As Christians worldwide celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on Friday, the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has urged them and people of other faiths to take advantage of the celebration of the birth of Jesus to pray for peace and the sustainability of a new Nigeria.
The Governor also enjoined Nigerians to always strive to be role models as Christ, according to him, lived and died propagating the message of love, peace and truth co-existence among mankind.
The Governor, in a Christmas message by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, urged Christians to reflect and re-dedicate themselves to the teachings and lifestyle of Christ, which were anchored on sacrifice, love, peace and truth.
Specifically, Aregbesola reminded Nigerians of the need to intensify prayers for a new Nigeria which they voted for during the last presidential election that ushered in President Buhari who has a mandate to change the country.
He held that with the prayers of Nigerians, it is possible for citizens to have a country devoid of corruption, ethnicity rivalry and carnage of insurgency that are challenging peace in the North-East and other parts of Nigeria.
Aregbesola also enjoined Nigerians to be vigilant, saying people must learn to be their brothers’ keepers by reporting any strange faces and conducts within their communities to relevant authorities.
He stated that the country in its present economic challenges can not afford the activities of insurgents, saying all hands must be on deck at ensuring that the Nation surmounts current socio-economic and security challenges.
The Governor said, “The time we are in as a country presently calls for prayers. We must all ensure that we do all we can do as citizens and leaders to move the country forward from the present economic and security challenges facing our country.
“Now that oil has failed us as a nation, we must all encourage ourselves to look inward and turn to agriculture. Before the advent of oil, we had all relied on agriculture, from the groundnut pyramids in the North to Cocoa in the South and palm produce from the East”.
He admonished citizens to also use the occasion of the birth of Jesus to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari so that he could fulfill all his electioneering campaign promises.
Also, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, congratulated Christians in the country for witnessing this year’s Christmas celebration, urging them to continue to work and pray for peace, as well as live peacefully with one another and with adherents of other religions.
Specifically, he urged Nigerians to pray to God to bless the efforts of the present administration in ensuring an all round development and progress for the country.
According to Fayemi, Christmas is a season to give and expect little in return; a time to preach peace and love; a time to forgive, live in harmony and seek the face of the King of Kings.
The minister, in his Christmas goodwill message, signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Olayinka Oyebode, said that God used the birth of Jesus Christ to demonstrate His love for mankind.
Fayemi noted that being alive to witness another Christmas should be seen as a privilege, judging by the prevailing situation across the world. This, he said, calls for celebration.
He, however advised Christians to celebrate in moderation and to devote much time to appreciate God for His mercies and to reflect on the country, with a view to seeking God’s intervention.
While noting that Jesus Christ lived up to his name as the “Prince of Peace”, Fayemi called on all Nigerians, irrespective of their religious affiliations, to tow the line of peace.
He urged Christians to emulate Jesus Christ in words and indeed, adding: “God has used Christmas to teach us the lessons of humility and that He has the power to do all things”.
In his own message, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State
urged Nigerians and the nation’s leaders to imbibe the teaching of justice and equity for all men that the Lord Jesus Christ and Prophet Mohammed taught all men to observe.
In his Christmas and Malud Nabiyy message to the people of Ekiti and Nigerians at large issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, the governor said without being fair to all, Nigerian leaders would not be able to take the country to the promised land.
He opined that social justice and equity were vital to maintaining orderliness in the society and to give everybody a sense of belonging.
“Both the Lord Jesus and Prophet Mohammed, whose birthdays we are celebrating at the same time, emphasised justice for all and equity in their messages and preaching. Though they were born in particular geographical areas, their messages were universal and they never saw themselves as being for a section of the society alone.
“If we are truly concerned, whether as leaders or followers, for our country to achieve greatness, the way to do it is not to be sectional. We cannot see ourselves as being for Paul and not for Appolos. We must be for Nigeria, an indivisible entity and for all Nigerians irrespective of political, religious and ethnic differences.
