The Bauchi State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) held the 8th edition of its annual Christmas Carol on Sunday to herald the commencement of activities leading to the celebration of the Yuletide season.
The Carol of Seven Lessons was held at the RCCG, Overcomer’s Parish, Millennium Quarters Yelwa, drawing Christians from different denominations as well as various choral groups that rendered Christmas songs and melodies.
The Seven Lessons were read by different people selected from among the clergy and other lay leaders, including women.
While making his remarks, State CAN Chairman, Rev. Dr. Abraham Damina Dimeus, warned Christian farmers not to sell their farm produce under the pressure of celebrating Christmas, saying that they may live to regret such actions.
The CAN Chairman expressed concern over the potential danger of hunger in the coming year, 2025, urging Christian farmers to preserve their produce to avoid becoming victims of circumstances if food items eventually become expensive in 2025.
Abraham Damina also urged Christians in the state to be cautious and not to be too extravagant in spending, saying, “There’s danger ahead.”
As minorities in the state, they commended the efforts of Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, for carrying Christians along in discharging his responsibilities.
He said, “2025 is going to be a tough year. I don’t know how it will be, but it is going to be a very difficult one. We have seen the signs of it with the various things that are happening around us, strange things that one cannot explain.”
He stressed, “Well, I think that the year 2025 is a pregnant year, and what it is going to give birth to, I don’t know, but we have to be careful. We need to be as wise as serpents and as gentle as doves.”
The CAN Chairman lamented that unknown persons had been visiting people’s farms at night, carting away unharvested farm produce, which is spelling doom for everyone.
According to him, “I have been in Bauchi for 23 years, but this is the first time I am witnessing this kind of thing. I am a victim too; unknown people visited my farm and harvested what I farmed. This is a terrible situation. May God see us through it.”
Abraham Damina then appealed, “Please, do not sell your grains because we don’t know what the year 2025 will bring, but it is pregnant with many things. Our prayer is that God will take control and see us through the situation. Things are very terrible in the country.”
He also advised, “It is not compulsory that you travel to the village for Christmas. If you don’t have the means, stay where you are and enjoy the Yuletide period, celebrating the birth of the Saviour of the world, Jesus Christ. Don’t borrow to celebrate the season because you will regret your actions.”
The CAN Chairman also admonished the women not to pressure their husbands into doing unholy things just because of one-day festivities, urging them to cut their clothes according to the available fabric.
He stressed, “If you know that going to the village would be very expensive for you, please don’t go. My village is just across, but I will not go. So, if you want to spend the rest of the money or November salary to go to the village, safe journey. And when you come back, whatever you meet at home, don’t blame your husband, wife, children, or pastors.”
He added, “We need to tell our members to be aware of the year 2025. Things are going to be pretty difficult. You have been forewarned.”
He then commended the State Governor, Sen. Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir, for standing up to fill the gap for the Christian community, saying, “The Christian community has not found it so good as during this administration.”
According to him, “Our CAN Secretariat, which had been abandoned for 23 years, is now almost completed. Every year, we get seats for pilgrimage to Israel. We also have many Christians as political appointees as well as top state government officials. It is indeed a very good time for us.”
He stressed, “The governor did something I will never forget. The contractor handling the construction of the Secretariat is one of us, a Christian. He is doing extremely well with the project and assured that even if he does not gain anything, he will complete the project. We thank him most sincerely.”
The CAN Chairman then appealed that there should be no rush for gift items during the normal homage to the Government House during the Christmas season, saying, “Please, our women, be careful and respect yourselves while at the Government House.”
READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
