• Nigeria will flourish under Tinubu – CAN President
• as Gowon, Jonathan, others attend 2023 Christmas Carol
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, has declared that the year 2024 will be a year of peace even as she convert the prayers of Nigerians, especially that of clergy in the country.
She said this at the 2023 service of Nine Lessons and Carols with the theme: “Immanuel, Our Hope of Glory” at the State House Conference Center, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
She said: “I want to appreciate you, we can only convert your prayers. I believe the best is now in Nigeria, we shall experience and see it. 2024 is the year of peace, Nigeria will take her place in the comity of nations.”
Former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, former President Goodluck Jonathan, their wives Victoria Gowon and Patience Jonathan, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio and his wife, Ekaetta, were among the dignitaries that joined the First Lady at the service.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, Head of Service of the Civil Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan, members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), members of the diplomatic corps, traditional rulers, Comptroller General of Customs, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa were also in attendance.
Arch Bishop Peter Ogunmuyiwa, read the message of Christmas, while Mass Choir of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) sang all the songs in English, Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo.
Gowon took the 1st lesson, “The fall of Man” from Genesis 3:1-24, while the CDS, Musa read the second lesson “Promise to Abraham) from Genesis 22:1-19 Chief Justice of Nigeria, represented by justice of the Supreme Court took the 3rd Lesson, “The Prophecy of the Messiah’s Kingdom of Peace”, from the book of Isaiah 11:1-19 Head of Service took the 4th Lesson on behalf of all workers in the nation, “The Prophet Tells of the Prince of Peace”, from Isaiah 9:6-7.
The SGF, Akume read the 5th Lesson “The Annunciation of Mary” from Luke 1:26-38. The Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, read the 6th Lesson “The Birth of Immanuel”, from Matthew 1:18-23 The President of the Senate, Akpabio read the 7th Lesson “The Shepherd’s Visit”, from Luke 2:8-20.
The First Lady, Mrs. Tinubu read the 8th Lesson “Adoration of the Magi” Mathew 2:1-12, Bishop Adegbite read the 9th Lesson “St. John Unfolds the Great Mystery of the Incarnation” John 1:1-14 The event which held at the State House of Conference Center, also had wives of governors former ministers, former lawmakers in attendance.
The CAN President, Daniel Okoh in his Christmas message said, this Christmas was special in Nigeria because is the first after the elections that saw President Bola Tinubu emerged and affirmed by the Supreme Court. He said Nigerians are looking forward to this year’s Christmas with renewed hope. He said he genuinely believes that things will be better saying, “and I pray that things will indeed be better.”
He commended President Tinubu for his efforts to ensure inclusive governance and expressed hope that under him Nigeria will flourish again. He said the elections were now over and that they can only be one president at a time. He said the celebrations of Jesus Christ is a reminder of the length that he went to reconcile man to God, so that the condemned with be redeemed and restored.
He charged all believers to be champion of reconciliation and not crisis and division, saying “We must love our enemies.”
Okoh noted that “Jesus loved us while we were sinners and reconciled us to God”, adding that “reconciliation is not complete until we reconcile with all our enemies”, urging Nigerians to reach out to their enemies and reconcile with them.
The cleric said this is the time to be united and grow closer to God, adding that unity amongst citizens will foster reconciliation. He also charged Nigerians to pray to the leaders. He said President Tinubu’s approach to reaching out to the opposition is commendable, saying the President and the First Lady’s magnanimity will be rewarded.
He prayed for Tinubu’s administration to succeed. He prayed for those that travelled out will return. He urged Nigerians to keep trusting God and that his presence “Immanuel” is with us.
“As we celebrate Christmas, let’s not forget the poor and the poorest of the poor, the sick and those wounded spiritually and physically and those who have not eaten. Remember those in capacity and those displaced from their homes, so that they too may rejoice”, he said.
The CAN President led the leadership to present Christmas Card to the first family. The event came to a close with the rendition of “Once In Royal David’s City” by the CAN mass choir.