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Tag: Xmas message

  • Tinubu seeks support for Buhari in Xmas message

    Tinubu seeks support for Buhari in Xmas message

    All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari “so that the country can overcome its current challenges”.

    He urged Nigerians to learn from Jesus Christ “who faced and overcame the greatest evil” by uniting to overcome our challenges.

    In a Christmas message issued yesterday and signed by Alhaji Tunde Rahman, his Special Adviser on Media, Tinubu said: “Today, Christmas Day, is one of the most precious days of the year for it celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Be you Christian, Muslim or just a human being with a soul that yearns for peace, compassion and hope, Jesus Christ belongs to all of us. His teachings are universal in application and speak of truths eternal.

    “This Christmas, let us acknowledge his birth but let us also give that acknowledgement its fullest meaning by recognising how Jesus lived and what he lived for. He reached out to all. Jesus fed the poor and healed the sick. He spread compassion and charity and preached love and justice. There are no finer aims than these and we can do no better than to do all we can to follow his example.

    “Let us all embrace and spread the gospel of love, tolerance and forgiveness this season and into the New Year. We must commit ourselves to peace and unity. Let us eschew all bitterness and bigotry.

    “The challenges that face the country are difficult ones. But we keep the hope. We must learn from the example of Jesus who faced and overcame the greatest evil. So let us unite to overcome our challenges.

    “We must support President Buhari and complement his efforts in his resolve to stimulate the economy and reposition the country. The President needs our support, understanding and prayers. We must fully break the terrorism of Boko Haram and completely put down the last vestiges of the terrorists.

    “We must continue to pray for the men in uniform who risk their lives to keep us safe and to end this scourge on the nation. I commend our troops battling the terrorists. I thank them again for their courage and bravery.

    “Let us remember those who have been dispossessed of their homes and traumatised by the evil of these terrorists and pray that they all will be able to return home soon and begin their lives anew and better.

    “Yet, we must do more than pray. We all have something to give, something to contribute to the greater good. As Jesus gave of himself that we may live better, we must give of ourselves that others around us may have a better life.

    “I wish you all a joyous Christmas”.

  • Ambode preaches love, peaceful co-existence at Xmas

    Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has advised Nigerians to embrace the virtues of love and peaceful co-existence that the Christmas season symbolised.

    The governor gave the advice in his Christmas message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, on Saturday.

    He urged Nigerians to seize the moment to reach out to other Nigerians, who were in distress at this period of the nation’s history.

    He said despite the economic challenges, Nigeria was still making steady progress.

    While urging Nigerians not to lose faith in the government, the governor assured there would be better days ahead.

    “The season of Christmas is one that exemplifies the virtues of love and peaceful co-existence,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted Ambode as saying in the statement.

    “We must continue to extend hand of love, benevolence and live as one family irrespective of our creed or colour.

    “We must also continue to respect each other’s right to live freely and peacefully.

    “The period of Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, who is the symbol of Christianity and the harbinger of peace, love and good tidings

    “There is no better way to celebrate the season than by showing love and being our brother’s keeper.

    “Let us cultivate the habit of giving to those who need our help at this time; it would go a long way to put smile on their faces.”

     

  • Christmas offers opportunity to rededicate our lives – Jonathan

    Christmas offers opportunity to rededicate our lives – Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday greeted Nigerians as they celebrate this year’s Christmas.

    Christians in the country would on Wednesday join their counterparts across the world to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem over 2, 000 years ago.

    The President in a Christmas message issued by his media aide, Dr. Reuben Abati, joined Christians and all other Nigerians in giving thanks to God whose grace and benevolence has helped the nation to overcome the many challenges plaguing it since last year’s Christmas.

    He said the celebration of Christmas was a most auspicious time for Nigerians, as individuals and as a nation, to rededicate their lives to the virtues and ideals which Jesus Christ preached and exemplified during his “earthly ministry.”

    The President also assured Nigerians of government’s readiness to ensure success of the proposed national conference.

    “Let us all therefore resolve this Christmas to make the ideals of peace, harmony, tolerance, love and goodwill to all even more manifest in our interactions with others.

    “It remains my sincere belief that no height of human accomplishment is beyond us as a nation, if we can overcome our differences, such as they are, and forge a binding national consensus to put the progress and well-being of the country above all other considerations.

    “My administration will do all within its powers and abilities to ensure that when representatives of our people assemble for the forthcoming national conference next year, they will have every opportunity and encouragement to make very significant contributions towards forging the required consensus for sustained national peace, unity and progress.

    “It is also my expectation that the national conference will contribute in no small measure towards the urgent resolution of contentious issues which currently hinder our progress as a nation.

    “With God Almighty as our Guide, Strength and Enabler, My Administration will continue to implement its Agenda for National Transformation in furtherance of its avowed commitment to improving the living conditions of all Nigerians.

    “We will continue to count on the prayers, support and cooperation of all patriotic Nigerians in the coming year as we consolidate and build on our achievements in several sectors including national security, power supply, communications, transportation, health and education.

    “As we commemorate the birth of the Prince of Peace, let us all strive to honour Him more by living our lives as He taught; by making personal sacrifices for the good of others, by showing greater love for others, by being fairer and more honest in our dealings with others, by being ever-willing to forgive those who offend us and by always extending goodwill towards others.

    “On behalf of myself, my family and the Federal Government, I wish you all very joyful Christmas celebrations, and a peaceful and prosperous 2014,” President Jonathan said.

     

     

  • Xmas: Northern governors preach peace, tolerance

    Xmas: Northern governors preach peace, tolerance

    The Northern States Governors Forum on Tuesday called on Christians to spread the virtues of peace, love and charity, which underscored Christ’s mission on earth as they celebrate Christmas.

    In a Christmas message issued in Minna, the forum’s Chairman and Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, called on Christians to use the opportunity to pray fervently for an end to the numerous challenges confronting the nation.

    The forum’s statement that was signed by Governor Aliyu’s Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo, said there was no better time to preach and internalize Jesus Christ’s mission on earth than now owing to increasing intolerance in the country.

    He urged the faithful to continue to co-habit peacefully with non-Christians so as to engender sustainable peace that was needed for the growth and development of the nation.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Aliyu wished Christians a joyful celebration and prayed for the warmth of God’s love to fill every home during the festive season.