Easter: Ambode, Ugwuanyi, el-Rufai, Dakuku Peterside, Alaafin, Daniel, Kalu, others preach peace, stability

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Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, on Saturday, urged Nigerians to see the Easter season as a period
to think on how to help steer the nation back on the road to peace, stability and prosperity.
Ambode, in his Easter message by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Habib Aruna, in Lagos, said this could be achieved by working in the spirit of togetherness.
He said there was no better time for the country to unite and eschew bitterness along ethnic and religious lines.
According to him, no challenge is insurmountable where unity of purpose thrives.
Nigeria, he said, is capable of making faster progress towards the achievement of the peaceful, united, strong, progressive and prosperous country that citizens desire.
Ambode said this is possible “if, as a nation, we eschew all divisive, parochial, ethnic and religious sentiments and rivalries, and begin to live more harmoniously with one another, as Jesus Christ enjoined us to” .
He urged Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of tolerance, peaceful co-existence and sacrifice for one another.
The governor said that development and growth could only occur in the nation when all tribes and tongue unite and speak with one voice.
He said that such fundamental values would go a long way in promoting and strengthening the foundation of love, peace and harmony in the country.
”The Easter season should serve as a reminder to the selflessness, love, sacrifice and tolerance of Jesus Christ throughout His earthly sojourn, his death and his resurrection.
”Jesus exemplified the virtues of selflessness, love and tolerance during his period on earth.
”I urge Christians to use the season as a period to reflect on their individual and collective roles towards promoting and sustaining that foundation of love, peace and harmony in the nation, ” he said.
The governor commended Lagos residents for their continued demonstration and promotion of mutual understanding and peaceful co-existence in spite of existing ethnic, cultural and religious diversities.
He said that the cooperation of residents was responsible for the massive development achieved by the government across the State in the last 34 months.
While wishing residents a happy Easter celebration, Governor Ambode enjoined them to continue to support his administration to deliver more developmental projects that would make their lives more comfortable.
His Enugu State counterpart, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, called on Nigerians to continue to promote peace, unity and progress of the country as Christians celebrate Easter to mark the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Ugwuanyi made the call in his Easter message made available to newsmen on Saturday in Enugu.
He also called on the citizens to sustain their faith in the unfailing love of God.
The governor said that the 40 days of fasting, prayers and charities preceding the celebration had reinvigorated the spiritual lives of the Christian faithful.
He commended Nigerians, particularly residents in the state, for their abiding faith and commitment to peace, unity and progress of the country.
“The 40 days of fasting, praying and charity, which reinvigorated the spiritual strength of Christians to gain salvation and receive the amazing grace of God, call for celebration and sustained faith in God.”
“While wishing Nigerians a happy Easter celebration, I urge us to remain committed to virtues that promote peace, unity and progress of our dear country,” he said.
Ugwuanyi reiterated his resolve to continue to serve with the fear of God in keeping with his firm belief that the state was in the hands of God.
Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State urged Christians to embrace the lesson of Easter by continuing to live in peace with their neighbours.
Aregbesola, in a Easter message by his media aide, Sola Fasure, on Saturday in Osogbo, said that the ideal of Easter was love manifested in sacrifice.
” It was love that motivated Jesus Christ to lay down his life.
“It was love also that made him adopt non-resistance method, even as he endured a farcical trial that led to his condemnation, crucifixion death, and resurrection.
“Christians therefore should emulate Jesus by demonstrating love to one another and to their neighbours, just as Jesus admonished his disciples to love their neighbours as themselves.
“The absence of love is the foundation of all evils in our society.
” Those who love others will not steal from them, kill them, tell lies against them or harm them in any way.
“Christians will only be like Christ if they emulate him and pattern their lives after him”.
Aregbesola also urged Christians to use the period of Easter celebration to pray for the nation and the state, noting that the challenges before the nation require divine intervention.
“We should all also, irrespective of our religious persuasion, commit the affairs of our nation into the hands of God.
“Though we have many challenges which appear to be formidable, but they are nothing in the hands of God.
“If we pray and seek the face of God, in addition to working hard and eschewing evil, we shall overcome the challenges.
“The future is bright for us if we can take maximum advantage of our human and material resources” Aregbesola said.
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State urged people of the state to join hands with the government to make the state peaceful and safe for all.
“Let us do our best to promote harmony in our communities and reject strife in our land. Let hope never depart from our hearts.
“As we push on to improve the quality of life by providing qualitative and affordable education and decent healthcare we  pray  God Almighty for the blessings and lessons of Easter to  spread all through the state, and move  all to be better people,” he said
He added: “Easter calls for dedication to duty, and putting the interest of the other before personal gains, as Jesus taught us by sacrificing His life for all.
“This festival of triumph follows the holy season of Lent, during which the Christian community engaged in fasting, prayers and works of charity.
