Politics has found some space in this season of goodwill, with leading actors promising better days and credible polls.
President Goodluck Jonathan’s Christmas message released yesterday dwelt on the need for free and fair elections – exactly what his opponents are demanding.
All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the February election Gen. Muhammadu Buhari promised Nigerians a better Christmas next year, saying he would tackle insecurity and revive the economy.
President Jonathan said he would support the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deliver free, fair and credible elections next year.
Besides, he said, the security agencies will be backed to ensure peaceful and violence-free election towards strenghtening democracy.
He said: “Dear compatriots, we are also celebrating this Christmas against the background of preparations for next year’s general elections. I seize this opportunity to reassure the nation that my administration will give the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) all necessary support to ensure that it delivers very free, fair, credible and acceptable elections in 2015.”
“National security agencies will also be given all necessary support to enhance their ability to ensure that the elections which should strengthen democracy in our country are peaceful and violence free.” he said
He urged the political class to be law- abiding and place the greater interests of Nigeria above all personal or sectional interests in the countdown to the elections.
“Let us all be more statesman-like, conduct issues-based campaigns, and eschew the promotion of falsehood, division and hatred of others as we seek the votes of our countrymen in what should be a peaceful competition among contending points of view for the progress and development of our dear nation.”
“I remain convinced that God Almighty is still with us as a nation, even in the midst of our current challenges, which we shall surely overcome with greater unity of purpose, dedication, commitment and perseverance,” he added
The President told Christians and non-Christians to reflect more deeply on the virtues and ideals which the Messiah, Jesus Christ, espoused during his earthly mission.
This, he said, will go a long way to assist the nation to overcome most of its challenges.
He said: “To my mind, there can be no doubt that the greater internalisation of the virtues of love for our fellowmen, tolerance, Godliness, honesty, fairness to others, selflessness, and peaceful co-existence with others, by all adult Nigerians, and the inculcation of the same in our youth, will definitely help our dear nation to overcome most of its present challenges.”
“Peace and love for others, especially, were a constant refrain in the Messiah’s teachings and admonitions to mankind. Therefore, as we celebrate his birth, I urge all Nigerians to offer special prayers for a greater manifestation of divine peace in our country and the vanquishing of all demons of hatred, divisiveness and disunity in our midst,” Jonathan said
Jonathan also urged Nigerians to remember and pray for all the men, women and children who have suffered untold hardship, deprivation and death at the hands of terrorists and insurgents.
He also urged Nigerians to continue to pray for the soldiers and security agents who are at the forefront of the national effort to overcome terrorism and violent extremism in the country.
He said: “In this season of goodwill, I urge all patriotic Nigerians to rededicate themselves to doing all within their powers to support the brave men and women of our armed forces in the ongoing war against terrorism, and also support the Federal Government’s efforts to provide more succour to the hapless victims of terrorist atrocities.”
“The Victims’ Support Fund, which we have established to raise additional funds to assist our compatriots who have been adversely affected by continuing insecurity in parts of our country, remains active.”
Jonathan urged all individuals and corporate organisations who have not donated to the Fund to do so.
Gen. Buhari, in a statement by his campaign’s Communication Director, Mr. Dele Alake, spoke of a review of military strategy to fight Boko Haram, the sect whose insurgency has claimed thousands of lives.
“On my part, I intend to initiate consultations with serving generals and those who have served our country and distinguished themselves on the battlefield across the world to work out an alternative and effective strategy to crush this insurgency within the shortest possible time.
“Christmas is a season when we all embark on journeys to join our brothers and sisters in our native towns, to hold town hall meetings, commission community projects and exercise our cultural rights.
“But we know the roads through which we shall commute are challenged by years of neglect. Nigerians travelling East will encounter the failed promises of the Second Niger Bridge; those travelling west will bear the long queues on the Lagos- Ibadan Expressway.
“We promise that, by Christmas 2015, our administration would have brought our efficiency in management and allocation of public resources to make the inter-state roads smoother and easier to ride.
“We know that millions of Nigerians celebrate this season in poverty and misery, not because they have committed any grievous sin, but because the system of production and distribution of national resources have been rigged against the vast majority of our people. In a nation where a few individuals could raise 21 billion naira because they want to make their friend president, millions of citizens, who truly own the resources being accumulated by a few, are left to suffer in sorrow, tears and blood.
“I have said that I live the life of a pensioner. I share the burden and anxiety of majority of our poor, powerless people. I have offered myself on the platform of All Progressives Congress, the party of change, because I desire to give back to a country that clothed, fed and trained me to be what I am today.
“Our people are poor. But our country is rich.My duty as your president will be to make the condition of living of the common man the index for the assessment of our policies, not the amount of billionaires our administration would have made.
“Certainly, there will be changes in policies. We cannot continue to enslave our country to those who tell us that we are in economic crises because of loans.
“Ours is the most populous black nation on earth. A potential global superpower. Our manifest destiny is to empower our people so that we can take our prominent place in the comity of nations.
“I pledge that the Christmas of year 2015 will meet us all in greater joy and happiness. It is indeed significant, the February 14, 2015, the date of the presidential election, falls on the Valentine’s Day, a day to celebrate love among mankind.
“I urge you all to keep sharing the love that binds us together. Let us eschew hatred and make our nation the land of justice, peace and progress.”
