Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau state has admonished Christians to make sacrifices for the nation, the state and their neighbours.
The governor, who stated this in his Easter message to Christians, urged them to reflect on the twin lessons of the passion and death of Christ on Good Friday on the one hand, and His triumphant resurrection after death at Easter on the other hand, with a view to applying the lessons learned in their everyday living.
Lalong in a statement issued Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mark Longyen, said: “True Christianity entails showing love and sacrifice to our neighbours like the biblical Good Samaritan, in order to make a difference in the lives of fellow human beings, as exemplified by Jesus Christ”.
The governor said incidents of insurgency, banditry, armed robbery, kidnapping, corruption and many other crimes bedevilling our country could be addressed by prayers as well as inculcating in the youth the right Christian doctrines at early age.
He also called on religious leaders in the country to take up the gauntlet of preaching messages of peace, love and sacrifice to their followers in order to build the Nigeria that is our pride and also the pride of our founding fathers.
“Your fervent prayers culminated in my becoming a governor and the emergence and re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari, a man of unparalleled integrity and patriotism as President, so the future is bright for our state and country, and we can guarantee the bright future through our sustained prayers and Christ-like lifestyle,” Lalong said.
ACF tasks Nigerians to unite against insecurity
By AbdulRaheem Aodu
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called on Nigerians to unite and assist in the fight against the various security challenges bedevilling the country, to enable government win the war.
ACF in its Easter message issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Malam Muhammad Ibrahim Biu, argued that the task of overcoming security challenges posed by kidnapping, insurgency, cattle rustling, banditry and the unnecessary clashes between various ethnic groups could not be left to government alone.
“Christians all over the world celebrate Easter with prayers and activities of self sacrifice for the common good of the society. The period commemorates the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ which gives Christians the opportunity to reflect on the exemplary life and good teachings of Jesus Christ that include his tolerance, forgiveness, love and self sacrifice for the good of humanity, and strive to live up his legacies at all time.
“The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ has united Christians to be one people through promotion of core value of humanity that comes with sacred inviolability of the individual. We are now equal before God.
“ACF, therefore, wishes Nigerians, especially Christians, happy celebration and also urges all Nigerians, no matter their status to practice the virtue of tolerance, forgiveness, self sacrifice, good neighbourliness and love for one another, and continue to pray for peaceful coexistence, harmony, stability and prosperity for all.
“Specifically, ACF calls on the governments at all levels and security agencies to intensify their operations and also maintain surveillance in the red alert states until peace and normalcy are restored. But for the needed normalcy to return, all Nigerians must also play their roles of providing support by way of intelligence to the security agencies which would enable them to succeed,” the message said.
