President Bola Tinubu has said that he is aware of the present hardship faced by Nigerians engendered by the ongoing reforms, but assured that his administration will continue to provide palliatives to ease the effects.
In his Christmas message to Nigerians on Sunday, he pointed out that the ongoing reforms are necessary and would be followed by a new era of prosperity.
While noting that Christmas time presents an opportunity for people of all faiths to enjoy the company of their families, Tinubu reminded citizens of the need to reach out, as they celebrate, to those who are disadvantaged by one circumstance or the other, to reflect the best of Christ.
He also urged for prayers for members of the armed forces who are daily risking their lives to protect the country.
The message reads: “For people of all faiths, this is an opportunity to enjoy the company of family, celebrate life, and delight in the gifts of love and friendship that make life worthwhile. This is also a time to look out for each other because, amidst the festivities, this time of year for many will be tinged with sadness: some mourning the loss of loved ones and others grieving the hopes that failed to materialise and the dreams that fell short.”
Former president, Dr Gooddluck Jonathan, also congratulated Nigerians and Christians around the world on this year’s Christmas Celebration.
In a statement released by his media office on Sunday, Jonathan urged Christians to exhibit love, peace, humility and sacrifice as they celebrate.
He noted that the birth of Jesus Christ marks a new beginning and a new destiny for all believers, as it serves as the fulfillment of many prophecies about the coming of the Saviour who will save the word from sin and other difficulties.
Jonathan urged citizens to “make the most of this season to rebuild our country by showing love to our neighbours and upholding moral principles that will deepen the thread that binds us together as a people.”
In the same vein, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has said that in spite of the hard times Nigerians face currently, they should continue to pray for peace and better days ahead for the country.
Akpabio; his deputy, Senator Barau Jibrin; Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Adeola Olamilekan and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, all sent messages of felicitations to Nigerians on Sunday ahead of the Christmas celebrations by Christians.
Akpabio acknowledged the pains caused by the Federal Government’s decision to discontinue the fuel subsidy regime, but said it was for the good of everyone, adding,
“Our today’s pain will surely produce joyful gains in a very short time”
His Christmas message was contained in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, on Sunday.
Akpabio admonished the Christian faithful “To pray, fast and be hopeful because with the birth of Jesus Christ, who is our symbol of hope, love and redemption, Nigeria will also overcome its current challenges.”
He called for reflections on the teachings of Jesus Christ, which he noted were anchored on love for neighbour, peaceful coexistence and loyalty to constituted authorities.
“On behalf of my family and constituents, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and indeed the entire National Assembly, I wish to sincerely congratulate all our Christian brothers and sisters on the celebration of the feast of Christmas, which marks the birth of Jesus Christ.
“As you celebrate, I urge you not only to merry, but also, continue to pray for our dear country Nigeria and our leaders, show love to one another and continue to reflect on the life of Jesus Christ, especially his humility, sacrifice, love for neighbour and loyalty to God and constituted authority,” the statement quoted him as saying.
Similarly, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Tajudeen Abbas, has called for prayers and supplication for Nigeria as Christians celebrate this year’s Christmas.
He maintained that it is incumbent on Nigerians to emulate the virtues of Jesus Christ, which he said included love, sacrifice, peace making, tolerance, building consensus among the people, selflessness, among others.
Also, a former vice president and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during last general election, Atiku Abubakar, in his Christmas message, urged Nigerians to embrace peace and unity at this period and to love one another for the sake of progress and growth in the country.
He stated: “I felicitate all Nigerians, particularly the Christian faithful on the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ. Christmas is a time of love. Therefore, I call on all Nigerians to emulate the essence of this season and unite for the greater good of our dear country.”
Former chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and a former governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, admonished Nigerians to remain prayerful while extending goodwill among themselves at Christmas.
The former governor, in a statement by his media office on Sunday, said Nigerians need to celebrate Christmas in unity and peace, with the spirit of generosity.
The statement signed by Mallam Ahmad Sajoh, indicated that Fayemi acknowledged Nigerians’ resilience in the face of challenges encountered throughout the outgoing year.
