President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday urged Nigerians to stop glorifying thieves but should treat them with disdain for bringing hardships on others.

Buhari said this in a Sallah message made available to journalists by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, to mark the end of Ramadan.

“He (Buhari) also urged ordinary Nigerians to stop glorifying thieves by treating them with disdain for bringing hardships on others,” the statement said.

The President also thanked Nigerians for their patience with his administration, saying reforming a country that was pushed into near decay on account of corruption would come with teething pains.

He, however, assured them that their pains are temporary.

Buhari further told Nigerians that their sacrifices would not be in vain.

“These pains are temporary. The APC administration which I am privileged to lead is beholden to the ordinary Nigerians and will leave no stone unturned to make their security, welfare and happiness our priority,” the President said.

Buhari stressed the importance of putting the virtues of Islam into practice beyond the Ramadan season.

While congratulating Muslims on completing “this spiritually significant month of sacrifice”, the President urged them to reflect on the importance of Ramadan in becoming good ambassadors of Islam at all times.

He said, “Religion should be the moral compass for all believers in their public and personal lives.

“If the people allow the teachings of their religions to influence their conducts, problems such as corruption, which diverts public funds to private pockets, would have been eliminated in the society.”

He regretted, however, that “selfishness and greed have overcome people’s conscience so much that they don’t have moral inhibitions in the pursuit of their greed.”

He added, “It is impossible to separate morality from religion, and removing this connection encourages corrupt leaders and other exploiters to commit atrocities against the society.

“I always wonder why any true believer, be they politicians, civil servants or businessmen, would seek to make profits from the misfortunes of others.”

Punch