As Christians all over the world commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, President Bola Tinubu has reminded Nigerians that it is a period for people to look out for each other.
He said amidst the festivities, 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.
President Tinubu also said he was aware that the necessary reforms his administration was implementing to achieve a more prosperous, peaceful nation for all, have imposed unique sacrifices.
He, however, urged the citizenry to remain steadfast, assuring his commitment to govern with vision, dedication and empathy.
These were contained in the President’s Christmas message to Nigerians.
The message reads: “Christmas is a special time of the year for all of us. For Christians, this time of the year marks the birth of Jesus Christ and celebrates the hope and redemption that are the hallmarks of Christ’s life.
“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.
“In the spirit of Christmas, reflecting the best of Christ, let us all endeavour to extend the warm embrace of kindness to those around us who need it and let the multiple acts of kindness serve as a light that guides us into a happy and wonderful new year.
“This year has been a time of transformation and relentless change in our country. And I am aware that the necessary reforms we are implementing to achieve a more prosperous, peaceful nation for all have imposed unique sacrifices.
“My administration will continue to implement palliative measures to ease the burden on the most vulnerable, address current hardships and alleviate the suffering of all our nation’s people.”
Continuing, he said: “Fellow Nigerians, as we navigate this transition to stability, prosperity, and Renewed Hope, I urge you once more to hold fast and rest assured of my commitment to govern with vision, dedication, and empathy.
“Be confident that by the strength of our joint endeavour, we will shortly emerge into a new dawn of prosperity, peace, and irreversible progress.
“As you celebrate this season, please spare a moment of remembrance and prayer for the men and women of our nation’s armed forces, bearing arms in our names and ensuring our safety. May God protect them and bring them back to their families.
“And let us together commemorate the memory of those who, in their service, have paid the highest price for our nation. May God bless their souls and comfort their families and loved ones.
“Let the light of Christmas guide our paths as we bring this year to a close and usher in the New Year.”
…Akpabio greets
In a similar message Sunday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio urged Nigerians to remain steadfast and hopeful despite the hard times they are experiencing, assuring their pains will not be in vain.
And in relieving the pains for his constituents in Ekiti North Senatorial District, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele distributed 3,000 bags of rice to them for Christmas celebration.
The duo in separate statements to mark the Yuletide, assured Nigerians that today’s pains would be tomorrow’s gains for everyone.
Specifically, Akpabio in his goodwill message expressed optimism that the pains, which Nigerians are going through, occasioned by the removal of petroleum subsidy was for the good of everyone as the gains will manifest in the not distant future saying, “our today’s pain will surely produce joyful gains in a very short time”
He urged 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.”
“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,” he said.
Akpabio advised Nigerians not to give up on their leaders, particularly the Tunubu-led government, saying “I am confident that with your prayers and support, the current administration will wipe away your tears in the no distant time”.
In his own message, Senator Bamidele assured Nigerians that economic recovery is imminent.
Addressing his constituents in Iyin Ekiti Sunday after distributing 3,000 bags of rice among them, he said the country’s economic crisis triggered by COVID-19 and the consequent global economic turbulence across the world, would soon be a thing of the past.
He said the process of economic reconstruction “has started already. All Nigerians, whether in the cities or remote villages, will start experiencing the gains of economic programmes President Tinubu has initiated under his Renewed Hope Agenda.
“As a federation, we may be witnessing difficult times currently. But we will walk into an era of economic boom, for which all Nigerians will glorify the Name of God Almighty.
“The time is no longer far. It will begin to manifest with the implementation of the 2024 appropriation, which the National Assembly will pass into law this week.
“All the committees of the National Assembly have concluded their hearings. They have equally submitted their reports to the Committee on Appropriations, whose members are now looking into the committees’ reports ahead of the plenary.
“After this Christmas holiday, the National Assembly will reconvene on December 29 to deliberate on the report of the Committee on Appropriations.
“Hopefully, before the end of this year, the National Assembly will pass the 2024 appropriations bill and also transmit to the Presidency for assent.”
…ACF felicitates
Also, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has felicitated Christians across the North, Nigeria and indeed world over on the celebration of Christmas.
It called for prayers and concerted efforts by all stakeholders to end the myriad of challenges facing the region and the country at large.
In a statement signed Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the ACF tasked Nigerians to pray for knowledge, courage, wisdom and empathy for their leaders and mutual understanding, tolerance, cooperation responsible neighborliness, peace and tranquility to return to the Northern communities and Nigeria as a country.
“ACF felicitates with Christians in all its national and state chapters, as well as others in the nation and indeed the world over, on the season’s Christmas celebrations. ACF also wishes everyone a happy New Year in advance.
“No doubt, our communities variously face daunting existential economic challenges, social upheavals, poverty, inequalities, political disagreements. No less, or even more worrying has been the insecurity bedeviling our communities due to the criminal activities of bandits, extremists and other misguided elements or social misfits in the society. ACF yearns for an end to all these problems.
“ACF is conscious, worried and prays for escape from all the challenges. In the spirit of the yuletide season, ACF calls on all to fervently pray for a deserved return to mutual understanding, tolerance, cooperation, responsible neighborliness, peace and tranquility in all communities specifically and for humanity in general.
“ACF also calls on all to pray for knowledge, courage, wisdom and empathy for our leaders, whether political, religious or traditional, as well as for our armed forces as they try to grapple with the challenges of the economy, insecurity, leadership and governance.
“May the Christmas celebrations be our merriest and 2024 the happiest yet for all,” Muhammad-Baba said.
