulation to Muslim brothers and sisters in Nigeria, and elsewhere, Nigeria’s Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Oyo, Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, has commended cordial relations between Catholics and Muslims in his area.

The goodwill message, jointly signed with the Diocesan Director of Inter-religious Dialogue, Fr. Joseph Ogundipe, Bishop Badejo called upon Muslims and Catholics to continue to trust God and work together for peace.

Celebration Of Eid-el-Kabir 1442ah /July 2021 A.D.

“On behalf of the entire Catholic Diocese of Oyo, may I congratulate you, dear Muslim brothers and sisters, as you celebrate another holy feast of sacrifice, Eid-el-Kabir. We join you in thanking God for this opportunity understanding the challenges that this season poses to us all. We feel for those who missed the obligation of going to Hajj due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and we pray that next year will be better. Amen,” Bishop Badejo said.

Our common need for peaceful coexistence

Bishop Badejo continued, “Eid-el-Kabir is a festival of great sacrifice to Allah which must reflect in our loving sacrifice to one another, especially those who do not share our beliefs and language. Our beloved country needs all of us, and we all have a part to play in the success of Nigeria as a nation. I humbly urge us to use this medium to reflect on our common need for peaceful coexistence, good governance and youth empowerment. We must be ready to combat all forms of prejudices, fake news, hate speech and religious fanaticism and join hands with our (political and civic) leaders in making Nigeria work for all of us,” observed the prelate of Oyo Diocese.

Good relations with Oyo state

Bishop Badejo also praised the cooperation that exists between the Diocese of Oyo and the government of Oyo State reaffirming the Church's willingness to work for the common good.

“We also pray for more peace and progress in the years ahead. As always, we are open to programmes of mutual enrichment and dialogue of peaceful coexistence with you all. Once again, on behalf of the priests, religious and laity of this diocese, I wish you all a blessing-filled Eid-el-Kabir celebration,” he said.

20 July: Eid-el-Kabir day

Eid-el- Kabir is a sacred month in Islam. Muslims perform the Ḥajj (Holy Pilgrimage) and observe the Festival of Sacrifice.

Last week, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Sa’ad Abubakar III, clarified the date for Eid-el-Kabir day. He said Nigerian Muslims would observe the 2021 Eid-el-Kabir on Tuesday, 20 July, instead of the earlier expectation that it would be on 21 July.