“As people of faith, let us continue to practice in our daily lives the lessons of sacrifice, care for the poor, deep spiritual reflection and love for all humankind, irrespective of tribe or religion, observed during the fasting.
The governor said, for more than two thousand years, Easter had symbolised the triumph of hope over despair and an affirmation that darkness cannot trump the plans and wishes of Almighty God.
According to him, Jesus Christ set an example of sacrifice that has moved men and women through the ages.
“As we celebrate the triumph of Christ, let us embrace all the lessons of Easter, never losing faith in the will of Almighty God, and the triumph of good over evil,” he stressed.
The Director-General (D-G) of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, urged Rivers State people and Nigerians to exhibit courage, selflessness and generosity as Christians celebrate Easter.
He made the call in an Easter message in Port Harcourt on Saturday.
He said Easter was a time for sober reflection as it was the celebration of the death
and resurrection of Jesus Christ which exemplified courage, perseverance, pain and triumph over the most difficult challenges.
He stated that “Jesus Christ as the only Son of God could have used his position and powers to avert his betrayal and eventual crucifixion despite being aware.
“He, however, chose to lay down his life to prove triumph over death and the redemption of mankind.’’
Peterside commended Christians in the state for their steadfastness, prayers and cooperation for making sure that governments at various levels kept to their promises.
According to him, Christians must continue to be prayerful and look unto God to raise leaders that will bring good to all parts of the state.
He added that “the period of Easter is also a season for friendship, forgiveness, love and rededication to the ideals of Christianity.
“As Christians, the significance of the season must not be lost on us, we must do things that promote peace, progress and development of humanity.’’
The NIMASA boss also thanked Nigerians for supporting the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government “that had been working painstakingly to right the wrongs of the past and put the country on a sure footing.’’
Dr Victor Oye, the National Chairman of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) urged Nigerians to use the Easter period to reflect on their lives and seek the face of God.
Oye in his Easter message in Awka, Anambra State on Saturday urged politicians on whose shoulders the future of this country lied to promote patriotism and love in accordance with the teachings of Christ.
He said Easter was for sober reflection as it provided the opportunity for all to rededicate themselves to God and imbibe lessons of the season.
He added that “this year’s Easter demands rededication of oneself to God and the nation for
expiation of our sins.
“We must shun divisive tendencies occasioned by differences in religions, cultures, political parties and tribes.
“We cannot grow as a nation if we failed to assimilate and put into practice the lessons we learned during Lent, culminating in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ for the sanctification and salvation of mankind.
“This is an opportunity for all to make amends and lead upright and decent life for the good of our fellow countrymen and women.’’
Oye challenged Nigerians to uphold the principles and beliefs of the founders of the country by
ensuring the tenets of democracy were protected.
Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State urged Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of hope which the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ brought to mankind.
The governor made the call in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Malam Jibrin, in Minna on Saturday to commemorate Easter as he urged Nigerians not to be despondent, but be hopeful.
He said the lesson of hope that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ taught should be a propelling force for Nigerians.
He added that “we should not be despondent but hopeful for the emergence of greater and new Nigeria where peace, unity, love and meaningful progress shall be the order of the day.
“I urge you all to learn and emulate the lessons of love, humility, selflessness, forgiveness and perseverance shown by Jesus Christ through his death and resurrection.
“I felicitate with Christians on the occasion of Easter celebration and I urge you all to embrace and practical lessons attached to the season.
“I also urge all to be prayerful for better days for our dear state and country at large.”
He, however, advised Nigerians to be law abiding and desist from acts capable of disrupting the peace in the nation.
Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State called on Christians in the country to use the Easter celebration to foster peace, unity and religious tolerance as exemplified by Jesus Christ.
Umahi, who is also the Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, made the call in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Uzo, on Saturday.
The governor described Christ as the summation of peace, unity and tolerance and urged Christians to propagate love and religious tolerance wherever they found themselves.
He said as the sacrificial lamb, Christ had through His death and resurrection opened a brand new way of life for Christians.
Umahi urged them to adopt new life where peace, love and tolerance to one another should be the guiding principles of their lives.
He, however, noted that the nation had been “greatly and dangerously’’ divided along ethnic, political and religious lines which he identified as major causes of unrest.
The governor admonished Christians to embrace various programmes implemented by government and engage in agriculture and other sources of generating income to make a living.
The governor said “Nigeria will witness greater challenges if we do not go back to agriculture as way of survival in the face of dwindling fortunes from oil.
“I charge Nigerians, especially civil servants, to embrace alternative sources of income to boost their financial status in the face of economic challenges.”
He promised to continue to work to develop all sectors of the state’s economy and wished the people and Nigerians at large happy celebration.
Former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, urged Christians to use the Easter period as that of reflection and renewed sense of hope and possibilities. 
In his Easter message to Nigerians, Daniel, who is also the Asiwaju of Remo Christians, stated that Easter is a period when people reflect and renew their covenant with God because Jesus Christ rose from the dead giving us hope, courage, confidence, renewal and new life.
