President Muhammadu Buhari has said the Nigerian society “is a bundle of contradictions” where religious people make life difficult for others, divert money meant for all into their private pockets.
Buhari added that he would not rest until he has addressed the current security challenges and costs of living in the country.
The President gave the assurance in his Eid-el Kabir message to Nigerian Muslims and other citizens.
“I am quite aware of the difficulties people are facing and working to resolve them,” he said in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.
The President said “if we are putting the teachings of our religions into practice, most of the evils afflicting our society would have been solved.”
According to him, “religion shouldn’t just be used as a mere badge of identity, but as a motivator for doing good for our country and humanity.”
He said “the exploitation of the people by traders and the stealing of public funds by civil servants and other holders of public trust is a reflection of the abandonment of the teachings of our religions.”
“Our society is a bundle of contradictions. People display external religiosity without fear of God; they make life difficult for others; money becomes their god; leaders abandon their oaths of office by taking money meant for the welfare of the people and divert it to their private pockets,” he said.
Buhari congratulated the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria and the world on the occasion of the Eid, citing for special mention, “the brave men and women in uniform fighting terror on many fronts and their families, as well as others held hostage and kept away from their families by wicked and heartless terrorists.”
He used the occasion to call on all Muslims to reflect on the significance of the sacrifice epitomised by Eid.