Yar’Adua, Goodluck, others praise Nigerians at Xmas

From Ayodele Adesanmi and Akin Durodola - 25.12.2007

PRESIDENT Umaru Yar’Adua has thanked Nigerians for their support and for keeping faith with his administration in the past seven months. Also, Vice President Goodluck Jonathan and other leaders have praised Nigerians and wished them a merry Christmas.

Yar’Adua said in the past seven months, he had been grappling with the enormous challenges of moving the nation forward by the implementation of his seven-point agenda.

The president, who made this known in his address to the nation during the celebration of Christmas, said that “as our Christian brothers and sisters celebrate Christmas which commemorates the fulfilment of God’s promise of the birth of a Messiah, I assure all Nigerians that we will do our very best to ensure that more visible and significant progress is made towards the fulfilment of their hopes for a better country in the coming year.”

He urged all Nigerians to find time the during the celebrations to reflect on the themes of godliness, brotherly love, honesty, humility, selfless service and sacrifice for the good of all which dominate Biblical accounts of Christ’s mission on earth.

Yar’Adua assured the nation that his administration would make faster progress towards the fulfillment of “our beloved nation’s immense potential for greatness if more of us imbibe these worthy virtues and ideals, and endeavour to apply them consistently in our daily lives.”

His administration, he said, would continue to count on the goodwill, support and cooperation of all Nigerians in the coming year.

The president promised to deal with existing and new challenges in the country’s march towards the attainment of the founding fathers’ vision of a strong, united and prosperous nation.

Vice President Jonathan has charged Nigerians to reflect on the essence of Jesus Christ’s life and work as they celebrate his birth. The vice president, in his Christmas message, urged Nigerians to ponder on the significance of Christ’s coming.

“This Christmas, I urge Nigerians to continue to reflect deeply on the life and times of Christ and dedicate themselves to the peace he lived and died for.

“This Christmas provides us another opportunity to rededicate ourselves to the service of God and to the progress of our great country, Nigeria.”

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Usman Nafada, on Monday called on Christians to emulate the legacies of Jesus Christ.

In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Hammed Bello, Nafada said that Jesus Christ preached peace, harmony and obedience to God.

Nafada advised all Christians to use the Christmas celebration to move closer to God and pray for the good of the society. He said that Christmas was symbolic to Nigerians, irrespective of their religious inclination, because both Islam and Christianity held Christ in high esteem.

“That means we have to draw nearer to one another because we are all servants of God,’’ he said. He also urged all Nigerians to shun all forms of violence and other acts that could undermine the country’s peace and stability.

“Let us resort to dialogue for peaceful resolution of all forms of disagreements that may arise,’’ he said. Oyo State governor, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, has called on Christians and other Nigerians to use this festive period to reflect on how they can contribute meaningfully to their immediate environment to make the society better.

The governor observed that the Christmas season was a time for sharing and showing love to fellow human beings as a concrete manifestation of the love demonstrated by the Almighty God who gave His only beloved son – Jesus Christ – to save humanity.

The governor, in a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Abraham Ojo, noted that the only way to reciprocate this kind gesture is to obey God’s injunctions contained in the Holy Bible.

He stressed that “if we as Christians love our neighbours as ourselves, then we will all live in harmony and peace will reign among us in order to be able to contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of our country.”

The governor used the occasion to reiterate his determination to enhance the living standard and welfare of the people of the state through the provision of social infrastructure.

Ogun State governor, Chief Gbenga Daniel, on Monday urged religious leaders to encourage the promotion of values that would aid moral rebirth in Nigeria.

He added that without credible individuals whose ways of life could be emulated by the younger generation, the country may not be able to assume its rightful place among the comity of nations.

Besides, the Ogun State governor, in a Christmas message to citizens of the state, enjoined the religious leaders to continue praying for Nigeria as this has been the major pillar of the country’s survival till date.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Wale Adedayo, said: “His Excellency, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, in his Christmas message to Ogun State indigenes, has urged religious leaders to continue encouraging the promotion of moral values in a way that the younger generation could imbibe for the socio-economic and political growth of the country.

“Our religious leaders have proved to be consistent in their prayers, which have been a major pillar supporting Nigeria despite all we have been through as a nation. But there is still need to continue with deliberate efforts from the pulpit to encourage the emergence of credible leaders in all facet of our national life whose behaviour could be emulated by the younger generation.”