“After the 40-day Lenten period, we must all be renewed and transformed and, in turn, renew and transform others”, he said.
“As a nation with renewed hope, the relevance of Easter is that it gives us the assurance that we can overcome the challenges that we face, put an end to the destruction of lives and property and turn our backs all moral ills”. 
He then enjoined all to take the opportunity of this year’s Easter period to help make Nigeria stronger, put into practice true neighborliness and do what we can to make the the country and the world at large a more just, compassionate and peaceful place for all.
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, advocated a re-orientation, and re-focusing on moral values, with a view to actualizing her potential and harnessing resources both human and materials, for a greater, purposeful, egalitarian and vibrant society.
The monarch gave the advice in a message by His Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, to Nigerians in commemoration of this year’s Easter celebrations.  
Oba Adeyemi said a scientific modern Nigerian society without a sound social and moral base will be her worst enemy in terms of the human misery, fear, insecurity and barbarism that would be self-inflicted in the process of a misguided scientific advancement.
According to him, ‘’ Where are values like honesty, integrity, good neighbourliness, religious tolerance etc that once defined our society? We are no longer bothered to be our brother’s keeper as citizens of the same country? Today, we have grown so numb and we are no longer shocked when people are slaughtered in a senseless terror campaign by some deranged individuals. As a result, we now have internally displaced people in the country.
Alaafin noted that growing up, it was not unusual seeing Christians and Moslems mingling together and celebrating Christmas and Sallah. But today, bigotry reigns supreme, as individuals and groups perpetuate the worst kinds of ethnic chauvinism and idolatry you could ever think of. 
‘’Driven by greed and inordinate lust for the “good life,” we seek the shortest possible route to riches. We revere criminals and treasury looters as our “best of men” bestowing upon them honourary degrees, chieftaincy titles or even “purchase” election forms for them.
While pointing out that the quality of any society is directly linked to the importance of the shared values, the paramount ruler explained that our value system therefore is the sum total of our ideas and beliefs. It includes every opinion we hold about life.
He added that each thing we like or dislike, and the importance each one has to us, merges to form our unique value system. 
‘’Our value system develops through what we are taught and experience, combined with our reactions to them, forming our preferences and our unique perspective on life. Ultimately, every opinion we have in life is based on something in our value system’’.
Oba Adeyemi went further,  ‘’our actions are the first indicators to ourselves and others about the values we hold because the values that we live by are connected to what is most important to us. However, we can sometimes have other desires in our hearts that differ from our actions. To be completely at peace within ourselves, there must be conformity between our deepest values and how we actually live. That is, you must be committed to your deepest’’.  
‘’Our actions are the first indicators to ourselves and others about the values we hold because the values that we live by are connected to what is most important to us. However, we can sometimes have other desires in our hearts that differ from our actions. To be completely at peace within ourselves, there must be conformity between our deepest values and how we actually live. That is, you must be committed to your deepest values and seek to live according to them. Otherwise, you will experience inner conflict because you have not determined which values are most important to you, and every choice you make will not flow from a firmly held belief about that area of life’’.
While also expressing dismay over how some parents have abdicated the responsibility of instilling core positive values in their children, and have left that to schools, nannies and the society to do, Oba Adeyemi asserted that  what such parents fail to realise is that schools don’t train children, parents do. 
‘’My reference on children here is predicated on the fact that character and values are better instilled from the formative years of a child. What a school or society does is to guide, the onus is still on the parents to provide the moral foundation in which their children’s future would be firmly anchored’’.
Felicitating with Christians all over the world, the Alaafin admonished them to re-dedicate themselves to lives of virtues  as exemplified by Jesus Christ in the Holy Bible.
Eminent businessman and former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu, in his Easter message, emphasised that the heterogeneous nature of Nigeria should be seen as a strength, adding that the unity of the country was not negotiable.
In a statement by his Special Adviser, Kunle Oyewumi, Kalu called on religious and spiritual leaders to use their platforms to advocate harmony and tranquillity among Nigerians regardless of ethnic, religious and political differences.
He said, “as we celebrate Easter, I wish to congratulate the Christian community on this significant  celebration.
“It is a season of sober reflection, spiritual rebirth and re-dedication to the service of God and mankind.
“Let us embrace the teachings of the Holy Bible as exemplified by Jesus Christ in our daily pursuits.
“For Nigeria to progress, we must embrace peace and unity. 
“The country is blessed with abundant resources and as such, poverty can be totally eradicated through a collective effort.
“All hands must be on deck in order to build a prosperous Nigeria.
“As we enjoy the merriment of the Easter festivity, let us pray for the nation”.
The former governor while wishing Christians a fulfilling celebration, urged them to uphold the tenets of the holy book in their endeavours.
Kalu also enjoined people at the helm to demonstrate genuine leadership , adding that for Nigeria to attain enviable heights, there is no alternative to good governance.

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