Buhari shuns tradition of celebrating Sallah in Daura opting for a family gathering in Abuja

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has celebrated the Muslim the Eid-el-Kabir within the confines of State House Abuja for the first time since assuming office in 2015 rather than visit his Daura country home as usual.

Traditionally, President Buhari has always celebrated Eid-el-Kabir at the Daura prayer ground in his native Katsina State. He is usually accompanied by several ministers and advisers as well as the Katsina State governor and local traditional rulers, with the walk to the prayer ground being one of the highlights of the event.

However, this year, on the advice of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, President Buhari marked the occasion in Aso Rock. Earlier today, he observed the Eid-el-Kabir prayer with members of his family at home in State House and then supervised the killing of rams afterwards.

At the occasion, President Buhari wished all Muslims a safe and happy celebration. So far, Nigeria has 42,689 cases of coronavirus of which there have been 878 fatalities, with the numbers still rising.

Over the last few weeks, daily incidences within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have surpassed those in Lagos, the epicentre of the pandemic. Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 officials and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs had advised Muslims to observe the festivities at home due to the coronavirus pandemic.