PRES. TINUBU, GOVERNORS, OTHERS SUE FOR PEACE, UNITY, LOVE AT CHRISTMAS
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As Nigeria joins other nations in celebrating Christmas in the midst of a faltering economy, love, unity, peace, and tolerance were among the recurring themes in the words of officials at all levels of government.
After taking over the largest economy in Africa in May, President Bola Tinubu unveiled a bold reform programme aimed at bringing in foreign capital and resolving the country’s cost-of-living issue. He removed limitations on the naira currency and terminated an expensive fuel subsidy.
Since then, the cost of fuel has tripled, the naira has lost 41% of its value vs. the US dollar on the official exchange market, and the World Bank reports that the cost of food has increased by more than 31%.
In November, overall inflation was higher than 28 percent. According to the World Bank, 46 percent of people in the most populous country in Africa are poor this year, up from 40 percent in 2018.
Poverty ruins the lives of almost 104 million individuals, or about half of the population.
Despite this, Tinubu informed Nigerians in his statement that he was aware of the circumstances. He does, however, promise brighter times to come.
“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,” he said Sunday.
“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.”
He called on Nigerians in the Spirit of Christmas 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”.
Away from the president, governors across the country also shared similar messages with Alex Otti of Abia State calling for the “sharing of the joy and the blessings of the season”.
“As we celebrate, we must imbibe the true spirit of Christmas, sharing the joy and blessings of the season with everyone around us. There is no better time to love and care for our friends and neighbours than now”.
His Lagos State counterpart Babajide Sanwo-Olu also called on residents not to lose hope but continue living in peace.
“As we mark this year’s Christmas, I want to urge Lagos residents, particularly Christian faithful to continue to live in peace and harmony with believers of other faiths. We should emulate virtues of humility, tolerance, perseverance and compassion as exemplified by Jesus Christ, whose birth we are celebrating this season,” Sanwo-Olu said.
According to Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, Nigerians should promote peace and good neighborliness.
“Guided by the fact that our Saviour Jesus Christ addressed a plethora of human needs while on earth, we are very intentional in our intervention programs by ensuring that peace, love, and empathy continue to guide our actions as a government,” Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State said.
For Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, residents of the state should “renew our love for our state, our nation, and for humanity, for the sake of God.
“If God so loved us to the point of sacrificing His only begotten son, then the least we can do is to use the occasion of Christmas to renew our love for our fellow human beings.”
According to the Speaker of the House of Reps, Abbas Tajudeen, Nigerians should emulate Christ and pray for their leaders.
“As a people, we have come a long way. Therefore, we should continue to unite and remain one. Let’s continue to pray and support our leaders. Let’s emulate the life of Jesus Christ and imbibe his teachings, which were about love and sacrifice,” he said.
“As you celebrate, I urge you not only to merry but also, to 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. Our today’s pain will surely produce joyful gains in a very short time,” the Senate President Godswill Akpabio told Nigerians.
Anambra State governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, called on Christians to show real love to one another this Christmas season and not pursuing frivolities and vanities.
For him, this is the time to say kind words, put smiles on peoples faces, offset bills including paying school fees for the less privileged as well as taking care of the needs of those in want, for that, according to him, is the reason for the season.
Governor Umaru Bago of Niger State stated in his own message that the essence of the Christmas celebration is humility, forgiveness, and true love for everyone.
According to him, the Yuletide season is a time for serious introspection and societal transformation.
Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda challenged the state’s Christian population to follow Christ’s example. He praised the populace for their tenacity in promoting religious unity and peace throughout Nigeria, not just in the state.
“As we gather to celebrate the importance of life, peace, and unity, we should continue to pray for the country.” Governor Radda warns the people of Katsina State to protect the sanctity of love, unity, and security of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State urged residents to ingrain the positive qualities of Jesus Christ, which are reflected in his teachings of selflessness, genuine love, and true forgiveness, during a Christmas broadcast on Monday morning.
With the expected completion of some critical infrastructure, including a portion of the Ring Road Project and the Andoni stretch of the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro unity road, which has been abandoned for more than 20 years, he promised that 2024 will see increased development.
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