By Magnus Eze (Enugu), Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Fred Ezeh (Abuja), Tony John (Port Harcourt), Lukman Olabiyi (Lagos), Scholastica Onyeka (Makurdi), Layi Olanrewaju (Ilorin), Femi Folaranmi (Yenagoa), George Onyejiuwa (Owerri), Abel Leonard (Lafia), Judex Okoro (Calabar), Noah Ebije (Kaduna)
President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated his commitment to work for the nation’s unity, political stability until his last day in office on May 29, 2023.
This is even as he pledged to continue providing political and material support to sub-national governments.
He also declared that those who violently seek to disrupt the peace of the country have lost the battle.
In his last Christmas message to the nation, Buhari urged that the advances his administration had made so far on the economic front, especially in infrastructure, food security, anti-corruption, security, energy sufficiency, among others, should be sustained.
Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, urged Nigerians “to remain steadfast in prayers for a greater Nigeria after the elections of next year that will be a shining example for our present and future generations.”
Former Governor of Abia State and Chief Whip of the Senate, Dr. Orji Kalu called on Christians to embrace the exemplary life of Jesus Christ and teachings of the holy bible in their daily endeavours.
While congratulating Nigerians on this year’s Christmas celebration, Kalu cautioned politicians against inflammatory utterances that are capable of heating the polity.
He admonished Nigerians to demonstrate love, piety, patriotism, forgiveness, brotherhood and selflessness in their pursuits, adding that the country is better off as a united and indivisible entity.
In a goodwill message, Kalu urged the political class and electorate to adhere to the tenets of democracy before, during and after the 2023 general elections.
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, in his Christmas message, urged Christian faithful to remain committed to the worthy ideals exemplified by the birth of Jesus Christ as they celebrate the Yuletide.
He advised the privileged in the state to use the season to reach out to the less privileged as a measure of deepening friendship and communal living.
He advised the people of the State to use the season to deepen their faith in God as God has the solution to all societal challenges.
Governor Wike assured the people of the state that his administration was working with all security agencies to ensure a peaceful celebration of the season.
In similar vein, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has charged residents of the state to celebrate Christmas with moderation, saying, “the season is for us to also reflect and ensure that as the New Year comes in, it’s for better and bigger things to happen.”
Sanwo-Olu, who passed the message across to the residents during the official commissioning of the newly constructed Ishefun-Camp Davies-Ijon Road Network and Jetty Terminal in Alimosho, Lagos, on Friday, said: “I want to wish all the residents and people of Lagos State a very merry Christmas in advance, a very peaceful holiday season and a prosperous New Year in advance.”
In a goodwill message to Nigerians to commemorate this year’s Christmas celebration Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, preached peace and religious tolerance between and among different adherents of faith as the antidote to occasional conflicts in the country.
The Kwara State Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) while rejoicing with the Christian faithful, offered assurances of a greater 2023 with the re-election of the AbdulRahman AbduRazaq-led administration.
Felicitating with Bayelsans, Governor Douye Diri in his Christmas message urged the people to eschew violence in the 2023 elections even as he charged the
Christian faithful to practice the teachings of Jesus and as much as it is within their power live in peace with all, adding, “my administration will continue to be guided by these noble principles in fostering love, reconciliation, unity and togetherness in Bayelsa State as we strive to bring shared prosperity.”
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State felicitated with the good people of Enugu State and all Nigerians urging all to renew their faith in God and remain steadfast in prayers for the peace, love, unity, security and progress of the state in particular and the country in general, especially as the country prepares to transit to another democratic dispensation through the 2023 general election.
Similarly, the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri and President of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), His Grace, Most Reverend Lucius Ugorji challenged Nigerians to work for the common good, while bemoaning the challenges confronting the country.
His words: “This year, we are celebrating Christmas in Nigeria amidst untold suffering, hardship and lamentation in the face of a fast-declining economy, high soaring inflation, increasing poverty and a collapsing security infrastructure, with kidnappers, terrorists and bandits on the rampage. All these are traceable to an inept, corrupt and exploitative leadership. This dark chapter in our national history is comparable to the sufferings, helplessness and hopelessness of the Israelites as a result of greedy, selfish and corrupt leadership. God did not abandon them, rather, He intervened by sending them a Saviour in Jesus Christ, a priceless gift wrapped in a swaddling cloth and laid in a manger in Bethlehem. Christmas, the birth of Emmanuel, (God with us) is a cause for hope that God will not turn his back on His children in our country. This is a cause for optimism and an assurance that help is on the way.”
President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh in a Christmas message encouraged Christians and Nigerians of other faith to amplify the language of peace, unity and tolerance.
The Benue State Chapter of CAN also urged Nigerians to pray for peace of the nation even as they celebrate the Christmas and New Year period.
Nasarawa State government in a statement signed by Dr. Emmanuel A. Akabe, the Acting Governor, on behalf of His Excellency, Abdullahi Sule, felicitated with Christians in the state and urged road uses to obey traffic rules so as to mitigate road crashes.
Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade enjoined Christians to use the Christmas celebration to reaffirm their love and compassion towards one another.
In a goodwill message signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Christian Ita, Governor Ayade said Christians should rededicate themselves to the values of love, peace, sacrifice and tolerance as necessary ingredients for a peaceful coexistence.
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna Archdiocese, Most Reverend Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, warned that votes selling or buying is not only illegal according to the Constitution, but a sin before God.
To this end, Bishop Ndagoso charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to do all within its powers to ensure that the forthcoming general elections are conducted in a free and fair atmosphere that will enable all eligible citizens to exercise their franchise.
In the spirit of Christmas, the Supreme Subordinate President, Nigeria, of the Knights of St. John International, Prof. Remy Uche implored Nigerians to show love and compassion to one another as Christ did for the whole world.
Uche who leads the Christian group in Nigeria said that expressing love to one another would make way for national peace and development.
Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba Land, Iba Gani Adams in his Christmas message urged Nigeria’s clerics to lend their voices against bad leadership, noting that men of God are blessed with voices that usually command respect and reverence that can easily change the course of history at critical times.
He, however, added that remaining silent at such critical moment could hinder the progress of the nation.
Meanwhile, Speaker Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi , has reiterated the need for the Yuletide season to be used for sober reflection even as he enjoined believers to use the period to extend hands of friendship to the less privileged in the society, to give them sense of belonging and improve on their standard of living.