He urged Nigerians to, in the spirit of Christmas, come together in celebration, irrespective of religious or cultural differences.
Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Onogwu Muhammed, emphasised that the season symbolises hope for humanity, encouraging citizens to maintain a positive outlook.
Beside, Osun State governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, felicitated Christians in Osun and beyond on the occasion of this year’s Christmas celebration, urging them to draw from the spiritual import of the celebration by sharing love and fostering harmony in communities.
Adeleke, who described Christmas as a moment of reflection on the blessing that the birth of Jesus Christ symbolises for humanity, charged Osun people, especially Christians, to embrace the spirit of compassion and kindness that the season reflects.
Similarly, Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun and the senators representing Ogun East and West in the National Assembly, Gbenga Daniel and Solomon Adeola, enjoined Nigerians to keep hope alive for a greater and better country.
They stated this in their different Christmas messages made available to newsmen in Abeokuta, on Sunday.
Abiodun urged Christians and Nigerians not to allow the current economic challenges to dampen their spirit, saying that there is hope of economic turnaround.
The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Lekan Adediran, also urged Nigerians to imbibe the spirits of love, peace, and goodwill.
He said the current hardship in the country occasioned by double digit inflation would soon give way as governments at the federal and state levels fashion out ways to ensure economic recovery and improved living conditions for Nigerians.
His counterpart in Niger State, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, implored Christians to show genuine love to all.
In a Christmas and New Year message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, Bago identified forgiveness, humility and genuine love to all as the hallmarks of the Christmas celebration, adding that the Yuletide is a period for sober reflections, to bring about positive change in society.
Similarly, the Ebonyi State governor, Francis Nwifuru, called on Christians to combine faith with exemplary conduct as they commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.
He gave the charge on Sunday in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary Dr Monday Uzor, while felicitating Christians as they celebrate a Christmas and New Year.
Also, the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, enjoined Christians to take proper lessons in the birth of Jesus Christ as signified by the Christmas celebration.
This was contained in his Christmas message, which was forwarded to journalists in Ibadan by his personal assistant (media), Oladele Ogunsola, on Sunday.
The monarch recalled that the Biblical accounts of the birth of Jesus Christ are full of lessons in tolerance, patience and love.
In a move to ensure that Christian community in Bauchi celebrate the Yuletide with joy, the state governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has approved the release of the sum of N120 million for the purchase of food and other items.
The items are to be distributed to different Christian groups under the umbrella of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for the 2023 Christmas and New Year celebration across the state.
The disclosure was made by the chairman of the distribution committee, Abdon Dallah Gin, while briefing journalists at the Government House, Bauchi, on Saturday.
He explained that the items distributed to the Christian community for the celebration of the Christmas included 66 cows, 102 rams, 1,438 (50kg) bags of rice and 189 25kg groundnut oil.
A former presidential candidate, Mr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, felicitated with the Christian faithful and Nigerians at large, as they join the rest of the world in celebrating Christmas.
In a statement by his media office in Abuja at the weekend, Olawepo-Hashim urged Christians and Nigerians, in the spirit of the season, to uphold the principles of love, tolerance and sacrifice to sustain harmony, progress and advance the cause of humanity.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain noted that the Christmas season represents joy, peace, hope, love, goodwill, all which are much needed now that the country is battling diverse challenges of development.
“I celebrate with the Christian fold and enjoin all of us to remember the essence of Christmas. In the true spirit of the season, let’s show love to our neighbours, kindness to the less-privileged and vulnerable, and tolerance to one another across the lines of faith, politics and ethnicity; in the spirit of the unique sacrifice and teachings of our Lord, Jesus Christ,” Olawepo-Hashim remarked.
Former Senate president, Dr Bukola Saraki, felicitated Christians on Christmas, just as he distributed cash and food items as palliative to the faithful, party members, artisans, transporters, associations, assemblies and other religious and community groups in Kwara State.
In a statement by his press officer on local matters, Abdulganiyu Abdulqadir, he said that the gesture was to ensure a happy celebration in the face of the biting economic hardship.
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