Senate President Ahmad Lawan, Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and governors have urged Nigerians to show love to one and another in the spirit of the Christmas being celebrated on Friday across the world.
Lawan, in a statement by his media aide, Ola Awoniyi, said: “In the true spirit of the season, let’s show love to our neighbours, kindness to the less-privileged and vulnerable, and tolerance to one another across the lines of faith, politics and ethnicity in the spirit of the unique sacrifice and teachings of Jesus Christ”.
Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila in his Christmas message called on Christians and all other Nigerians to use the Christmas period to pray for continuous peaceful coexistence in the country.
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In the message signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, the speaker said Nigerians should also use the period to pray for their leaders for God’s guidance.
Similarly, a former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Paul Ibe, said Nigerians should rededicate themselves and remain steadfast in prayers to restore security, unity and stability to the nation.
“Christmas is a time of love, therefore, I call on all Nigerians to emulate the essence of this season and unite for the greater good of our dear country.
“Nigerians should also remember their fellow citizens, the men and women of our armed forces, some of whom lost their lives this year fighting to protect us from terrorist attacks, banditry, kidnapping and other threats that are rearing their ugly heads across the country against our national security,” Atiku said.
Lessons of Christmas
The Chairman, APC Caretaker Committee and Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni, has urged Nigerians to use the lessons of Christmas to promote peace, love and unity in the country.
“Christmas is full of lessons that preach peace, love and tolerance that we should borrow from to promote love and unity.
“We should, irrespective of our political, religious and cultural differences, put these lessons into our daily lives to promote love and remain our brothers’ keepers,” Buni said.
On his part, Gombe State Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya urged Nigerians to use the period to pray for peace and end to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The governor in his Christmas message urged Christians and the entire people of the state to rededicate themselves and remain steadfast in prayers against all the challenges bedevilling the state and humanity in general.
In his Christmas message, Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki urged residents to adhere to public health and safety measures against the coronavirus (COVID-19) during the yuletide.
“As we celebrate this season of love, we must be circumspect so as not to lose our loved ones. Except it is absolutely necessary to go out, please stay at home.
“Inasmuch as the government will enforce the rules relating to the COVID-19, it is important that each and every one of us takes personal responsibility to protect ourselves and the people around us by abiding by all public health and safety measures to ensure that we are safe,” he said.
Also, Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola urged Nigerians to shun religious sentiment and embrace love and peaceful co-existence which Jesus Christ stood for.
The governor, while speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, said the celebration offered Nigerians the opportunity to reflect on God’s love and compassion for man as epitomised in the gift of Christ to the world.
Similarly, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State congratulated Christians in the state on the occasion of the 2020 Christmas, calling on them to use the opportunity of the season to pray for the state and its leadership.
Makinde equally urged Christians across the country to emulate Christ who, according to him, is the reason for the season, by showing love to others, living in harmony with neighbours and demonstrating the spirit of brotherliness.
On their parts, Adamawa State governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri; Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai; Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Taraba State governor, Darius Ishaku, also harped on the lessons of the season.
‘There is poverty in the land’
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) urged Nigerians to rekindle hope and trust in God’s divine intervention in the affairs of the nation.
The leading opposition party, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said Nigerians must keep hope alive and find strength in God’s unfailing intervention as demonstrated with the gift of salvation in the coming of Jesus Christ.
“The failures of the current administration have led to an excruciating widespread economic hardship and worsened insecurity across the country. Christmas rekindles faith that all hope is not lost for the nation.
“The PDP laments that under the prevailing circumstances, most families have nothing to celebrate with. Many are in deep mourning over their losses from escalated insecurity due to the failure of those entrusted with the leadership of our nation,” the party stated.
‘We’ll soon exit recession’
However, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has assured Nigerians that the nation will soon exit the current recession.
The party also assured that the federal government would always mobilise all legitimate assets to ensure the safety and security of all Nigerians.
Secretary of the APC Caretaker Committee, Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe, said Nigeria went into recession again largely due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nation.
“As every country affected by the economic slowdown caused largely by the severity of the global COVID-19 pandemic, Nigeria is poised to exit the current recession within a short time, as several measures lined up by the Federal Government show,” the party stated.
Peace, brotherly love
A former president of the Senate, Senator David Mark, has again reminded Nigerians of the sanctity of being their brothers’ keeper in spite of the socio-economic and security challenges.
To this end, he has canvassed for religious tolerance between and amongst faithful in a manner that gives every adherent freedom and liberty to worship.
He stated this in a goodwill message to Nigerians to commemorate this year’s Christmas, signed by his media aide, Paul Mumeh.
Tinubu preaches kindness, love
The national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, said the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic made the year 2020 a turbulent year.
He, however, said every Nigerian must show love and kindness to each other in order to overcome the present challenges.
Tinubu in his goodwill message to mark the Christmas celebration, said, “Let us put in our heart how we can help those who are without instead of blaming people for the situation in which they find themselves.
“Give those who currently lack kindness not criticism; give them bread and meat, not bitterness and despair. COVID came to steal much from us. But if we act in the spirit of Jesus, we shall defeat this disease and the other ills it seeks to impose on us.”
On his part, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Malam Muhammad Musa Bello urged residents of the territory to observe safety protocols as they celebrate Christmas.
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