Buhari To Celebrate Sallah In Aso Villa, Bans Homage Again

President Muhammadu Buhari has disclosed that he would not be receiving any Sallah homage to mark the end of Ramadan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Recall that Buhari had last year also banned visitors from paying him homage due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement on Sunday titled ‘President Buhari to mark Eid in the Villa, plans modest celebration at home,’ by his Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the president asked that religious, community and political leaders be content with modest celebrations at home.

The statement read, “As Muslims in Nigeria join others globally in preparations towards Eid Al-Fitr, a day that is celebrated to mark the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting, President Buhari directs that all celebrations be limited due to the global Coronavirus crisis.

“To this effect, the President, First Family, his personal aides, members of cabinet and Service Chiefs who choose to remain in Abuja will congregate in full compliance with COVID-19 protocols at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa to observe the Eid prayers. Time fixed for the prayer is 9.00am.

“Thereafter, there will be no traditional Sallah homage to the President by religious, community and political leaders. As was the case last year, the President encourages such leaders to be content with modest celebrations at home in view of the pandemic.

“President Buhari specially thanks the Ulama (Islamic Clerics) and all other religious (Muslim, Christian) leaders who continue to pray for the wellbeing of the nation and its people.”

Buhari also seized the opportunity to condole with all who lost family members due to what he described as the “madness” going on in parts of the country.