“While we wish ourselves happy celebrations of the two great events, we must not brush aside the fact that we must follow their teachings and really work for a brighter future. For the people of Ekiti State, despite the various challenges we are facing, we are ready to live up to expectation and do everything within our power to ensure a better state,” he said.
Fayose called on the people of the state to also be alive to their civic obligations of paying their taxes and rates promptly and fully, saying no government can survive without finance.
In Lagos, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode enjoined Nigerians to embrace the virtues of love and peaceful coexistence that the season symbolises, just as he urged them to refrain from activities that could trigger unrest and disunity.
The Governor, in his Christmas goodwill message to residents of the State, said that as the nation continues to anticipate the change promised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) governments at the Centre and state levels, it is only through peaceful co-existence and atmosphere that any positive change can materialise.
“The season of Christmas is one that exemplifies the virtues of love and peaceful co-existence. We must continue to extend a hand of love and live as one family irrespective of our creed or colour. We must also continue to respect each other’s right to live freely and peacefully”, the Governor said in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna.
He said the security challenges which the country is facing now should not be used as an avenue to create division along ethnic and religious lines by some politicians who are blanketly engaging in name-calling of political opponents.
Ambode said Nigeria over the years has continued to draw strength from its diversity, saying that Nigerians must therefore stand together and resist any attempt by any individual or group of persons to highlight such ethnic differences to further their selfish ends or fan embers of disunity.
He urged residents to be safety and security conscious, especially during the festive period and refrain from habits that could endanger their lives including indulging in drinking and driving and other social vices.
He also encouraged residents not to hesitate to report all suspicious activities around them by using the Toll free lines 767 and 112, reminding that the business of securing lives and property could not be left to the security agencies alone.
“The period of Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ who is the symbol of Christianity and the harbinger of peace, love and good tidings and there is no better way to celebrate the season than by showing love and being our brother’s keeper”, the Governor said.
While wishing all Lagosians a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year in advance, the Governor also called on Lagosians to “resolve to emphasize only those things that unite us and de-emphasize all those things that separate us”.
From Bayelsa State, Governor Seriake Dickson called on Bayelsans to imbibe the positive attributes of peace, love and forgiveness, which Christ propagated, lived and died for.
Dickson, who made the call in his Christmas message to the people of the state, reminded the people of the importance of peace, noting that, peace remains a major catalyst to any meaning development, especially under a democratic dispensation.
While commending the people for being supportive to the policies and programmes of the government, he enjoined them to pray ceaselessly for the security, peace and unity of the State and the Country, pointing out that, the Nation was going through very difficult times that require the collective prayers of all and sundry.
Dickson also used the period of Christmas to reassure Bayelsans of his commitment to the welfare of the citizenry and the overall development of the State.
He was also full praise for the people of the State for their love and the confidence reposed in the Restoration administration, which was clearly demonstrated, through their votes on the 5th and 6th of December, 2015 and expressed the hope that, they will do same on the 9th of January, 2016.
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) also charged Christians and Muslim faithfuls all over the country to celebrate this year’s Christmas and El-del-Maulud which marks the birth of Prophet Muhammed in love and share whatever they have with their neigbours which is the very essence of humanity.
A statement by the President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama and Secretary General, Comrade Musa Lawal, said the birth of Jesus Christ and Prophet Muhammed should bring tidings of good hope to Nigeria and the world at large, adding that since the two leaders symbolise peace, their followers should follow suit.
“The period we are now in is a period of celebration and a season to share with one another. The challenge we have in the world today is that we have a lot of hypocrites who preach one thing and do another,not reflecting what they have learnt in the Church and Mosque. We must bear one another’s burden. And care for the needy,” the statement charged.
The Congress enjoined the Christian and Muslim brethren to use the occasion of Christmas and El-del-Maulud to preach and promote peace and harmony in the country. We commend our spiritual leaders and government at all levels respectively in their effort to uphold the peace and unity of the country. “We all must be good patriots and ambassadors of our chosen religions”.
The Labour Centre further charged all to be authentic followers of the true teachings of the Bible and Quran by accommodating and tolerating one another no matter how provoked, as it remains the only way we can have law and order in the country.
